First half 19th century, 224 x 152 cm, South West Caucasus

According to terminology established by Franses & Pinner as early as 1980, the white-ground Star Kazaks are divided into various sub-groups. The distinctive Kazaks of the "explosion" design type, as described by Herrmann, are particularly prized by collectors. Not many antique examples exist, so that various reproductions and forgeries have appeared in the market in recent decades. – Our Star Kazak is an original dating from the first half of the 19th century. The blue main border containing diagonal S-figures classifies it as group C. The carpet was purchased by the collector at Galerie Eitzenberger in 1996 (we have seen the invoice). It was first published by Eitzenberger in Weltkunst magazine in 1995 and is almost identical to an example published by Herrmann in 1993. – Obvious signs of age and wear, uniformly low pile. Many repiled areas, the original selvedges have partially survived, in other areas they have been replaced.

FRANSES, MICHAEL/PINNER, ROBERT, Star Kazaks. In: HALI 3, vol. 1. London 1980, pp. 17 - 26 *** GROTE-HASENBALG, WERNER, Der Orientteppich. Seine Geschichte und seine Kultur. Berlin 1922, vol. 2, pl. 30 *** RIPPON BOSWELL, FFM 22, 16/11/1985, lot 102; A 34, 16/11/1991, lot 116; A 87, 13/05/2015, lot 154 *** HERRMANN, EBERHART, Seltene Orientteppiche VII. Munich 1985, no. 27 *** IDEM, Kaukasische Teppichkunst im 19. Jahrhunderts. Munich 1993, no. 42 *** BATTILOSSI, MAURIZIO, Tappeti d'Antiquariato. Catalogo II. Turin 1987, no. 4

Advertisement of Hans Eitzenberger in Weltkunst no. 21, 1st November 1995