Kazak Prayer Rugs
Guide to Kazak Prayer Rugs & Carpets
Examples:
The Rippon Boswell Kazak Prayer Rug
Origin: Southwestern Caucasus, Kazak region, 19th century
Size: ca. 130 x 119 cm.
Kazak Prayer Rug with Hands
Origin: Southwest Caucasus, last quarter 19th century
Size: 5ft. 5in. by 2ft. 9in.
Description: Rows of alternating “shield” motifs and flowering plants in red, ice blue, ivory, gold, tan, and blue-green on the navy blue field, with an ivory “arrowhead” motif border.
Condition: Small corner gouge, end fraying, black corrosion.
The Alberto Levi Karachop Kazak Prayer Rug
Origin: Southwest Caucasus, circa 1860
Size:162 x 115 cm. (5ft.4in. x 3ft.9in.)
Construction: Symmetrically knotted wool pile on a wool foundation
Description: A unique example of its type, this Karachop prayer rug is characterized by a rectangular niche enclosing square devices and checkered motifs typical of the so-called Karachop-variant design. These elements are clustered around a striking zoomorphic motif that resembles an eagle in flight. At the base of the niche we see a pair of foot palms, to which corresponds a pair of hand palms located in the upper compartment, indicating the position of prayer. A curious feature is the presence in the latter compartment of a cartouche containing an enigmatic sequence of Arabic numbers (starting with five, followed by 225 repeated three times). The waterbug-type motifs that decorate the border are sometimes seen on Fachralo prayer rugs, although they are known to frame some of the earliest Karachop rugs.
Kazak Fachralo Double Niche Prayer Rug
A double niche prayer rug from the Kazak Fachralo or Bordjalou Kayseri area.
The T-meander main border design is rarely encountered and has a very archaic flavor.
Kazak Prayer Rug White prayernish à la Markarian
Type: Kazak
Origin: Caucasus
Circa: 1860-1890
Category: Caucasian rugs
Length: 78 inches / 198 cms
Width: 49 inches / 125 cms
Other Info: Top condition. White prayernish à la Markarian.
Armenian Kazak Double Niche Prayer Rug
Type: Kazak Rug
Origin: Armenia
Circa: 1850-80
Category: Caucasian rugs
Length: 99 inches / 252 cms
Width: 67 inches / 171 cms
Other Info: Mint condition
The Willborg Armenian Kazak Prayer Rug
Type: Kazak Rug
Origin: Armenia
Circa: 1875-1900
Category: Caucasian rugs
Length: 86 inches / 219 cms
Width: 52 inches / 133 cms
Other Info: Full pile, plum colored