Rare 19th century zili and soumac kilim camel cover from Khizi, Shirvan, Azerbaijan An interesting and very rare 19th century kilim, part of a two panel camel cover, or deve chulu. Turkmen tree of life design elements reminiscent of tent bands and 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 helps to explain 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 these tree of life motifs is known, published 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).

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, perhaps the 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. Size 120cm x 78cm.

My thanks to Michael b., Peter w., Simon g., Bertram f., Matthias w., and Vügar d. all of whom helped to establish the origin and provide references for this obscure and interesting weaving.

For detailed photos and details of the references provided above, see: http://www.kilim.ie/ANTIQUE_KILIMS/Pages/19th_c_Azeri_camel_cover_120x78...

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