Dagestan Pile Rug

Tiny animals wander the margins of something much larger happening on the blue.

This Dagestan pile rug is wool, from the Caucasus, early 20th century. Dagestan, in the northeastern Caucasus, has a long and varied tradition of village weaving, full of bold, inventive drawing. Seven rows of paired angular forms march down a deep navy field, each ending in hooked, curling shapes of rust, cream, ochre and pink. Little animals and rosettes fill the gaps between them. A wide red border holds it all in, with star-like flowers and stepped lines. The edges look slightly uneven. Four feet wide and over eight and a half long.

Nobody has explained the little animals. Nobody needs to.