The kilims known to us as ‘Bessarabian’ were woven in the Russian regions of Ukraine and Moldavia. Intended to satisfy the demands of the local nobility who had developed a taste for carpets with a Western flavour, these flatweaves often feature a subdued palette, suited to the elegant neoclassical interiors they adorned. Here we have six parallel rows of alternating floral bouquets, in tones of light green and soft red, punctuating in a refined way a dark brown/black background. Kilims such as this one represent today one of the most refined and sought after types within the decorative carpet market at an international level.