KAZAK (pronounced: kah-zawk, like in the word ‘hawk’).The Kazak is one of the most beloved and recognizable rugs from the northern Caucasus region. Known for their deep reds, dark blues and creams, these geometric patterns reflect the life of the nomadic peoples who originally wove them.
To talk about Kazaks, let’s back up, for a moment, and talk about….geography!
The Caucasus Region is that parcel of land flanked by the Black and Caspian Seas. It’s named for the Caucasus Mountain Range that marches through the region and is home to the modern states of Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and a part of southwestern Russia.
For hundreds of years, this region has endured strife of nearly every variety: ethnic, religious, cultural. The balance of power has tipped back and forth many times, with dominance being wielded by both Islamic Tribes and Christian Armenians. This mashup of influences led to a distinct style, with influences from neighboring empires and regions — Persian and Ottoman Empires, and Turkoman tribes of Central Asia (think of the –stans).
This is where Caucasian rugs originated. There are many styles of Caucasian rugs, but because they share common design elements, I like to think of them as different dialects, rather than different languages. Kazak is one of these dialects.
Now, this leads to an interesting point, that comes down to the letter ‘h.’ In the rug industry, spelling is often fluid: words originating from other languages are translated into English phonetically, allowing a lot of room for interpretation. Normally, a stray ‘h’ wouldn’t mean much. But here, the difference between Kazak and Kazakh is pretty big.
Kazak refers to a type of rug design that originated in the Caucasus Region, in an area known as Kazak (between the towns of Tiflis and Erevan). Kazakh — with an H — refers to the people who dwell in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan.
While these regions are often lumped together, and Turkoman (Kazakh) tribes did influence Kazak rugs, and they do both produce iconic tribal rugs, they are distinct, as are the rugs they make.
Tribal rugs like Kazaks are known for their symbolism: motifs telegraph a story pastoral nomads, sheep and ram herders, keeping and hunting eagles, celebrating important ceremonies like motherhood and marriage, valuing characteristics of prosperity and faith. The Imperial Eagle shown above inspires an Eagle medallion that appears frequently in Kazaks, with many variations in the details.
More than other types of rugs, Kazak motifs are represented quite figuratively, a fact that reveals an important aspect of the culture here: they are more religiously diverse than some other weaving regions. Islam prohibits the depiction of life-like forms, which is one factor that influenced the abundance of floral motifs throughout Persian and Turkish carpets. Their content reveals a blended cultural, ethnic and religious heritage.
The bold colors — an array of reds, blues and ivories — and the rectilinear motifs (where the angles of shapes are corners, not curves) are common in all Kazaks. Does that mean that all rugs with these elements are made in the Caucasus region? No, not anymore. Rugs with Kazak motifs, colors and symbols are produced in many weaving regions (Turkey, Pakistan, India) — “Kazak” now denotes a style rather than a hometown.
Although weaving traditions continue uninterrupted in some places, in many others, it has migrated or died off. This is the case of the Kazak. Changes in the economy, people and lifestyles in the Caucasus have contributed to a sharp decrease in weaving there; at this point, it’s a cottage industry, rather than a flourishing one. Ironically, and luckily, the shoe has jumped to the other foot: Central Asian Turkoman tribes that originally influenced Kazak rug weavers have now been influenced by the Kazak rugs, and have become some of the most accomplished craftsman producing Kazaks today.
$349 $439 Why this price?
Hand woven in India, the Akina Collection sets a rugged and worldly foundation. Each piece is deliberately crafted with textural highs and lows, accentuating the all-over geometric pattern. And because...
$429 $539 Why this price?
Breathe order, balance and calm into any setting with the new, hand-loomed Barkley Collection. These linear, tonal designs in wool and shimmery viscose are at once casual, chic and ultra...
$99 $129 Why this price?
Give your room an all-natural feel with the Edge Collection. These earthy rugs are hand woven in India of alternating strips of leather and jute for a unique tactile feel...
$179 $229 Why this price?
The flatwoven Oakwood Collection is an earthy neutral that benefits from natural, dye-free wool. The handwoven rugs have an intricate speckled look, thanks to the nature of pure, fine wool....
$349 $439 Why this price?
Hand-woven of jute, wool and cotton in India, the Omen Collection is a timeless series. The subtle chevron waves add beautiful dimension and create a truly unique look that is...
$431.20
$539
Why this price?
Sold Out
Hand stitched in India of 100% authentic cowhide, Promenade is a contemporary version of the timeless cowhide rug. The modern collection offers patterns that range in graphic designs with a...
$679
$959
Why this price?
