Vintage Karabagh Runner BB5350 2'9" × 19'7" (83 × 596 cm) $20,000

This circa-1880 antique Karabagh runner rug features a striking all-over design of floral motifs and vinery in shades of green, pink, red and ivory against a field of dark brown. The darkness of the background makes the flower designs stand out in an intriguing manner. Karabagh runners such as this antique carpet come from the rug-producing region in the Southern Caucasus, the capital of which is Shusha. Although similar to other Karabagh Rugs from the Caucasus in their coarse weave and symmetric knots, the rugs from Karabagh tend to be the largest. Long in format, common designs for the antique area rugs are the sunburst, eagle Kazak and herati pattern. Runner antique Сaucasian rugs such as this one are often used as a complement or a contrast to adjacent rugs, or as the transition linking two separate rooms.