Dagestan craftswomen: how are Tabasaran carpets made? The best Tabasaran carpets: description, patterns, features and reviews An excursion into history

Dvornikov Vladislav. Project manager Sakultsanova Lyudmila Nikolaevna

The author of the work tells about the traditional national craft of Dagestan - handmade carpet weaving. Carpet weaving in Dagestan arose as a form of labor activity, but over time it turned into one of the types of decorative and applied art. The greatest development of carpet weaving was in South Dagestan, which, most likely, was due to geographical proximity to one of the main centers of world carpet art - Persia. Therefore, the author spoke about the Eastern tradition of making handmade carpets.

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abstract

Topic : “Carpet weaving is a folk craft of Dagestan”

Place of work: Nevinnomyssk,

MOU secondary school No. 16, 9 "A" class

Supervisor: Sakultsanova Ludmila Nikolaevna,

foreign language teacher MOU secondary school No. 16

Stavropol, 2011

Chapter 1. Carpet weaving is a traditional national craft of Dagestan

  1. Eastern tradition of handmade carpets……………..4

1.2. History of Dagestan carpet weaving. Centers of handmade carpet art of Dagestan……………………………………………………………….6

1.3. Types of Dagestan carpets. Pile carpets…………………………….7

1.4. Lint-free carpets. Smooth one-sided carpets - "sumakhs"………..9

1.5. Lint-free double-sided carpets “davagins”…………………………10

1.6. Carpets "chibta" - mats from marsh sedge…………………………...10

1.7. Features of “chuli” carpets and “dum” carpets……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

1.8. Lint-free carpets…………………………………………………11

1.9. Felt carpets………………………………………………………....12

Chapter 2. Materials, manufacturing process, features of the ornament

carpets…………………………………………………………………………...12

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………...15

List of used sources and literature…………………………..16

Applications…………………………………………………………………….17

Introduction

For centuries, unsurpassed folk craftsmen worked in Dagestan: goldsmiths of the village of Kubachi, silversmiths Gotsatl. The Untsukul people created man-made poems from wood, the Derbent and Tabasaran women transferred all the hundred colors of my land to the carpets, the Balkhark women wrote mysterious verses on earthenware jars.

Rasul Gamzatov

Dagestan is rightly called a reserve of folk art crafts, a land of remarkable craftsmen. The most diverse types of crafts have long been widely and widely developed here - artistic metal processing, stone and wood carving, pottery, carpet weaving, bone processing, patterned knitting and gold embroidery. In the past, these types of crafts have played and continue to play a very important role in the economy of the mountainous region in the past. Nowhere in our country did folk arts and crafts acquire such great importance in the economy and spiritual life of the people, were they of such a mass character as in mountainous Dagestan.

Having originated in ancient times and having gone through a number of stages of its development and improvement, folk crafts have become an integral and integral part of the traditional national artistic culture of Dagestan.

Back in the Middle Ages in Dagestan, large specialized centers for the production of various types of artistic crafts were formed, which were widely sold throughout the mountainous region and far beyond its borders. Among them, the villages of Kubachi, Kumukh, Gotsatl, Untsukul, Balkhar, Sulevkent, Akhty, Mikrakh, Khiv, Khuchni and the city of Derbent stood out in terms of the degree of development and the level of perfection of manufactured products.

Handmade carpets were the most valuable items in a Dagestan home. A medium-sized carpet could be exchanged for a pair of horses or several cattle. For the money earned from the sale of the carpet, the Dagestan family could provide themselves with everything they needed for six months in advance. The Dagestani bride's dowry necessarily included carpets and sumakhs, and, for example, among Tabasarans, at least one of the carpets had to be woven by the bride herself. With the advent of Soviet power and the organization of artels, carpet weaving in Dagestan received fertile ground for its development. These enterprises were created by uniting single craftswomen who taught young people their skills. Also, industrial enterprises for processing wool were created.

Chapter 1. Carpet weaving is a traditional national craft of Dagestan

Carpet weaving, along with jewelry and pottery, is a traditional national craft of many peoples of Dagestan. The greatest development of carpet weaving was in South Dagestan, which is most likely due to geographical proximity to one of the main centers of world carpet art - Persia.

With the adoption of Islam and the spread of Arabic writing, individual representatives of the Dagestan masters got the opportunity to join the achievements of oriental culture.

