1stdibs Cotton, Wool Antique Pile 1880 Bessarabian Ukrainian Carpet

Ukrainian and Bessarabian carpets are typically flat-woven, as this was a tradition imported from France by Peter the Great, who is said to have opened various tapestry workshops around St. Petersburg. The rare pile carpets seem to borrow in part from the Scandinavian textile art tradition, such as the long piled Rya carpets from Finland and Sweden. This rug is decorated by a central floral bouquet elegantly framed by a floral wreath of red roses and white lilies. The black background is characteristic of this rare group, being the main color used on antique Bessarabian flat weaves, as it allows to highlight the rich floral palette.