Antique Karabakh Caucasian Floral Allover Golden Tan Hand-Knotted Wool Rug – Circa 1880 Paisley Design BB8836 8'5" × 17'5" $43,000

This antique Karabagh rug, woven in Russia circa 1880, reflects the Caucasian weaving tradition in a format prized for its decorative clarity and historic character.

The dark field is packed with an allover network of golden tan arabesques, paisley forms, and scrolling florals, while small blossoms in ruby, rose, ivory, and green flicker through the composition. Pomegranate-like roundels and bright petal clusters punctuate the surface, deepening the sense of abundance. Rather than a single medallion, the design unfolds as a dense vine-surface, giving the carpet a paneled, almost tapestry-like presence. The contrast between the near-black ground and the creamy ornament gives the piece unusual legibility from across a room. Its ornamental vocabulary also hints at the broader appeal of Kashan- and Khorassan-inspired floral work, translated here into a distinctly Karabagh idiom.

A wide border repeats the movement with stylized leaves, rosettes, and curling tendrils, creating a crisp frame around the richly layered field. Hand-knotted in wool, this antique Caucasian rug brings depth, structure, and a formal floral note to rooms that benefit from pattern, warmth, and a composed sense of age, especially in a library, drawing room, or dining space.

Part of Doris Leslie Blau's grand collection, this antique rug embodies the rich heritage and refined craftsmanship that define the world's most exceptional carpets. Established in 1965, Doris Leslie Blau has earned an international reputation for curating rare and important rugs spanning centuries of design history.