The first mentions of Dagestan carpets are found in Herodotus. They say that a herd of horses was passed over the finished product, burned under the sun and kept in the water. So they checked their quality. The skill of hand-made Dagestan carpet was passed down from generation to generation, from mother to daughter, while skills were honed and patterns and compositions of the ornament were improved.

1.1. Eastern tradition of handmade carpets

The art of carpet weaving began more than two and a half thousand years ago. The oldest of the carpets that have come down to us was supposedly woven more than two thousand years ago! A dense pile cloth depicting deer, birds and horses was found during excavations of the royal burial mound in 1949. This find testifies to a unique fact: centuries later, the classical technique of hand-woven carpets has not undergone any changes! Today, this masterpiece of centuries adorns the Hermitage collection. Yes, it is a “masterpiece of the ages”, because carpet weaving is an ancient art, which has its roots in the Ancient East.

Initially, the carpet performed exclusively practical functions: the eastern nomads came up with the idea of ​​weaving warm fabrics in order to be able to quickly create a house. The man-made carpets of that time served to protect the dwelling from wind and sand, and made it possible to quickly divide the room. Gradually, a person began to move away from the primitive philosophy of "warm and dry" - he wanted it to be also beautiful, elegant, and most importantly - not like everyone else. For the East, a carpet is furniture, wallpaper, and a sign of prosperity. The level of a person's well-being in the Ancient East was determined by the quality of the carpets in his house. In a rich house there should always be a lot of carpets, and of the highest quality.

The pattern of handmade carpets is never random. In the choice and arrangement of certain elements of the pattern, there are centuries-old traditions, talent and intent of the master. Each ornament has a specific meaning. In angular diamond-shaped flowers and leaves with jagged edges, in fine jewelry knitting, in a mosaic pattern, you can read proverbs, legends, wishes for the future owner.

From the middle of the 16th century, the East (Persia, India, China) supplied many royal courts and aristocratic houses of Europe with carpets. Trading expeditions were equipped for oriental carpets.

Handmade carpets are considered not only household items, but also works of art. Carpets in the East are woven by everyone and everywhere: individual families, ancient craft dynasties and large factories.

1.2. History of Dagestan carpet weaving. Centers of handmade carpet art of Dagestan

The art of carpet weaving in Dagestan has evolved over many centuries. The information of research scientists and the results of archaeological excavations show that the inhabitants of Dagestan were engaged in spinning and weaving in the Bronze Age.

In the XII century. Dagestan is turning into the most important center of the economy, trade and artistic culture of the Caucasus. Trade relations with the countries of the Near East and Central Asia contributed to the emergence of carpet products for religious purposes (prayers, prayer rugs).

Derbent, which at that time was a major trading city in the Caspian Sea, was famous for dyes extracted from herbs and shrubs, which were used to dye woolen threads. Here, the cultivation of a natural dye - madder - has become widespread. The development of women's artistic crafts associated with carpet production has spread throughout Dagestan. This was also facilitated by the availability of raw materials, and an excess of free hands. After many centuries of development of this type of art, already in the 19th century, according to research scientists, original centers of carpet weaving were formed among the Lezgins, Tabasarans, Avars, Dargins, Kumyks, Laks, concentrated in Southern, Central and Northern Dagestan.

So, among the Lezgins, carpet weaving was widespread in the villages of the Kyura and Samur districts: Akhty, Mikrakh, Magaramkent, Imamkulikent, Kurakh, Kabir, Kasumkent, Ashaga-Stal, Orta-Stal, Yukhari-Stal, Kug, Chilikar, Kurkent, etc. Among the Tabasarans settlements: Khuchni, Arkit, Yersi, Khiv, Kandyk, Mezhgyul, Lyakhlya, etc. Pile and especially lint-free carpets were also produced in the villages of the mountain Avaria: Khunzakh, Tlyarata, Kutlab, Batlaich, Tsada, Kharakhi, Karata, Gergebil, Gotsatl. In the Dargin villages, felt carpets and woolen rugs were mainly produced (Levashi, Gasankent, Upper Mulebki, etc.). In the Kumyk villages of Buglen, Upper and Lower Kazanishche, the production of felt carpets "arbabash" was most developed. Patterned woolen rugs, double-sided "dum" rugs were also produced by Kumyk craftswomen in the villages of Kayakent, Geli, Durgeli, Paraul. In the Lak villages of Balkhar, Kumukh, Kuli, patterned smooth rugs were especially developed. In the regions of southern and mountainous Dagestan, the manufacture of small carpet products was also widespread. These are khurjins, saddlers, saddlebags "topraks" and original knitted stockings and shoes.