Sold Out
Hand stitched in India of 100% authentic cowhide, Promenade is a contemporary version of the timeless cowhide rug. The modern collection offers patterns that range in graphic designs with a...
$434.40
$543
Why this price?
Sold Out
Hand stitched in India of 100% authentic cowhide, Promenade is a contemporary version of the timeless cowhide rug. The modern collection offers patterns that range in graphic designs with a...
$229
$289
Why this price?
Sold Out
A luxe, head-turning series of shag rugs, Orian is machine made in China of 100% polyester for great durability and exceptional softness. The densely packed yarns also make Orian a...
$207.20
$259
Why this price?
Sold Out
Inspired by old Ben Ourian rugs, we've collaborated with Designer Justina Blakeney to transform the look with her signature 'Jungalow' style. The result is a series of wild patterns and...
$207.20
$259
Why this price?
Sold Out
Inspired by old Ben Ourian rugs, we've collaborated with Designer Justina Blakeney to transform the look with her signature 'Jungalow' style. The result is a series of wild patterns and...
$434.40
$543
Why this price?
Sold Out
Hand stitched in India of 100% authentic cowhide, Promenade is a contemporary version of the timeless cowhide rug. The modern collection offers patterns that range in graphic designs with a...
$419
$529
Why this price?
Sold Out
Hand woven in India, the Akina Collection sets a rugged and worldly foundation. Each piece is deliberately crafted with textural highs and lows, accentuating the all-over geometric pattern. And because...
$599 $749 Why this price?
A perfect blend of refined and relaxed, the Sloane Collection is hand-woven of wool, cotton and polyester by artisans in India. Sloane offers a sophisticated foundation for a contemporarily bohemian...
$599 $749 Why this price?
A perfect blend of refined and relaxed, the Sloane Collection is hand-woven of wool, cotton and polyester by artisans in India. Sloane offers a sophisticated foundation for a contemporarily bohemian...
$599 $749 Why this price?
A perfect blend of refined and relaxed, the Sloane Collection is hand-woven of wool, cotton and polyester by artisans in India. Sloane offers a sophisticated foundation for a contemporarily bohemian...
$599 $749 Why this price?
A perfect blend of refined and relaxed, the Sloane Collection is hand-woven of wool, cotton and polyester by artisans in India. Sloane offers a sophisticated foundation for a contemporarily bohemian...
$599 $749 Why this price?
A perfect blend of refined and relaxed, the Sloane Collection is hand-woven of wool, cotton and polyester by artisans in India. Sloane offers a sophisticated foundation for a contemporarily bohemian...
$219 $269 Why this price?
A perfect blend of refined and relaxed, the Roman Collection is hand woven of wool, cotton and viscose by skilled artisans in India. Designs with meticulously placed strokes offer a...
$219 $269 Why this price?
A perfect blend of refined and relaxed, the Roman Collection is hand woven of wool, cotton and viscose by skilled artisans in India. Designs with meticulously placed strokes offer a...
$219 $269 Why this price?
A perfect blend of refined and relaxed, the Roman Collection is hand woven of wool, cotton and viscose by skilled artisans in India. Designs with meticulously placed strokes offer a...
$219 $269 Why this price?
A perfect blend of refined and relaxed, the Roman Collection is hand woven of wool, cotton and viscose by skilled artisans in India. Designs with meticulously placed strokes offer a...
$219 $269 Why this price?
A perfect blend of refined and relaxed, the Roman Collection is hand woven of wool, cotton and viscose by skilled artisans in India. Designs with meticulously placed strokes offer a...
$129 $159 Why this price?
Hand-woven of 100% polyester by artisans in India, the Rey Collection features new solids elevated by tonal texture. Created in collabration with Justina Blakeney, the multi-colored yarn and stitching creates...
$129 $159 Why this price?
Hand-woven of 100% polyester by artisans in India, the Rey Collection features new solids elevated by tonal texture. Created in collabration with Justina Blakeney, the multi-colored yarn and stitching creates...
$129 $159 Why this price?
Hand-woven of 100% polyester by artisans in India, the Rey Collection features new solids elevated by tonal texture. Created in collabration with Justina Blakeney, the multi-colored yarn and stitching creates...
$129 $159 Why this price?
Hand-woven of 100% polyester by artisans in India, the Rey Collection features new solids elevated by tonal texture. Created in collabration with Justina Blakeney, the multi-colored yarn and stitching creates...
$129 $159 Why this price?
Hand-woven of 100% polyester by artisans in India, the Rey Collection features new solids elevated by tonal texture. Created in collabration with Justina Blakeney, the multi-colored yarn and stitching creates...
