Rugs of Central Europe

oriental area rugs

From the Baltic to the Mediterranean, people have made flat woven fabrics to warm their floors and brighten their homes.

Similar to the Bessarabian, the rugs from the Ukraine also show the influence of French styles, softening the stiff geometric formations of primitive design. Charming flowers in clusters or in graceful repeat patterns appear in their rugs.

The coloring is sophisticated and subtle, though usually gay.
The rugs of the Baltic countries are cruder in plan and execu­tion, with brighter, more obvious color combinations.

Farther south the influence of Oriental design is apparent. The Yugoslav rugs bear a close relationship to the Caucasian.

Some of them are striped, with geometric motifs woven into alternate bands.

The antiques have lovely colors— soft sea greens and blues, mauves and pink browns.