Offers a comprehensive view of Caucasian pilewoven rugs and flatwoven textiles in the light of recent research on the subject

Tribal Rugs: Treasures of the Black Tent is the definitive work on this subject. Dedicated to one of the most ancient crafts of the world, this book leads its reader through the history of the tribal rug. Featured content ranges from the oldest complete rug in the world (dated to the fifth century BC) to the weavings of the nomadic peoples of Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, the Caucasus and Central Asia, compiled from the 19th Century up to the present day. Each chapter introduces a different group of tribes, illustrating the rugs, carpets, kilims and utilitarian bags attributed to their weavers. This book is both a celebration of the woven legacy left by the tribes and a tribute to the skill and artistry of the women who created these magnificent artworks. It aims to provide an introduction for the novice, and entice the more knowledgeable to further study.

Written on the occasion of the May 1922 gift of the James F. Ballard Collection to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, this catalogue illustrates and discusses the 125 ancient carpets from Persia, India, Turkey, The Caucasus, Central Asia, and Spain included in this gift which span from the fifteenth to the early nineteenth century. A short introduction covers the history of rug weaving and a brief discussion of rugs from each region represented.

Sakhai, a London rug dealer from a family of carpet weavers, shares his expertise on history, identification, and value of oriental carpets in this reasonably priced book. He offers tips on judging materials, dyes, patterns, age, and condition when selecting a carpet to buy. In handy guidebook format he describes different types of carpets, accompanied by color and black-and-white photographs (color photographs not seen). The author discusses value in comparative terms only, so prospective buyers will need to study the market to determine fair prices. Caucasian Carpets & Covers is a scholarly work by the curators who assembled the 1994 exhibit From Kuba to Kars at the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. Their book includes knotted pile rugs from the Caucasus in addition to the materials in that exhibit. The text is detailed and comprehensive, accompanied by maps and photographs, mostly in color. Much of the historical material is from Russian sources available only in the former Soviet Union. --Library Journal (1995)

This monumental reference work--long awaited by collectors and scholars--fills an important gap in the available literature on oriental rugs. Lavishly illustrated with over 1000 photographs and drawings, it offers clear and precise definitions for the rug and textile terms in use across a broad swath of the globe--from Morocco to Turkey, Persia, the Caucasus region, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China. Covering priceless museum-quality rug traditions as well as modern centers of production, Oriental Rugs: An Illustrated Lexicon of Motifs, Materials, and Origins draws on classical scholarship as well as current terminology in use among producers and traders in these areas today. It focuses primarily on the rich hand-knotting and hand-weaving traditions of the Near East and Central Asia, but also includes some examples of Scandinavian and Native American weavings. Oriental rugs are receiving ever-increasing attention and recognition in the field of art history. Tribal weavings especially have become a focus for new research, and Oriental Rugs provides a new understanding of many distinctive traditions that were previously understudied, such as the weavings of southwest Persia, Baluchistan and Kurdistan. This concise oriental rug reference book is a must-have for scholars and anyone serious about collecting rugs, selling rugs or the rug trade in general. Additional reference information also includes: Foreign terms Place names The Oriental Rug lexicon Museums with notable rug collections Oriental rug internet sites