Chichi

Rows of rosettes, punctuated by eight-pointed stars and rows of latch-hooked ‘Memling guls,’ alternate against the polychromatic blue field of this Chichi rug from the east Caucasus. Chichi rugs are primarily identified by their distinct border, made up of star-shaped rosettes linked by diagonally oriented cartouches and abstracted foliage. A series of smaller guard borders heighten the sense of movement in these pieces. White is used adeptly for highlighting and as an intermediary between complimentary contrasting tones of blue and ochre.