Zakatala Cruciform Rug with Unique Border, Northwest Caucasus, ca. 1850–1875 Wool on wool; single brown wool weft; all natural dyes. Size: ca. 190 × 110 cm A rare Zakatala cruciform rug from the mountainous northwest Caucasus, woven with the bold stepped-cross medallion layout typical of early village pieces from the Zakatala–southern Daghestan zone. The design combines deep madder red, indigo blue, and soft green fields framed by an exceptionally unique compound border system: a wide main border of alternating hourglass and cruciform panels on dark brown, enclosed by inner Greek-key fret guards in blue and ivory. The structure — single Z-spun brown wool weft, undepressed wool warps, supple handle — confirms a genuine mountain-weaving origin. Dyes are entirely natural, including over-dyed green and an iron-mordanted brown now attractively oxidised. Condition: poor, unrestored. Heavy wear and oxidation, areas of pile loss, one outer border missing, the others largely intact. Despite this, the rug retains its complete design vocabulary and strong, archaic presence. A highly expressive example of an early Zakatala tribal weaving, offered as a collector’s study piece rather than for use. Asking price: €250 plus shipping Location: Vienna, Austria Contact: doc@textfirma.at Reasonable offers considered.