Bessarabian kilim

Pile carpets and flat-weaves known in the market as ‘Bessarabian’ were woven mostly in the 19th century in what are now the countries of Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine—along the northwestern coastal areas of the Black Sea (in eastern Europe). Both pile and kilim types use floral subject matter and a distinct coloration, with a dominant dark ground and accents in rose reds. This older Bessarabian flatweave uses a red derived from imported cochineal and adds a pleasing complimentary contrasting light green border, a feature lost in later examples. Planted flower pots, perhaps ultimately derived from much more formal French models, are rendered with a pleasing folk aesthetic.