mid 19th century, 244 x 110 cm, East Caucasus, Kuba

This white-ground Zeikhur features three complete medallions and one that is truncated at the upper end, a red floral inner border and an outer border of undulating lines, a design usually called “running dog”. The distinctive medallions are diagonal crosses decorated with floral devices, a characteristic feature only seen in these rugs which are usually woven in elongated narrow formats. Due to their fine quality and beautiful colours including light pastel shades, Zeikhurs are some of the most popular Caucasian collector’s pieces. The example offered here was presented at the "Kaukasische Teppiche" exhibition at the Frankfurt Museum fur Kunsthandwerk as early as 1962.

Slight signs of age and wear, corroded brown, good overall condition. Provenance: Ehrengard Freifrau von Trotha Collection. Formerly in the collection of Peter-Christian Graf von Kleist-Retzow

BENARDOUT, RAYMOND, Caucasian Rugs. London 1978, ill. p. 22

MUSEUM FÜR KUNSTHANDWERK FRANKFURT, Kaukasische Teppiche. (Exhibition 17/11/ - 16/12/1962). Frankfurt am Main 1962, no. 64