Cover, silk embroidery on cotton
Iran, Caucasus; 1st half of 18th century
H: 149; W: 135 cm
Inventory number 37/1969
Caucasus was part of the Persian Empire until the Treaty of Gulistan was signed in 1813.
18th-century Caucasian embroideries were frequently dominated by a central polygon, as in this magnificent example. It was accompanied by stylized vegetal ornamentation, trees, and animals, and in fairly rare cases human figures. With their ornamentation and rich but slightly somber palette, they may resemble the Caucasian dragon carpets that emerged from the local nomadic culture.
Like them, these embroideries differ from the more refined and internationally oriented court art that was produced in the main cities of Iran.
18th-century Caucasian embroideries were frequently dominated by a central polygon, as in this magnificent example. It was accompanied by stylized vegetal ornamentation, trees, and animals, and in fairly rare cases human figures. With their ornamentation and rich but slightly somber palette, they may resemble the Caucasian dragon carpets that emerged from the local nomadic culture.
Like them, these embroideries differ from the more refined and internationally oriented court art that was produced in the main cities of Iran.
Published in
Published in
Art from the World of Islam. 8th-18th century, Louisiana, Humlebæk 1987, cat.no. 252;
Kjeld von Folsach: Islamic art. The David Collection, Copenhagen 1990, cat.no. 406;
Jennifer Wearden: “Azerbaijanian embroideries: a synthesis of contrasts” in Hali, 59, 1991, pp. 106-108, fig 7;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat.no. 674;
Sheila S. Blair and Jonathan M. Bloom (eds.): Cosmophilia. Islamic Art from the David Collection, Copenhagen, McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, Boston 2006, cat.no. 58;
Kjeld von Folsach: Islamic art. The David Collection, Copenhagen 1990, cat.no. 406;
Jennifer Wearden: “Azerbaijanian embroideries: a synthesis of contrasts” in Hali, 59, 1991, pp. 106-108, fig 7;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat.no. 674;
Sheila S. Blair and Jonathan M. Bloom (eds.): Cosmophilia. Islamic Art from the David Collection, Copenhagen, McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, Boston 2006, cat.no. 58;
The Safavids and Their Successors
