19th Century Kuba Kilim

$765

Origin

Kuba Azerbaijan

Age

Circa 1890

Dimensions

4'7" x 6'8"

Materials

Handwoven wool and cotton on wool foundation

Condition

Good, with many scattered old repairs

A unique and vibrant Kuba kilim in the so called "racing car" design. It's incredibly fine and supple, but what really makes this rug stand out is the use of cotton for white in the field of the design. Cotton is a relatively uncommon material to be used in rug fields because it compresses and doesn't wear as well as wool when walked upon. It also was not always readily grown in the regions where rugs were traditionally woven, so to encounter so much of it in a rug is a rarity. Likely the artisan did not intend for this to be a floor covering, and instead wanted the brightness of the cotton to help emphasize the colors for a table or bed cover.