Second half 19th century, 129 x 106 cm, East Caucasus

A prayer rug from the Shirvan region presenting a rare design in the field. The midnight blue ground is hermetically sealed by closely-spaced hooked diamonds. In the section below the wide prayer arch are arranged into colour diagonals, converging from the sides to form gable shapes; however, their tips are not aligned with the top of the mihrab, but are offset to the right. - Signs of age and wear, new overcasting along the sides, somewhat reduced ends.