Shirvan or Konagkend Rug?Doris Eder called this type of rug a Shirvan in Orientteppiche Band 1 Kaukasische Teppiche. Munchen: 1979. When Ian Bennett rewrote that work he left a similar rug in Shirvan Baku but noted that Eiland was calling a similar rug a Konagkend. Oriental Rugs Volume 1 Caucasian page 234. If Eiland published it in "Oriental Rugs" it must of been in the first or second edition because it is not in the third or fourth. If we compare this to the Kuba Sumac in Wright and Wertime Caucasian Carpets and Covers. page 70 illustration 26 there is a similarity in some of the iconography including but not limited to the cruciform devices. As well as to the Konagkend Kuba on Page 69 illustration 25 in the same book. So when I look at Ulrich Schurmann's Caucasian Rugs pages 274 - 275 it is obvious that Schurmann's Konagkend is the closest pattern match to this rug. So my initial reaction is to suggest that this is a Konagkend rather than a Shirvan. But I do not disagree with Wade without at least talking to him. Granted I like Wade but he has spent most of his 50 some years repairing and selling rugs as his father and Grandfather did before him. Wade may not dress it up in as fancy words as some people but he knows rugs. When I called him he was gracious as ever and very willing to explain his reasoning. Konagkends usually have deeply depressed backs and wool wefts. This rug has a flat back and cotton wefts. This obviously takes us out of Kuba and Konagkend and makes Shirvan the obvious attribution. I mentioned to Wade that the only people I could find who attributed rugs with this pattern were Eder, Bennett, William Robinson (Christie's, Thursday march 1st, 1990 lot 13) and himself (Wade Shehady).
So when Wade attributes a rug I certainly stop and listen. |
For Further Reading: Thanks and best wishes, J. Barry O'Connell Jr. |
