Rare 19th century zili and soumac kilim camel cover from Khizi, Azerbaijan No 8227

An interesting and very rare 19th century kilim from Khizi, north of Shirvan in Azerbaijan. Part of a two panel camel cover, or deve chulu, with Turkmen tree of life design elements reminiscent of tent bands and also narrow diamond bands seen in 19th century Shahsavan soumac weavings. The kilim comes from the south Caucasus region of Khizi, north of Shirvan in Azerbaijan, an area historically occupied by both Tat and Turkmen tribes. Some villages in the area were occupied by Tats, some by Turkmen and some villages were mixed. Shahsavans also migrated to the area from the south, around Savalan mountain, in the 16th and 17th centuries. This explains the cross tribal influences in the main tree of life design and soumac and zili bands.

Only one example of a complete camel cover of the same type with tree of life bands is known and is published as Plate 119 in Robert N. Nooter, ‘Rugs and Textiles from the Caucasus’, Atglen PA (2004). There is also a comparable example of a contemporary camel cover in the Azerbaijan National Museum, Carpets and Applied Art in Baku, museum inventory no. 1591, published by Museum Director Roya Tagieva in Azerbaijan Carpets (1999) Plate 293 (Зили. Ширванская группа. Азербайджан. Начало XX в. Государственный музей азербайджанского ковра. Баку).

CLICK HERE for a link to illustrations of the two above mentioned Khizi camel covers.

Excellent intense colours from natural dyes with white cotton used in the flatweave and for the white parts of the soumac decoration. From the second half of the 19th century, probably last quarter. Wool and white cotton on a warp of natural dark brown and ivory twisted sheep wool, a characeteristic of Khizi weavings. In very good condition with some old repairs, light corrosion to the black and some worn zili embroidered motifs, particularly across the lower striped kilim section which would have been over the back of the camel and most subject to wear.

My particular thanks to Michael B., Peter W., Simon G., Bertram F., Matthias W., and Vügar D. for helping to figure out the origins of this obscure and interesting weaving.

Size 120cm x 78cm, No 8227.   Please enquire for price.

Click on each kilim photo to see it full size