Until now I didn't know that there were two
designs produced in Chaili (Chajli). I only knew the common three (sometimes four) hooked
octagons design, usually with cotton warps and wefts and higher pile height than other
Shirvans, perhaps because this village is in a hilly area.Except for Wright and
Wertime, I found no authors who attribute examples related to my rug to Chaili. The
lithograph referenced in that book, the design of hooked medallion in the tradition of
Chaili products, as well as the structure are consistent with this attribution. Perhaps
this type preceded the well known three medallion textbook Chaili rugs.
In the
absence of early dated examples of the three octogonal hooked medallions type, Ian Bennett
("Oriental Rugs. Vol. 1. Caucasian" p. 175) is not convinced that any of the
examples of that type are of great age.
Does
any reader know of (or has handled) other related examples?
Do
you have further information concerning this production in Chaili village?