Old Kazak | 278 x 164 cm | Nr. 10521

Geometric old Kazak, patterned throughout in light red with a central medallion and border

Origin	Caucasus
Dimensions	278 cm x 164 cm (= 4.56 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: wool
knots per m²2	150.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1920
Colour	Light red, dark blue
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Kazak (also spelled Kasak) rugs belong to the group of Caucasian rugs. Rugs have been made in the Caucasus since the end of the 18th century. Their hallmark is abstract geometric tribal patterns in primary colours. The geometric and, more rarely, floral motifs are typically rendered in intense, high-contrast colours. In the 19th century a considerable share of these rugs, produced mainly in villages, was exported to the West under Russian control. This old Kazak is around 100 years old and a real collector's piece.

Pattern

The abstract, geometric composition is what gives this Kazak its understated elegance. The pattern flatters the design of the room and never draws attention away from the furniture, the décor or the architectural elements. It creates a pleasant atmosphere without dominating the style of the room.

The decorated surround (border) forms a beautiful contrast to the centre and shapes the transition at the edge of the rug.

In the pattern of this Kazak it is above all the diamonds that catch the eye. A diamond is a rhombus standing on one of its points, and in an Oriental rug its four equal sides can be serrated, outlined or set with hooks. The diamond is one of the oldest basic forms in the Oriental rug. In the Islamic world it carries a symbolic meaning: it stands for the immortality of the soul. That is why it appears so often as a filler motif.

The recurring pattern (known as a repeat pattern) flatters the design of a room and doesn't draw attention away from the furniture, the décor and the architectural features. It creates a pleasant atmosphere without dominating the style of the room. In this Kazak, the repeating elements find their centre in the middle of the field, in the symmetrical medallion.

The background of this Kazak is light red. The border is worked in light blue, light red and cream white. In the dark blue centre, dark green and light red are combined.

Condition

This Kazak has a story behind it. It was hand-knotted around 1920. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good but unrestored condition. The pile has grown a little thinner in places over the years, and the edges are damaged here and there. We haven't restored this Kazak, because we feel it has a special presence exactly as it is. If you'd rather we did, we'll gladly restore the rug for you. Either way, this Kazak will give you pleasure for decades to come.

Material

The pile of this Kazak was hand-knotted from high-quality new wool. New wool is obtained by gently shearing sheep. New wool is a renewable, natural raw material with a number of impressive qualities: thanks to the natural lanolin in the wool, the surface repels droplets of water and is therefore naturally protected against dirt. Wool also provides excellent thermal insulation, helps regulate the indoor climate and dampens sound. The foundation (weft and warp threads) of this Kazak is made of new wool.