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Rugs of the Caucasus

The Caucasus is that mountainous isthmus that connects Europe and Asia. It lies between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.

Once a part of Persia, it has belonged to Russia since 1813. It is about three and a half times the size of New York state and has a fairly dense population that is a complete confusion of races and tongues.

There are sixty-eight dialects spoken in the Cau­casus. Tiflis, the capital, ranked next to Constantinople as the most important rug market in the world during the great heyday of Oriental rugs.