Kars

The remote but traditionally important knotting region of Kars lies at the extreme eastern end of the Anatolian weaving area, very close to the border with Russian Caucasus. As in this outstanding example, the sought-after handmade rugs of Kars thus usually reveal a pronounced Caucasian influence in their design and colouring. Here, the classic Kazak style for which the 19th Century Caucasian period is most renowned is rendered with flair in colours of subtly contrasting pastel delicacy, this distinctive conjunction of graphic vigour and tonal tranquillity being a distinguishing characteristic of the best Kars examples.