$149 $189 Why this price?
Hand-woven in India of 100% wool, the Quarry Collection sets a refined, heavily textured tone that can work in any space. Available in three timeless neutrals.
$149 $189 Why this price?
Hand-woven in India of 100% wool, the Quarry Collection sets a refined, heavily textured tone that can work in any space. Available in three timeless neutrals.
$149 $189 Why this price?
Hand-woven in India of 100% wool, the Quarry Collection sets a refined, heavily textured tone that can work in any space. Available in three timeless neutrals.
$619 $779 Why this price?
Hand stitched in India of 100% authentic cowhide, Promenade is a contemporary version of the timeless cowhide rug. The modern collection offers patterns that range in graphic designs with a...
$619 $779 Why this price?
Hand stitched in India of 100% authentic cowhide, Promenade is a contemporary version of the timeless cowhide rug. The modern collection offers patterns that range in graphic designs with a...
$619 $779 Why this price?
Hand stitched in India of 100% authentic cowhide, Promenade is a contemporary version of the timeless cowhide rug. The modern collection offers patterns that range in graphic designs with a...
$619 $779 Why this price?
Hand stitched in India of 100% authentic cowhide, Promenade is a contemporary version of the timeless cowhide rug. The modern collection offers patterns that range in graphic designs with a...
$619 $779 Why this price?
Hand stitched in India of 100% authentic cowhide, Promenade is a contemporary version of the timeless cowhide rug. The modern collection offers patterns that range in graphic designs with a...
$119 $149 Why this price?
Hand-woven by skilled artisans in India, the Priya Collection offers beautiful tonal designs accentuated by a carefully curated color palette. Delicate yet strong, Priya is an instant classic made for...
$119 $149 Why this price?
Hand-woven by skilled artisans in India, the Priya Collection offers beautiful tonal designs accentuated by a carefully curated color palette. Delicate yet strong, Priya is an instant classic made for...
$119 $149 Why this price?
Hand-woven by skilled artisans in India, the Priya Collection offers beautiful tonal designs accentuated by a carefully curated color palette. Delicate yet strong, Priya is an instant classic made for...
$119 $149 Why this price?
Hand-woven by skilled artisans in India, the Priya Collection offers beautiful tonal designs accentuated by a carefully curated color palette. Delicate yet strong, Priya is an instant classic made for...
$119 $149 Why this price?
Hand-woven by skilled artisans in India, the Priya Collection offers beautiful tonal designs accentuated by a carefully curated color palette. Delicate yet strong, Priya is an instant classic made for...
$119 $149 Why this price?
Hand-woven by skilled artisans in India, the Priya Collection offers beautiful tonal designs accentuated by a carefully curated color palette. Delicate yet strong, Priya is an instant classic made for...
$119 $149 Why this price?
Hand-woven by skilled artisans in India, the Priya Collection offers beautiful tonal designs accentuated by a carefully curated color palette. Delicate yet strong, Priya is an instant classic made for...
$119 $149 Why this price?
Hand-woven by skilled artisans in India, the Priya Collection offers beautiful tonal designs accentuated by a carefully curated color palette. Delicate yet strong, Priya is an instant classic made for...
$139 $179 Why this price?
Durable and distinct in textural variation, the hand-woven Playa Collection offers a bohemian take on the classic natural fiber rug. The carefully crafted patterns are elevated with deep hues to...
$139 $179 Why this price?
Durable and distinct in textural variation, the hand-woven Playa Collection offers a bohemian take on the classic natural fiber rug. The carefully crafted patterns are elevated with deep hues to...
$139 $179 Why this price?
Durable and distinct in textural variation, the hand-woven Playa Collection offers a bohemian take on the classic natural fiber rug. The carefully crafted patterns are elevated with deep hues to...
$139 $179 Why this price?
Durable and distinct in textural variation, the hand-woven Playa Collection offers a bohemian take on the classic natural fiber rug. The carefully crafted patterns are elevated with deep hues to...
$429 $539 Why this price?
With its meticulously hand-knotted texture applied to a hand-woven base, the Owen Collection offers an innovative look that feels relaxed, yet refined. Crafted by master artisans of wool and jute,...
$429 $539 Why this price?
With its meticulously hand-knotted texture applied to a hand-woven base, the Owen Collection offers an innovative look that feels relaxed, yet refined. Crafted by master artisans of wool and jute,...
Erin Eisinger
Author
Floorplan CEO and Co-Founder. Designer. Storyteller. Entrepreneur.