South Caucasian rug, probably Gendje- this 19th.century rug bears a striking and fascinating similarity to fig 167 in Bennett's book on Caucasian Rugs (1981 edition). However its design spacing and freedom of drawing make it undoubtedly earlier than Bennett's example. Other important differences are that this rug has a more refrained colour palette, having a soft yellow-green instead of emerald and employing wide ivory guard bands to offset the intensity of the deep-brown field. This is in contrast to Bennett's example where the enclosing borders highten the intensity of its deep-brown field, giving it an overall heavier even 'Victorian' effect. All-in-all the comparison with Bennett's example is a fascinating demonstration of manner in which Caucasian rugs evolved during the 19th and early 20th.centuries. How successive generations of weavers changed their design and colour sense to suit Western Markets and in doing so lost their connection with their inherited past. Corroded field and a verticle seam of old repairs to the centre, areas of wear and some later overcasting to original selvedges, end losses, 202 x 135cm, SOLD