SHAHSAVAN KILIM CARPET, CIRCA 1900 CM 200X98 Visible restoration work carried out a long time ago. SHAHSAVAN KILIM, CIRCA 1900, OLD RESTORATIONS. This high-impact graphic was used to highlight the entrance to the nomadic Alachigh (tent) of Persian tribal groups. The Shahsavan are a nomadic pastoral tribe located in north-western Iran. These Azerbaijani Turkic-speaking shepherds migrate between their winter quarters, qishlaq, in the Mughan steppe of Azerbaijan, and their summer quarters, yeylaq, around Mount Sabalan, some one hundred and fifty miles to the south. Their Allachigh dome tents consist of a circular crown and some 24/32 bent wooden bars that are inserted into it. The frame resembles a giant spider. To give lateral strength to the tent, long strips of wool are passed through it. In the centre, a large wooden peg is driven into the ground under the crown to support the structure, after which it is covered with several Ketcha felts, leaving only one area for passage. This was the entrance and was usually the only part decorated with pieces like this kilim. The small border is decorated with brocaded hook diamonds. At one end, a brocaded design band of offset hook motifs provides an elem-like finish. While the field is decorated with a large row of reciprocal clovers. Reference bibliography: WRIGHT, RICHARD & WERTIME, JOHN, Caucasian Carpets and Covers. The Culture of Weaving. London 1995, pl. XXXVII LANDREAU, ANTHONY N. & PICKERING, W. R., From the Bosporus to Samarkand. Flat-Woven Rugs. (Textile Museum exhibition catalogue) Washington, D.C. 1969, no. 112. VOK, IGNAZIO, Vok Collection. Anatolia. Kilims and other Flatweaves from Anatolia. (Text by Udo Hirsch) Munich 1997, no. 39