1.3. Types of Dagestan carpets. Pile carpets.

According to the nature of the patterns and the technique of execution, all carpets can be divided into three main groups: pile, lint-free and felt.

Such compositions of pile carpets as "Safar", "Akhty", "Mikrakh", "Patnusi", "Budulai furar", "Derbent", "Gasan-Kala", "Tabasaran", "Ersi" are original and not similar to each other. , Khiv, Rutul, Tlyarata, etc. Each of these types of pile compositions is based on the artistic features of certain ornamental motifs and the corresponding color scheme.

In the traditional motifs of pile carpets, we find geometrized images of plants, animals, humans, and tools. All these patterns are a diverse world of symbols - the language of carpet art, through which folk craftswomen depict the world around them, nature, convey their feelings and moods. The image on the carpets of figures of animals and people used to have a magical meaning associated with ancient cults and rituals. But gradually it was lost, and the patterns began to be only decorative.

It should be noted that all types of pile carpets, regardless of the nature of the pattern, are built according to a single compositional principle, i.e. the carpet consists of a central field and a border - two main components. This gives the composition a closedness, where the stripes of the border (border) limit the central part of the carpet from all sides.

Patterns are the language of carpet art. Ornaments of carpet compositions

By its nature, the ornament of the carpet composition can be divided into: centric (for the central large figures - medallions); background (filling the places of the central field free from large figures); edging (tape) to fill the border. Ornamental art of pile carpets is composed of simple forms of geometric motifs (straight, zigzag lines, triangles, rhombuses, polygons, spirals, crosses, etc.), geometrized plant motifs (leaves, flowers, thorns, etc.), zoomorphic motifs (dogs, horses, birds, goats, etc.), anthropomorphic motifs (human figures, separate parts of the figure: eye, hand, mustache) and geometrized forms of celestial bodies, objects (asterisk, moon, sun, water, snow, earth , sword, lamp, sleigh, etc.).

Many elements of the carpet ornament had specific names, which came from the correspondence with the content “yar bubu” - “poppy flower”, “gyed” - “star”, “gyil” - “hand”, etc. Or from the similarity with reality “katsin pats "- "cat's footprint", "meker" - "forelock", "kiirer" - "hook-shaped", "hash" - "cross", etc. And some motifs were named depending on the location of the pattern on the carpet ("yukvan fur" - “central medallion”, “kyereh” - “border”) or even from color (“tsIaru kyereh” - “variegated edge”, “chIulav kyereh” - “black edge”).

Color features of pile carpets

The color scheme of pile carpets is one of the leading components of the composition, where a pattern of 7 to 24 colors and shades was located against the background of traditional blue or cherry red. The color harmony of the carpet composition was achieved by creating a balance of bright and dark spots, large and small details of the pattern forms, and a combination of warm and cold. The contour line of black or another color gives special expressiveness, strength and sonority to the main color in the patterns.

1.4. Lint-free carpets. Smooth one-sided carpets - "sumakhs"

Lint-free carpets are magnificent Lezgin smooth carpets “sumakhs”, Avar “davagins”, Kumyk “dumas”, Tabasaran and Lak carpets and numerous small-sized carpets: khurjins, chuvals, ribbons for jugs.

"Sumakhi", like pile carpets, have a utilitarian purpose and artistic features, which sometimes surpass the latter. The peculiarity of these carpet products is a rather large size, wide use in everyday life, mainly for flooring, as it is soft due to the undercarpet layer of long woolen threads, which are formed due to weaving technique. Usually "sumakhs" are woven in horizontal rows of stitches intertwined with warp threads, and the ends of the yarn about 10-12 cm long are released from the inside of the carpet.

The composition of "sumakhs", as well as pile carpets, consists of a central part and a border. Usually the central field is occupied by several main medallions with narrow gaps in the background, which are filled with rare small patterns.

The pattern-forming elements of "sumakhs" have almost the same basis as pile carpets. These are geometric shapes (triangles, rhombuses, rectangles, squares, zigzag figures, polygons, etc.), stylized plant motifs (stems, flowers, leaves, etc.). In addition, there were sketchy pictorial motifs (horses, mountain tours, riders, figurines of people, birds). In the patterns of "sumakhs" there are also motifs characteristic of other types of folk art: S-shaped patterns, crosses, meanders, stars, etc.

