Caucasian Rugs
Caucasian rugs are made by nomadic tribes in the Caucasus Mountains, and traditionally designs are geometric with bold colours. They usually have wide borders containing stripes, latch hook, swastika and barber pole motifs. Nearly all carpets contain the latch hook design, but occasionally animal and pattern figures are found.
The inhabitants of the Caucasus live in a series of valleys, and Kazak refers to a region of these valleys crossing Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. The Caucasus is composed of people from many races, with most belonging to nomadic tribes.
Caucasian Carpets
Common colours of Caucasian carpets in this region are blues, browns, yellows, greens and ivory. Unlike in Turkey, red is not often used. Dyes are less uniform in design than is the case in Persia.
Antique Rugs
Antique carpets from this region are usually made completely of wool. Goat’s hair was also sometimes used for the weft. Carpets from here are often crooked, due to the fact they are made by nomadic groups. The Turkish knot is used Caucasian carpets.
In the 1920s regions in the Caucasus Mountains became part of the Soviet Union, which resulted in a decline in traditional Caucasian rugs. Instead, the Soviet Union set up carpet weaving factories which led to individual weavers losing their unique designs and patterns. Today, antique Caucasian rugs are more valued than modern rugs due to this effect.
Kazak Rugs
Many of the Caucasian rugs from Kazak have a cross motif, reflecting the Christian history of some of these regions. There are many different styles of Kazak rugs. Bordjalou Kazak rugs contain cross motifs with octagon shapes. ‘Eagle Claw Kazak’ or ‘Sunburst Kazak’ often have a flaming cross motif. Shield or Butterfly Kazak rugs contain cruciform medallions decorated with butterfly wings.
Daghestan rugs are geometric, as are most Caucasian carpets, with design often mimicking jewels. They occasionally have a floral form in the border. The colours are bright, and there is no shading from one colour to the next in the carpet, causing a stark transition between colours of the carpet. The latch hook is a common feature of these carpets, present both in the border and field of the carpet. Tiny crosses are also sometimes seen.
Karabagh rugs have been influenced by European tastes. Even some Muslim prayer rugs have a depiction of the cross on them. These rugs also have a Persian influence. ‘Sunburst’ rugs are a popular style of Karabagh rug.
Shirvan Rugs
Shirvan rugs are some of the finest rugs to come out of the Caucasus. They are thin, and finely knotted. They are characterised by their light warp threads made from undyed sheep’s wool.