Dated 1248 AH = 1833 AD, 272 x 194 cm, South Caucasus, Azerbaijan

Formerly known as silehs and now called dragon vernehs, these large sumakh flatweaves were woven in the southern Caucasus. Some authors ascribe them to the Baku district, but this attribution has not been verified. Particularly beautiful and very finely woven on a red warp, this example displays an impressive quality of materials, drawing and palette. During the past four decades it was owned by a Swiss private collection. Similar to an example published by Herrmann, a figure of totemistic appearance has been inserted into each of the sixteen abstract dragons. – Very well preserved, original finishes all around.