Karachov Kazak Rug

The source of the rug comes from the book Tapis du Caucase - Rugs of the Caucasus, Ian Bennett & Aziz Bassoul, The Nicholas Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon 2003, nr.13 and Oriental Rugs Volume 1 Caucasian, Ian Bennett, Oriental Textile Press, Aberdeen 1993, pg.346 and Caucasian Carpets, E. Gans-Reudin, Thames and Hudson, Switzerland 1986, pg.114. This is a multiple medallion design rug from the late 19th century, Karachov Kazak region, Caucasus area. The town of Karachov (sometimes rendered Karatchoph or Karachoph) is southeast of Lori-Pambak, between Karaklis and Idjevan. It has given its name to a group of Kazak rugs with bold, majestic designs, the most characteristic of which resemble certain Turkish rugs, notably the Cannakale Bergama group, which, in turn, hark back to one of the most important groups of Classical Turkish carpets, the so-called 'Large Pattern Holbeins', which can be traced through European painting back to at least the 15th century. The well-known Karachov version consists of a large central white-ground octagon, flanked at the four corners of the field by four white ground squares; the main field color may be blue, green, blue-green, or red. A second and less well-known group consists of pieces with either three, four or five medallions arranged along the vertical axis, the medallions being both polygonal, resembling the Yomut Turkoman 'Kepse' gül, and rectangular or square. The polygonal medallions almost always have red grounds and the rectangular ones white; the main field color is usually green or blue. Probably more Karachovs survive than any other group of Kazak rugs; they were obviously woven in considerable quantities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, probably for export to the West. This rug has many animal figures and is framed with a series of borders. The design of the rug is interpreted by our designers, and vivid colors are chosen for this rug.