The Caucasian carpets are from the areas south, east and north of the mountain chain of the Caucasus.
Made from materials particular to individual tribal provinces, the rugs of the Caucasus normally display bold geometric designs in primary colours. Styles typical to the Caucasus region are Daghestan, Shirvan, Gendje rugs, Kazakh and Quba rugs. Several carpet styles from contemporary northwestern Iran also fall largely into this bracket, such as the Ardabil rugs.
Carpets, made before 1925, can be divided into five groups namely; Kazak, Karabach, Sjirvan, Kuba and Dagestan carpets. The carpets from the Karabach area often have finer patterns and resemble Persian carpets. Outside these groupings there are also Gjandzja, Silé and Verni carpets.
The significance of these beautiful carpets are their geometrical patterns, often with an imaginative and plentiful way of expression. Sometimes curvilinear animal and pattern figures occur in the carpets.
The older Caucasian carpets are made with handspun yarns of wool as well as the warp, weft and pile. The natural colors are both clear and strong. Good wool quality and Turkish knots make the carpets durable and they have a good reputation.
In newer carpets, made after 1925, the warp is of cotton, with synthetic colors that are bleached and fewer and simplified patterns are used. The carpets are fairly durable, but less interesting from an artistic point of view. The most common names on these carpets are Kazak, Derbent, Mikrach, Gendje, Erivan, Sjirvan and Akhty.
