Antique Caucasian Prayer Rug, circa 1870-80. This completely charming little prayer rug, though not far away physically, is a great distance away ''artistically'' from all those late 19th c. Dagestans and Shirvans that are just pale shadows of their earlier brethren, made for consumption by the Western markets. First of all, the colors of this rug are fresh bright, and at the same time deeply saturated. The weaving structure though good, is completely tribal and funky. No city workshop piece here! The field design is abstract, naive, and random, while the border is well crafted, and presents an extreme counterpoint to the field design. The weave is closer to Gendje than the more refined rugs of the ne Caucasus. The handle of the rug is loose and a bit floppy; so generally i should say it is a Kazak, woven somewhere in the vicinity of Gendje (Ganja), se Caucasus. Size is approximately 5'4" x 3'2". Condition is good but field is low, and the lower guard stripe is re-woven. Mark as sold