Antique Ukrainian Rug with Revivalist Pattern
Ukrainian and Bessarabian carpets are typically flat-woven, as this was a tradition imported in the early 18th century from France by Peter the Great, who is said to have opened various tapestry workshops around St. Petersburg. The rare pile rugs seem to borrow in part from the Scandinavian textile art tradition, such as the long piled Rya carpets from Finland and Sweden. Most Ukrainian pile rugs come in relatively small formats, suggesting that they were woven in village workshops.
This antique example shows a revivalist pattern featuring a central diamond medallion framed by a curvilinear Baroque-style motif derived from stylised acanthus leafs. The polychrome border is characteristic of period French Savonnerie carpets. The black background is characteristic of this rare group, being the main colour used on antique Bessarabian flat weaves, as it allows to highlight the rich palette.