Kazak region of the Caucasus Mountains was a cultural crossroads for a multitude of tribal groups, many with centuries of cultivating their weaving skills and artistic visions. The resulting Kazak style is incredibly eclectic and unfettered. The rare but beloved “Tree of Life” Kazak reflects the humor and whimsy of weavers in this quite forbidding, high-altitude locale. Camels are known to wander off and refuse to change direction.) Here, the field contains a central vertical row of four ivory squares, each enclosing a stylized cruciform motif. Two columns flank this row, each consisting of three distinctive “Tree of Life” designs alternating in royal blue and ivory tones. Amidst the primary rows reside numerous smaller spontaneously drawn designs, including a whimsical human figure, boteh or “Seed of Life,” eight-pointed “Stars of Wisdom,” birds, mandalas, and five double-humped Bactrian camels. Each rest on a color-variegated, madder red ground. The weaver's spontaneous artistry keeps the viewer's eyes moving across the sheer variety and whimsy of the enchanting motifs.