Doris Leslie Blau Antique Russian Bessarabian Rug

Antique Ukrainian Bessarabian Botanical Rug Size: 6'7" × 8'7" (200 × 261 cm) An exquisite example of late 19th-century Eastern European craftsmanship, this antique Bessarabian rug fr...

1900s Caucasian Karabagh handmade wool carpet in red, orange and brow Size: 7'9" × 14'3" (236 × 434 cm) This exceptional antique Karabagh rug, dating to the early 1900s, exemplifies ...

19th century Russian Bessarabian beige botanic handmade wool rug Size: 11'4" × 16'0" (345 × 487 cm) This exquisite 1880s Russian Bessarabian flat-woven rug is a testament to the regi...

1880s Antique Bessarabian Kilim Rug with Floral Motif and Graphic Charm Size: 11'2" × 13'4" (340 × 406 cm) This striking 19th-century Bessarabian rug, dating back to circa 1880, beau...

Antique Bessarabian Rugs / Kilims in both pile and tapestry weaving technique are some of the more beautiful carpets to have been produced in Europe. Many of the Bessarabian Kilims were woven around the mid to late 19th century, though some do date back to the 18th century as well. This production that carried into the early twentieth century under late Ottoman Turkish rule in an area corresponding to modern Bulgaria and Romania, they stand right on the cusp of European and Oriental carpet weaving. Many of the designs are floral patterns made in a naturalistic western style utilizing brown or black ground, not unlike certain Karabaghs from the Caucauses. But others, particularly flat weaves, reflect the tradition of Turkish kilims from nearby Anatolia, although in a distinctive Bessarbian palette. In either case they are supremely decorative rugs. History Of Antique Flat Woven Bessarabian Kilim Rugs from Romania Bessarabian Kilims and carpets are flat woven rugs that originate in the Russian provinces of the Ukraine and Moldova in the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. While most carpet experts will classify the flat woven rugs as Bessarabian they will often refer to the knotted pile carpets as Ukrainian. The Bessarabian carpets differ from antique Persian carpets in many ways. For example, unlike Persian carpets, Bessarabian rugs cannot be classified to a region according to the way the rugs were woven. Their weaves provide indications regarding the area for which they were created rather than for their classification. The markets these antique rugs were designed for could have fallen into different categories such as a rural market or an urban one. But all other attributes were dismissed and all the Romani made area rugs and carpets are referred to as Bessarabian instead. Antique Romanian Bessarabian kilims are ornate and they come in a variety of designs as well color combinations. It’s not uncommon for some Bessarabian kilims to be more floral while others may feature more geometric patterns. Bessarabian carpets are made on carpet weaving looms similar to the ones used to make the French Aubusson rugs. These looms are wooden, and the rugs are flat woven / kilims. The best of these rug types were created in the 1700’s. The Russian Imperial Tapestry Factory was where these Romanian rugs were made, and the factory was created by none other than Peter the Great. He established the Russian Imperial Tapestry Factory following his return from England and France. He was inspired to create the factory after being in awe of the splendid Aubusson carpets, Savonnerie rugs, and Axminster carpets he saw while abroad. The beautiful carpets he admired while in Europe had already caught the eyes of his Russian contemporaries, and importing them was triggering a financial drain for the Russian treasury. For this reason, the Russian Imperial Tapestry Factory was used as a location for copying the French and English carpets Peter the Great and the Russian nobility desired. Demand for these lavishly luxurious rugs grew, and additional factories were created in villages. This region is from where these rugs got the name Bessarabian. The region is divided between two territories: the Republic of Moldova and Romania. Bessarabian rug weavers were country people who had a country taste. Though they were tasked with replicating the elaborate motifs of the European rugs, they added their own unique country’s flair to their borrowed rug patterns and designs. This more folksy or traditional approach to the European patterns...

Antique Bessarabian rug, circa 1900 FJ Hakimian #02590.  

A finely hand-knotted vintage Turkish carpet from 1950s featuring a floral medallion design. The rug has even low wool pile on cotton foundation. It is heavy and lays flat on the flo...

Beautiful antique Bessarabian Kilim rug, country of origin: Romania, date circa mid-19th century. Size: 9 ft. x 12 ft. (2.74 m x 3.66 m) This sublimely beautiful antique rug...