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Daghestan rugs refer to tribal weavings associated with the the northernmost rug producing regions of the Caucasus mountains. The district encompasses some of the most rugged and isolated portions of the Caucasus, as well as lowland plains near the town of Derbent and bordering the Caspian Sea. Carpets have been woven in this region from ancient times, with substantial production existing from the 17th century to the 19th century.

Design
The Daghestan region is known particularly for the production of finely-knotted prayer rugs. Due in part to their excellent construction, a relatively significant number of Dagestan prayer rugs from the 19th century and early 20th century have survived.

Conventional prayer rugs from the Daghestan region most often display a light toned, usually ivory ground into which a pointed, geometric mihrab arch is incorporated. Typically, a serrated lattice containing polychrome stylized plants appears beneath the mihrab. Daghestan rugs are noted for their inclusion of strikingly abstracted, naive tribal designs. Small animal motifs, including gazelles and bird forms, are occasionally interspersed selectively through the design.

Daghestan rugs are occasionally encountered that do not include the mihrab arch in some instances, yet retain their devotional purpose. Dagestan rugs have attributes in common with neighboring Kuba and Shirvan rugs, and scholars have identified carpets with Dagestan traits that may have been produced in those regions. Daghestan rugs from the lowland coastal areas in particular often share palette and motifs of Karabagh and even Lenkoran rug styles.

Early Examples
In very early examples from the 17th and 18th century, Daghestan designs assume a much more spacious aspect, departing entirely from the diagonal lattice format in favor of large sections of alternating color where archetypal s-shaped devices, dragon and abstracted animal motifs often appear. Dark outlines in these pieces are generally absent, instead directly juxtaposing colored sections. Light, luminous tones predominate, especially including saffron yellow and white tones. Elemental border designs incorporating original derivations of s-shaped motifs are also encountered in early 18th and 19th century Daghestans.

Daghestan prayer rugs from the 19th century and turn of the 20th century dated in the Islamic are sometimes found.

Construction
Daghestan carpets can vary in their structure, incorporating using wool warp and weft, but sometimes cotton wefts with a variety of handles. Daghestan rugs were virtually always produced in area sizes, with short runner carpets also encountered.