Early 20th Century Karabagh Black and Pink Flower Design Handmade Wool Rug BB6180 4'0" × 6'3" $1,500

This circa-1920 antique Karabagh rug features a striking central medallion in black, containing pink floral abstractions. Along with soft blue and pink flower designs, which serve as a sort of corner bracket, the patterns appear against a field of beige. A thick black border containing more floral motifs completes the look of the antique carpet. Since the eleventh century, inhabitants of the Caucasus have produced knotted pile rugs. Karabagh, situated in the south of the Caucasus between the Black and Caspian Seas, has always been a melting pot of religion and culture. Karabagh carpets make use of traditions from many different societies, including Persia, Russia, Mongolia and Turkey. This antique carpet is part of an unusual subset of Karabagh rugs, which are flower-patterned and created in response to Western taste, utilizing geometric pink flowers and bouquets arranged in garlands, on grounds of dark blue or black.