Antique Armenian Marasali 

This is an AMAZING, finely woven Armenian Marasali pictorial rug circa 1850s with a beautiful maiden holding an instrument. It was difficult to figure out what instrument it was. Originally I thought Kanoun. Someone mentioned Saz. Even a Dumbelek. But my wife who is a musician finally solved the puzzle. It is an Armenian version of a Lyre or “Knar”.

This rug also dispels the myth that only Muslims wove Marasali rugs. Many Armenians lived in the East Caucasus and they wove many rugs including Marasalis.

But there is more. Turn the rug 45 degrees and another image is revealed. The maiden is caressing an image of a “Babik” or Armenian Grandfather with a white beard!
 
This iconography is the scene from "Klkhatir Sourp Hagopa" who was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa. It depicts Mary the Mother of God with his severed head on her lap presented to her by an angel. In the collection of the Armenian Jerusalem Patriarchate.