Early 20th Century Bessarabian Kilim Rug with Dark Ground

Bessarabian Kilim Rug, Early 20th Century Additional Information: Dimensions: 8'0" W x 11'2" L

Bessarabian Kilim Fragment Rug, Mid-20th Century Additional Information: Dimensions: 3'3" W x 9'4" L

Pile carpets and flat-weaves known in the market as 'Bessarabian' were woven mostly in the 19th century in what are now the countries of Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine—along the northwestern coastal areas of the Black Sea (in eastern Europe). Both pile and Kilim types use floral subject matter and a distinct coloration, with a dominant dark ground and accents in rose reds. This older Bessarabian flat-weave uses a red derived from imported cochineal and adds a pleasing complimentary contrasting light green border, a feature lost in later examples. Planted flower pots...

Antique Uzbek Kilim Rug, Early 20th Century Original condition. Additional Information: Dimensions: 6'11" W x 11'8" L

Bakhtiari Rug, Early 20th Century This intriguing Bakhtiari carpet blends formal Persian and European styles with a distinct village flavor. A traditional Persian palmette and vine-...

Bessarabian Kilim Rug, Mid-20th Century Additional Information: Dimensions: 9'9" W x 11'6" L Condition: Excellent

Early 20th century East European Bessarabian Kilim East Europe, circa 1910 Handwoven Size: 11'4" x 7'6" (345 x 229 cm).

Antique rugs that are called “Kilim rugs”, primarily refer to a type of flat weave rug that was produced without knotted pile. Because these antique rugs are found across the globe, ...

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...

A vintage Russian Bessarabian flat-weave accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century with a pictorial depiction of 2 tigers in a forest setting. Measures: 6' 7" x 9' 9".

Antique Bessarabian rug, circa 1900 FJ Hakimian #02590.  

Authentic Early 20th century Russian Bessarabian carpet Size: 5'5" × 8'10" (165 × 269 cm) An early 20th century Russian Bessarabian rug, the brown field with a Primitive overall desi...