Oriental Rugs Glossary

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Caucasus

The Caucasus is the land stripe which in the West verges on the Black Sea, in the East verges on the Caspian Sea and in the South verges on Turkey and Iran. The Great Caucaus Mountains which reach from sea to sea divide the land stripe into the so called North Caucasus and the Southern Trans Caucasia. One can divide the peoples of Caucasus into four groups: the Azerbaijars (Turkish speaking Shiites), the Armenians (Gregorian Christians), the Georgians (of Greek Orthodox faith) and the North Caucasians (partly Moslems, partly Christians). The Caucasian rugs had their blossoming peak around 1800 and distinguish themselves by richness of forms and expression. The linear and geometric patterns are predominating. In general one can evaluate Caucasian works until ca. 1930 as high folk art. Especially their shiny but never glary colors make them highly attractive rugs. Masterly compositions made with vegetable dyes have made the old Caucasians some of the most valuable Oriental rugs.