Antique Bassarabian Rug BB5303 9'9" × 16'0" $19,000

Bessarabian rugs for sale are the commonly given name for rugs in pile and tapestry technique originating in Moldova (modern Bessarabia), Ukraine and some Russian provinces during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Produced under late Ottoman rule, they stand right on the cusp of European and Oriental carpet weaving. All works of the Bessarabian category are highly decorative. Not dissimilar to particular Karabaghs from the Caucasus, many of the designs included in Bessarabian classical European carpets feature a floral motif. The designs usually fit within a black or brown tone background, executed in a naturalistic western. These qualities can be seen in this vintage circa-1960 Bessarabian rug, which features rich pink-hued floral motifs against a field of light brown and comes from a tradition known for its synthesis of local folk themes and designs inspired by eighteenth century French antique carpets popular at the Russian Court.