Caucasus
CAUCASUS
The area of the Caucasus Mountains (bounded by the Black and Caspian Seas to the east and west, Russia to the north, and Turkey and Iran to the south) has produced very distinctive rug types since at least the end of the 18th century. Most “Caucasian” rugs are village pieces with bold geometric designs and primary colors. Vegetable dyes were used exclusively until the 1860′s when synthetic dyes began to appear. In structure, almost all of the rugs from this area use the asymmetric “Persian” knot.
Caucasian rugs are classified in to subcategories, in which the region it is made in determines each style. Some of these subcategories are:
Baku
Commonly features muted blues and ivory, and complex arrangements of geometric flowers.
Dagestan
Primarily used as prayer rugs with a high pile and a coarse weave.
Gendje
Generally uses pale colors like yellow, pale red, white, and blue, and shows a wide variety of design motifs featuring stylized flowers.
Karabakh
Emphasizes pinks, violets, yellows, and greens and a variety of geometric designs.
Kazak
This is known to be the most popular of Caucasian rugs. Characterized by simpler motifs, that center on a single large decorative element. A strong contrast in colors like pale and dark reds, white, vivid blue, and bottle green is also a characteristic of these rugs.
Shirvan
Known for featuring dense arrangements and a unique hooked triangle motif in borders.
Talish
This type of rug is commonly long and narrow, with the field usually devoid of elements but strong in color, typically dark red or dark blue
