The earliest example of the “Crown Star” rug can be found in the Virgin and Child painting created by Jan Van Eyck in 1436. Here the Dutch painter presented the rug under the feet of the Blessed Virgin.
Doris Eder attributes such carpets, and those related in design, to the Lezghians, that is why The rug is known in professional circles as “Lezgi Star”. We can also find it with the name “Shining Star”. According to Volkmar Gantzhorn’s own investigations, which coincide with those carried out by Wahram Tatikian and Mania Ghazarian, such carpets belong to the Artsagh-Group and were produced by Armenian families, one of which was still
living Kirovabad in 1991. .
An example of this group, dated 1815 and bearing Armenian writing, is also located in the Folk Arts Museum in Yerevan. In this piece, the Christian character of the rug is almost more obvious because brightly outlined orthodox crosses were incorporated into the negative areas between the large Cross-stars.
Crown-Star rugs are geometric in design and mostly have one or multiple medallions in the field.
The main motif of the rug is a large eight-point star, which sometimes appears directly on the field or enclosed in a box and repeats itself in the field. The star medallions have an alternating color pattern. The main and minor borders have designs with a tulip and leaf, flower head, flower with leaf and vine, star, double E, double S, and other motifs.
Crown-Star rugs generally have blue, red, gold, or ivory backgrounds. These colors are used interchangeably with the main border. Additionally, shades of yellow, light blue, cinnamon, green, brown, and black are woven for the minor borders, design elements, and outlines. Occasionally, these secondary hues are applied in the field and borders.
This type of rug was popular in Gardman, Tavush and Lori regions
Source:
Volkmar Gantzhorn, The Christian Oriental Carpet
Abraham Levi Moheban;The Encyclopedia of Antique Carpets, Twenty Five Centuries of Weaving.