Rug Origins: Balkan Rugs
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The nations that make up the Balkan Peninsula include Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, European Turkey, and Yugoslavia. Balkan carpets are handmade carpets mainly from Romania, Bulgari Greece, and former Yugoslavia. ‘Balkan’ is the Turkish word for ‘mountains.
Balkan countries, particularly Albania and Romania began to sell rugs after World War II. Many weavers hand-knotted their rugs on traditional looms with designs that reflected geographical preferences while some of them in the village and city workshops began making efforts to tailor rugs to American and European tastes.
Traditional Balkan rugs show Islamic influences as well as nomadic tribal traits. Their motif features figures depicting the authentic domestic scenes and traditional culture. Some patterns in these carpets are borrowed from Persian, Turkish and Caucasian carpets and are made of fine quality wool. Some synthetic colors are also sometimes used which are not as clear and visible as in the colors of Persian carpets for example.
Balkan Kilims come from Southeast Europe, an area that by the early 1500s belonged to the Ottoman Empire. Some historians believe kilims were actually invented in the Balkans and the Middle East.
The Balkan handmade rug is a symbol of the authentic culture and traditions. Today it has become a remarkable accessory to any and every home’s interior and could be an invaluable gift to everyone who appreciates creative handcrafts and intransient beauty.
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