Daghestan prayer rug, circa 1900

Measurements: 164 m x 117cm (5’5 × 3’10)

80 Knots per inch

Price: £950

This is one of the classic designs, a Daghestan prayer rug with an allover lattice design filled with rich floral motifs. There is something very pleasing about this carefully drawn lattice, the variety of the well articulated flowers within each cell is mesmerising and their colours shine against the white ground. Note some of the details in mihrab including two combs and what appears to be writing. Note how the weaver decided to change the inner minor border at the bottom, it is so radically different I wonder if they decided it would be too difficult to execute in the vertical. However they seemed to have mastered everything else so perhaps it is just a design modification and a very welcome one. It gives more interest and makes the piece unique. The highlight for me is the dark mihrab snaking across the white ground with its jagged border. It is hard to let these rugs go.

Condition:

Fair amount of wear and corrosion to the brown. There is some repiling on what looks like old crease lines. A thin but usable piece.