Since the eleventh century, inhabitants of the Caucasus have produced knotted pile rugs. Karabagh, situated in the south of this mountainous land between the Black and Caspian Seas, bordered by Turkey and Iran, has always been a veritable melting pot of religion and culture. Decorative ideas and motifs appropriated from many different societies include those of Persia, Russia, Mongolia, Turkey and Arab origins. The most unusual of antique Karabagh carpets are rose patterned, clearly created in response to Western taste, utilizing geometric pink and red flowers, bouquets arranged in garlands with swags, on grounds of dark blue or black. These ebullient and theatrical antique Karabagh rugs are frequently formatted as long narrow kellehs, gallery carpets or wide runners. Charming Armenian inscriptions, indicating both the weaver and date of completion of the piece, are often displayed in antique Karabagh rugs, carpets and kellehs (wide runners).