This rug has sparked quite an intellectual rug history debate to determine it's age!
My esteemed colleague and rug repair expert, Sabir Sotani brought this insight:
"Before the Soviet Revolution and the annexation of the Caucasus , "lunar" calendar or the Arabic calendar was used in this region! It was used from 1917 onwards! The writing on the carpet shows the Arabic lunar year 1332 and this year is the year 1445. If we subtract 1332 from 1445, we find the age of this carpet, which is 113 years old. "
This is an old Caucasian rug with evidence of oxidation in the black which supports the hypothesis of it being 113 years old. Sabir also tells me that "Industrial colors entered the Caucasus region after 1840." This pink very well might be an industrial color AND be 113 years old. Fascinating!