A 'STAR' KAZAK RUG, WEST CAUCASUS |

Type 'D' single border variant

Probably with Henry Haldeman, second half 19th century
Eugenia Haldeman Riley (1879 - 1966), Austin, Texas
Inherited by the present owner's father
Thence by descent

Pile variable, ranging from 6-8 mm deep in for example the indigo pile, with areas as visible in the illustration where foundation is beginning to appear; some losses to pile (old insect damage) at lower end; two repaired cuts on the right hand side; patch in guard stripe on left hand side (as visible in catalogue illustration); browns oxidised throughout, with complete oxidisation in the end guards; some old small cobbled (domestic?) repairs visible from reverse. For images of damaged and repaired areas please contact the department for additional photographs. The rug would benefit from a very thorough clean and professional conservation. It has very nice space and good colour, which will certainly improve with washing.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Eugenia Haldeman Riley was a Daughter of the American Revolution, the great-great-great grand-daughter of Jacob Haldeman (1722-83), originally from Switzerland, who settled in Pennsylvania in the mid 18th century. An Austin 'society girl', she married Lieut. Napoleon William Riley in October 1907; later a Colonel in the US army he served in Panama and the Philippines.  The family at one time had a late 19th century photograph, now sadly mislaid, of Eugenia as a girl at home and which also showed this rug. The typology of ‘Star Kazak’ rugs was first articulated in ‘Star-Kazaks/SternKasaks’ in Hali Vol.3, No.1, Spring 1980, pp.17-26.  The present example is one with ‘Type D’ border - with ‘c’ gul motifs. In 1980 18 examples of Star Kazaks in total had been identified.  In the intervening years, the number of known examples has increased several-fold; Hali Issue 157, Autumn 2008, APG, p.144, noting they knew of 23 of type ‘D’in total. Type ‘D’ rugs are further subdivided into those which include an inner star surround, and those like the present example, without.  The appearance of this previously unrecorded example, which has been in the same family since the second half of the 19th century at least, is an addition to the former group. The presence of a purplish-brown in the motifs suggests a date in the first half of the 19th century.