Kars Rugs
Kars (known formerly as Chorzene) used to be a major Armenian stronghold during the Antiquity and Middle-Ages. The name may suggest “The Gate” in Georgian. The city was indeed a gate between Caucus and Anatolia. Today it is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province, inhabited mostly by settled and semi-nomad Kurds.
In the world of woven pieces, too, Kars is a connecting pathway between Caucasian and Anatolian designs, while the area has its own claims on some designs, used in both Anatolia and caucus.
Antique Kars pieces, woven during the 19th century, are categorized as Kazak, which is a term for Armenian rugs of Caucus. Flat-weaves of the region are also famous. Gathered ultimately in the city of Kars, these are kilims, soumaks, cushion and bags woven in the Kars Province.
Technical aspects and the structure of Kars Rugs
Kars rugs are coarsely knotted with a density of about 60 knots per square inch. Knots are symmetrical (Turkish). These are completely woolen. The region has coarse and endure wool. Area rugs including prayer sizes and longer ones are common.
Kars kilims, too, are woven in prayer and runner sizes. Most of kilims have long narrow format. A type of soumak bag is attributed to Kars. These are woven without ground wefts.
Dyeing and painting of Kars rugs
Red, blue and cream are used for fields, while the secondary palette include a vast range of light shades, from pistachio to apricot.
While Kazak rugs have reputation for their brick red, the red used in Kars tends to burgundy. This would be a certain clue to Kars pieces among Kazaks.
Designs and patterns of the Kars rugs
So many Caucasian and Anatolian designs woven here. Almost all basic Kazak designs are woven in Kars. These include Star Kazak, Chelaberd and Lori Pambak as well as designs with quincunx structure. Kars weavers have their own accent and charm among Kazak weavers.
A large butterfly-shaped medallion is attributed to Kars. Prayer rugs of Kars have a triangular mihrab. Kilims are mostly designed with ether strips, lattice or pole medallion.
