Kuba long rug

During the 17th century the Safavid Persian empire setup a court weaving workshop in the east Caucasus in the territory that is now the Republic of Azerbaijan. While Persian political influence and control of the Caucasus would wane in the 18th century, artistic models persisted. This large Caucasian corridor carpet represents a weaving tradition in the Kuba region that began under Persian court auspices but continued as a commercial workshop weaving production during the 18th century. It is drawn with a pattern of blossoms and stylized lilies that is known as the ‘Afshan’ or blossom design. The rendering of the design design and its execution here are directly in keeping with models set forth in the 17th century and would go on to inform a select group of much smaller scale Caucasian weavings in the 19th. Here the Afshan design is fully articulated with alternating lobed and rounded blossoms. Color is soft but diverse.