Antique Shashavan runner

A really stunning antique Shashavan runner with exquisite colours and a striped Gendje border design. These tribal weavers from the north-eastern Persia reside in the mountainous area.  This area was home to a smaller group of tribal weavers and these diverse weavings were based on vivid geometric designs usually with medallions repeating throughout such as this piece.

The Turkish Memling Gul is often found on these pieces too and we can see other Caucasian rug attributes too from these pieces which are full of rainbow colours!  The tribal animals and people in this runner can be seen in the main outer border, wonderfully drawn and stylised 'Boteh' motifs in the main field around the connecting diamond medallions.  Great 'abrash' dye change at the top of the runner, which is where the weaver has used a different batch of wool, over the last 100 years it has oxidised differently to the richer reddish brown border colour.

This amazing piece was woven in the late 19th century, condition is extremely good indeed, with a lovely soft wool pile on this tribal piece.  Some tiny areas of old restoration, but the majority is in fantastic original condition.

Shashavan runners are sometimes known as Southern Caucasian rugs but maybe this is due to their close proximity to the Caucasus.  Historians claim the Shah Abbas Safavid (1587-1629) formed this tribe to defend western frontiers against Turkish tribes, hence how the Shah was used to form this nomad tribe.

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This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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