Caucasian Kuba Soumac- Old

This Caucasian Soumac is published in;

THE PERSIAN CARPET, ‘The Fabric of Life’, Essie Sakhai, Woodbridge, 2008.

pl. 345, p. 421.

This is a good example of one of the best know
designs associated with a group of flatwoven
carpets in the soumac technique from the eastern
Caucasus. Their exact place of manufacture remains
unknown although an attribution to the Kuba region is
generally accepted. The Azerbaijani scholar Latif
Kerimov, in Rugs & Carpets from the Caucasus – The
Russian Collections, illustrated an example, no. 40, in
the Museum of Azerbaijanian [sic] Carpets and
Handicrafts, Baku, which apparently came from a
village called Kustar near Kuba itself. However, it
seems possible that the word ‘Kustar’ in the translation
of Kerimor’s book has mistakenly been rendered as a
village, rather than as a Kustar or workshop. It is
possible that such pieces were made in many villages
in the Kuba area.The elements that make up the design
of sumacs such as this are fascinating both in
themselves and for the connections that can be made
between them and other groups of rugs. The principal
elements of the designs are fairly consistent both in
general form and in detail. The large medallions are
almost always dark blue and there are usually three on
the vertical axis; their details are also surprisingly
consistent, with the white ‘ribbon’ outlining seen here
forming small curlicue ‘knots’ in the angles and
indented crosses. A central red ground octagon is also
always found with a blue-ground cruciform in its centre
surrounded by stylised blossom forms, although, as is
usual, minor ‘filler’ ornaments can vary. One common,
though not invariable, feature consists of the sprays of
leaf-life forms coming off each central red octagon.
This is a motif found also on some Tekke Turkmen
carpets and is one of several elements found on
Caucasian sumacs and pile rugs that can also be found
on Turkmen, pre dominantly Tekke and Yomut, weavings
as well as on other tribal weavings from eastern Persia
and Afghanistan, notably that of the Baluchi. This
connection has often been noted in rug literature but
awaits a full and satisfactory explanation. However, as
with Turkmen designs, the very consistency of the
elements on the major groups of Caucasian sumacs
suggests a totemic or tribal origin. The border design
seen here is the one most commonly found on sumacs
with this field pattern.

Old Caucasian Kuba Soumac . This piece was handwoven in Kuba, Azerbaijan, East Caucasus. For further information please contact us and our team will be pleased to assist you. All pieces in the collection are under the auspices of Essie Sakhai, one of the world’s foremost experts and collectors of fine handmade Persian rugs and carpets.