Caucasian Soumak Wool Rug. Striking red, beige, and cream tones throughout, with eight similar cartouche medallions in the central field and animal figures throughout, bordered by simple alternating colored diamonds and geometric shapes. 

Size: 51 x 83 in. 

Soumak (alternately spelled soumakh, sumak, sumac, or sumac) is a sturdy tapestry weaving technique used for creating decorative fabrics such as carpets, rugs, bags, and bedding, known for being stronger and thicker than the similar kilim weave. This strength derives from wrapping colored weft threads over and under the warps, creating a smooth front face and a distinctively ragged back with loose thread ends. The name itself likely comes from the Azerbaijani trading town of Shemakja where the style first gained popularity, which in turn may have taken its own name from a plant used for dyes, derived from the Arabic word for red. Soumak rugs are usually highly geometric but pictorial, incorporating multiple central medallions and animal shapes into their durable, detailed, embroidery-like patterns, and the design has spread across the Caucasus from Turkey to Iran to Afghanistan, proliferated both by master weavers in major hubs and by roaming tribes who all have their own unique variations.

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