Within the family of Kazak rugs, the "Tree Kazak" departs from the typical geometric forms and instead incorporates columns of clearly identifiable trees with detailed serrated leaf branches. Tree Kazaks generally maintain a similar design of two columns of trees flanking a row of stacked medallions. While some display simple banded borders, others, like the example offered here, have more complex polychrome floral motifs. A very similar example is illustrated in E. Herrmann, Von Konya Bis Kokand Seltene Orienteppiche, Vol.III, Munich, 1980, no. 29, p. 75.
This sophisticated tree design has its roots in the classical Safavid garden carpets which were then reinterpreted by 18th and 19th century Persian and Caucasian weavers. The Shrub Carpet belonging to the Glencairn Museum, Academy of the New Church, Bryn Athyn is perhaps the clearest example of how weavers of Tree Kazak rugs in the Caucasus were in conversation with these earlier pieces (D. Dodds and M. Eiland Jr., Oriental Rugs from Atlantic Collections, Philadelphia, 1996, no.63, p.63). The Glencairn Shrub Carpet, which is from the first half of the 18th century, has a very similar double column motif of blossoming and serrated tree branches but in an elongated gallery format. The present lot represents the evolution of this particular design with the horizontally linear tree branches conforming to the almost square space.