A KAZAK 'SEWAN' RUG, WEST CAUCASUS, |

The Estate of Carl Edelheim of Philadelphia (d. 1899), and thence by descent 
Property of a Massachusetts family, sold Sotheby's New York, 1st June, 2006, lot 67

A comparable red ground 'Sewan' cruciform medallion Kazak with a shield palmette border, from the Karl F. Milde Collection, is illustrated in Tschebull, Raoul, Kazak, New York, 1971, pl.27 and Sotheby's New York, 5 November 1983, lot 145, advertised Hali, Winter 1983, p.18.  "Not too many pre-revival era Sewan, or cross shield, Kazaks are known. the impressive cross shield has marker triangles relating to moon geometry, referring to the cycle of its major stillstand. A precursor of this medallion type can be seen in the West Central Anatolian rug, (lot 300)" EH