The Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History   The Metropolitan Museum of Art
World MapsTimelines / RegionsThematic EssaysWorks of ArtIndex  
Dragon Carpet, 19th century
Caucasus region
Wool, cotton; plain weave with supplementary-weft embroidery (Soumak); 89 x 69 1/4 in. (226.1 x 177.2 cm)
Gift of Joseph V. McMullan, 1971 (1971.263.5)

Even though different in general design, there can be no doubt that the pattern of this embroidered rug was derived directly from the tradition of the dragon rugs of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In fact, the surface is almost entirely covered with continuous rows of highly stylized, enormous dragon figures, alternating in color. The patterns on the bodies of these fantastic animals, although largely floral in nature, seem to indicate the presence of scales, which are particularly emphasized in the two white dragon-figures in the first row. Groups of other animals, probably stags on a minute scale, are scattered all through the field. A curious feature is a single figure of a human-faced winged creature in the upper left margin of the field.


Open full-size and alternate view(s)



  • Related Index Terms

    Material and Technique

    Object

    Subject Matter/Theme

    Technical Glossary


  • Dragon Carpet, 19th century
    Caucasus region
    Wool, cotton; plain weave with supplementary-weft embroidery (Soumak); 89 x 69 1/4 in. (226.1 x 177.2 cm)
    Gift of Joseph V. McMullan, 1971 (1971.263.5)