The color solution of the "sumacs" of the old sample included about 24 colors and shades, where warm colors prevailed: red-brown, ocher-golden.

1.5. Lint-free double-sided carpets "davagins"

Lint-free double-sided carpets "davagins" are made in the Avar villages. Characteristic for them is the use of a large amount of a free field of blue or dark blue color, on which a complex symmetrical ornament "rukzal" is built. These carpets are decorative and perfectly complement the interior of the dwellings of the highlanders. The compositional solution of the carpet, like other carpet products, has a central part, which is composed of several medallions. From these medallions, numerous branches branch off in different directions, very similar to the long elongated necks of birds with a triangular ending. The entire central part is bordered by a wide frieze with geometric ornament. The color scheme of the "davagins" is also distinguished by its concise use of dark blue and blue background colors, red, black, yellow - for a pattern that has a border of a different color.

1.6. Carpets "chibta" - mats from swamp sedge

Similar in ornament to "davagins" are mats made of marsh sedge, which are called "chibta". The ornament is usually marked with woolen threads of burgundy, orange and has a black outline, which harmonizes well with the golden yellow background of the carpet.

1.7. Features of "chuli" carpets and carpet"dum"

No less interesting are the "chuli" carpets, which are made using the "carpet" technique, have a central part of the main field of the carpet and a border with two or three stripes of border. The wonderful "dum" carpets of Kumyk craftswomen also belong to the traditional types of lint-free carpets.

The most favorite type of carpet "dum" among the Kumyks is a carpet with a pattern "nakhu oyuv" (wedding). The central field is filled with several rows (2-4) of figures with a lot of free background. And the border consists of one wide and two small strips. Such a composition of the carpet is built on a red-brown background, where large blue medallions with outlines of a complex pattern are arranged in rows. The red background of the carpet goes well with the brown border.

1.8. Lint-free rugs

The group of lint-free carpets is completed by carpets (simple and patterned). Patterned rugs were made by Lezgin, Tabasaran, Lak, Kumyk, Avar and Dargin craftswomen.

The group of Dagestan lint-free carpets also includes rugs, which were made from hemp, cotton, wool and served in everyday life for flooring, as a bedding for drying grain, corn, etc. on them. The decorative solution of these rugs was the most uncomplicated. It consisted of simple rhythmically alternating colored bands of varying widths, which were arranged either horizontally or vertically. So, rugs with a vertical compositional solution are known as Balkhara. For each nation, such carpets also had their own names, for example, among the Lezgins - “rukh”, the Tabasarans - “barkhal”, the Avars - “turut”, the Dargins - “chIankIa”, the Kumyks - “tyuz”.

In addition to such carpets, craftswomen also wove carpets decorated with patterns with various geometric elements (triangles, squares, rhombuses, crosses, zigzag and hook-shaped), with the help of which figures were formed that filled the stripes. Many elements of patterned rugs had their own names. For example, the Kumyk carpet pattern: "ilme" - "stripes", "kaichy" - "scissors", "chermeler" - "barrels", "adamlar" - "people", "karlygach" - "swallow", "kanziler" - "steps", "yatgan" - "ladder", etc.

Patterned carpets also had their own names among the Dagestan peoples, for example: “Khaima” (Lezg.); "kyumes" (tab.); "kilim" (lacquer); "Jugarai" (cum.).

1.9. Felt carpets

Avars, Laks, Dargins, Kumyks and Nogais were mainly engaged in the manufacture of felt carpets. Widely known welt patterned felt carpets "Arbabash". They are made from several felts dyed in different colors: black, white, red, green, blue. Felt is superimposed one on top of the other, and a pattern is cut out according to a predetermined ornament. Then cut out patterns are sewn into felt of a different color, and ultimately several arbabash are obtained with the same pattern, but different in color. The seam between the patterns is closed with white braid. The pattern of such carpets is based on a stylized floral ornament, which is based on a contrasting combination of background color and a pattern that is enhanced by the white contour line of the braid.

