Caucasian rug

Caucasian rugs are a type of Oriental carpet originating from the Caucasus region of Europe. These rugs have a history dating back to at least medieval times, with fragments of knotted pile carpets found from the 13th and 14th centuries.1

During the 17th century, Persian influence is believed to have led to the establishment of carpet manufactories in the Shirvan and Karabagh districts, producing carpets with designs like the avshan and harshang. By the late 19th century, a high demand from the West led to an expansion of weaving in areas such as Dagestan, Kuba, and Shirvan. These rugs are typically characterized by bold geometric designs and strong primary colors, often woven with a symmetrical knot on a wool foundation. Other regions, like Western Azerbaijan and areas between Georgia and Armenia, produced coarser rugs with longer piles, known as Kazakhs, which are noted for their vigorous designs.1