Kazak rugs

Where the name comes from

Kazak is a trade name taken from the Qazax district in the South Caucasus. It describes a family of village rugs woven across the uplands that today fall in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, not a single tribe or town.

The best-known Kazaks were woven in the 19th century and exported to Europe and the Ottoman world. Synthetic dyes arrived in the early 20th century, and quality fell during the Soviet era.

Designs and colors

Kazaks are drawn in large, simple shapes: star and shield medallions, hooked diamonds and small animals or figures scattered in the field. The colors are saturated reds, indigo blues, greens and golden yellows, often with ivory.

Dealers use names for common designs. A Sewan or shield Kazak has a large cross-shaped medallion on red. A Lori Pambak has a row of star medallions. Fachralo Kazaks often have light blue or green fields, and Karachov Kazaks are known for star medallions on green.

How they are made

Kazaks are knotted with the symmetrical knot on a wool foundation, with several shoots of weft, often red, packed between each row. That gives the rug a heavy, springy hand and a fairly coarse knot count.

Many antique Kazaks are small, under about 6 by 10 feet, because they were woven on village looms for local use.

Old and new Kazaks

Workshops in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Armenia now weave Kazak designs, in sizes from runners to 9 by 12. Many are well made, with hand-spun wool and natural dyes, but they are new rugs in an old style.

An antique Kazak usually has a wool foundation, some wear, softer color changes from natural dyes and a less regular drawing. A new piece is more even and often has a cotton foundation.

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