An iconic late 19th-century Kuba runner from Azerbaijan, handwoven in richly dyed wool, with a mesmerizing central field of repeated stylized leaves pointing toward small, floating crosses—each motif slightly varied, like a visual rhythm played out across the length of the rug. The border is distinctly Kuba: narrow, dense, and intricate, filled with petite floral forms and tribal abstractions that feel both ancient and alive. Woven in tones of crimson, deep and pale indigo, green, gold, and white, the palette is vibrant without shouting. Kuba rugs hail from a mountainous region in northeastern Azerbaijan, home to a diverse mix of ethnic groups, many of whom have maintained nomadic or semi-nomadic traditions. Their rugs are prized for their graphic clarity, technical precision, and deeply symbolic patterns—each one a personal expression, passed through generations. This runner, with its balance of geometry and movement, is a masterclass in restraint, rhythm, and cultural memory.
