Antique Caucasian Shirvan Rug Size: 4'2" × 6'10" Date: 1890s Material: Wool on Wool Shirvan rugs come from the eastern Caucasus along the Caspian coast, in what is now Azerbaijan. The region produced some of the most sharply drawn geometric rugs of the 19th century, with designs that are angular, bold, and loaded with small tribal symbols scattered across the field. This piece has three large medallions stacked vertically on a deep navy ground, each one a jagged, highly angular form in burnt terracotta with ivory and gold interiors. The medallions are distinctly Shirvan in character — their stepped, serrated outlines almost crystalline in how precisely they're drawn. Between and around them, small human and animal figures, trident forms, birds, and geometric devices fill the navy field in the spontaneous, symbol-rich manner typical of the region. The border is multi-layered with a primary geometric scroll in terracotta and ivory, flanked by narrow reciprocal guard borders that stack up with characteristic Caucasian density. The palette — deep navy, burnt orange-terracotta, ivory, olive green, and gold — has aged to a warm, rich tone throughout. A well-drawn and characterful example of late 19th-century Shirvan weaving.