SHIRVAN

Shirvan is the name of a district in north-eastern Azerbaijan where there are many villages devoted to making the most beautiful and elegant rugs in all the Caucasus. Shirvan was once the name given to all better quality Caucasian rugs when the products of this region were not highly valued. In fact, the 19th century merchants considered them cheap goods and much less important than the more valuable Turkish or Persian rugs. Shirvans, like most Caucasian rugs, are decorated with geometric patterns and are made entirely of wool (or at least they were up to the Russian Revolution in 1917). The yarns are of excellent quality, the knot density appreciable and the colours are very beautiful - both the single shades and the combinations that are the heart of the expressive power of these rugs. Today Shirvan rugs are highly prized by collectors the world over, and can often be found in the catalogues of fine auction houses such as Sotheby's or Christie's.