Shirvan is a historically significant, industrially and agriculturally developed region in the eastern Caucasus stretching between the western shores of the Caspian Sea and the Kura River and the shores of the Caspian Sea. The Shirvan school centers on the production of rugs in Shirvan. neighboring villages
Rich composition and complex designs of Shirvan carpets are well known since the middle ages; they are praised in diaries of German, English merchants and ambassadors of VI-VIII centuries.
Arguably some Shirvan carpets were used in paintings by the XIV-XV century European painters: Hans Memling, Lorenzo Lotto, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Andrea del Verrocchio and many others.
At the peak of the Caucasian carpet popularity in Europe and America; the name Shirvan indicated finer, better quality rugs in a diverse range of designs and color schemes.
Until recently, most better quality Caucasian rugs, unless evidently those belonging to the Kazak school, were referred o as ‘Shirvan’ or ‘Kuba Shirvan’.
Recent scholarship in the matter of the Caucasian weaving arts enabled however a clearer and more accurate classification.
to be continued …
