Lot 108

CLOUD-BAND CHONDZORESK KAZAK RUG

A hand-knotted wool rug on wool warp with one of the most famous designs among collectible Caucasian rugs. The famous and collector coveted Chondzoresk, or ‘Kazak with cloud bands’, sometimes also called Dragon Kazak, as the clouds in the field originally represented highly stylized motifs of dragons and possibly snakes. Later, over the centuries, these motifs were reinterpreted and their form resembled dragons less and less - on our specimen, the eye-catching scrolling motifs of white and red clouds are a prominent element in the cobalt blue medallions, in the centre of which are striking rectangles with opposing ram's horns. The three impressive medallions, in a classically varied colour combination, are complemented on our specimen by a wealth of motifs including stars, fauna, flowers and mysterious and ancient S-symbols. A unique and remarkable feature of this rare carpet is the female figure in a blue skirt below the right side of the middle medallion. This is a figure with oversized hands, and one can only speculate whether this original element was added by the bride herself (or her mother?), who may have brought a hand-knotted carpet as part of her dowry as tangible evidence of her skill.