Shahsavan Sumakh

Mid 19th century, 87 x 57 cm, South East Caucasus, Moghan-Savalan region

The unusual format of this Shahsavan flatweave, finely woven in the sumakh technique, presents a puzzle as regards its original purpose. It is too tall for a mafrash side panel. It may have been the face of a very large single bag intended for carrying cargo. Besides, we are not aware of any other example using the same field design of diagonal stripes which start from the field centre at the bottom and progressively increase in size to form peaked gables extending into infinity. – Slightly cut and newly overcast all around, otherwise well preserved.