Caucasian Carpets

Carpets from the Caucasus, scanned from a book:
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An Azeri "chul" horse-cover from Karabagh. "Since the owner was [clearly] an individual of status, the emphasized motif in the lower right-hand corner may be a tamgha, a symbol of tribal identity, ownership, and authority."
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A beautiful geometric kilim (probably Azeri):
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A stunning eighteenth-century "Shield Carpet" (also Azeri):
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A rare and particularly-beautiful Kumyk, Avar, or Dargi dum carpet from Daghestan:
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A "Dragon" Carpet:
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And an early colour photograph of items on display at the "All-Russian Kustar Exhibition" of 1913 (i.e. an exhibition of carpet, weaving, and embroidery as practised under State supervision in Imperial Russia):

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For more information on carpets and rugs from the Caucasus, please consult this excellent guide.
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Here you will find a guide and further links to Caucasian Flatweaves ("Kilims"), to rugs from Daghestan, from the Bortchalo ("Marneuli") region of Georgia, from Karabagh, to the so-called "Lori-Pambak" Kazakh rugs, "Dragon" carpets, etc.
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There are about 5 or 6 carpet shops in Tbilisi. They all have very nice pieces in stock, obviously, old and new, but I think it is fair to say that the "Caucasian Carpets Gallery" i.e. carpet shop owned by Manana Arkania offers the best variety and value for money. They have rugs and kilims from all over Georgia, and a small private collection of kilims from Tusheti (now almost unobtainable) which they will be happy to show. Patima, who runs the shop, speaks English, as does her pretty Mingrelian-Svanetian colleague, who makes some of the best Turkish coffee in Tbilisi! The shop is on Erekle Street - towards the bottom end of Leselidze St., close to the Sioni church and the tacky "luxury" establishments of Chardeni St. (where wealthy Georgians drink French wine...) - and is open daily from 10 to 8.

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