Nogai felt carpets "kiiz" are somewhat similar, but at the same time they are different. For example, there is no applique technique for applying a pattern, as in arbabash carpets, although small household items and women's clothing (skullcaps, pouches, handbags, etc.) continue to be decorated with this technique. The most distinctive feature of decorating Nogai felt carpets is the technique of applying an ornament with a colored cord using the fastening technique. In contrast to the silhouette pattern of "arbabash", here we get a contour drawing, which is read in contrast against the background of the carpet.

Chapter 2. Materials and process of making carpets

The process of making a Dagestan carpet requires delicate taste, individual skill, enviable patience and perseverance from carpet weavers, since the work is done in a sitting and half-bent position. Many experienced craftswomen, not having a technical drawing in front of them, but knowing the scheme for constructing a carpet pattern, perform it from memory.

The most common material used in the production of handmade carpets is sheep's wool. The ability to choose the right yarn and process it is very important, since not only the softness and strength of the carpet, but also the degree of brightness of color shades depends on the quality of the woolen thread. For example, dyeing camel and goat hair threads in light colors is almost impossible due to the original dark natural shades.

Sheep wool also comes in different categories. There are special breeds that give a more elastic and soft coat. The best wool is produced by young animals at the age of eight to twelve months. The wool of adult animals is less valued, as it contains a lot of coarse pile. The quality of wool is also affected by the diet and habitat of animals. The finest woolen threads can only be made from wool of the highest category. Very often, cotton thread is used for the weft warp of the carpet. It is more durable and less elastic (not subject to deformation along the length) and on this basis it is easier to maintain the proportions and symmetry of the carpet. In the manufacture of carpets, silk is also used, extracted from the cocoon of a silkworm. Silk is more durable, which makes it possible to obtain the finest threads necessary for the manufacture of carpets with a rich and complex ornament. Both natural and aniline dyes are used in the dyeing of carpet threads.

Despite the widespread use of artificial dyes, some manufacturers still use natural dyes in carpet weaving, which are obtained on the basis of traditions that have come down from ancient times.

Red (one of the most common colors in oriental carpets) is obtained from madder roots. Orange shades are obtained by diluting the dye (from madder) with lemon juice. Henna leaves and sandalwood are also used in coloring. Shades of blue come from indigo root, yellow from turmeric or tannin. A very delicate yellow color is obtained from the pomegranate peel, which, mixed with the red color of the madder, gives a peculiar bright orange color. The rich yellow color is obtained from saffron flower pollen. Shades of beige and brown are natural to the coat. Green is obtained by mixing blue and yellow dyes. From the shell of a walnut or chestnut, a rich brown and black color is obtained.

For the manufacture of pile carpets, two types of knots are used: Turkish (symmetrical) and Persian (asymmetrical). An asymmetric knot is more convenient for making floral ornaments and images of people, animals, birds, as it allows you to more accurately reproduce curved soft lines. A symmetrical knot is more durable, but adapted to convey a geometric ornament.

There is also the so-called Spanish knot, which is knitted on one warp thread, as well as the jofti knot; it uses four threads. It is lighter in execution and less durable.

Handmade carpets are mainly made in small workshops and large manufactories. But traditionally they were woven by private craftsmen using technology that was passed down from generation to generation. At the same time, they not only made the carpet itself by hand, but also produced raw materials: they sheared sheep and processed wool, and prepared dyes.

Dagestan carpets can be found in museums in New York, Paris, Montreal, Osaka, Leipzig, Milan, Tokyo, Brno, Izmir and other cities. In terms of quality, Dagestan carpets are not inferior to the best world samples. They are permanent exhibits at international and domestic fairs and exhibitions, where they were awarded honorary diplomas and gold medals: in Brussels (Belgium, 1958) and the Leipzig Exhibition-Fair (GDR, 1967). With their beauty and splendor, Dagestan handmade carpets shocked the Russians at the Russian Festival of Economic and Cultural Cooperation "Moscow and Russian Regions 2000".

Conclusion

Carpet weaving in Dagestan arose as a form of labor activity, but over time it turned into one of the brightest types of arts and crafts in Dagestan.

The rich heritage of folk art, based on centuries-old traditions, is an integral part of the ethno-artistic culture of the peoples of Dagestan. The works of folk masters reflect the experience of the people, their worldview, worldview and maintain a continuous connection between generations. Products of folk art crafts of Dagestan of the past and present are witnesses of great diligence, a subtle sense of beauty and artistic talent of the Dagestan peoples.

May there be peace over the mountain range,

May the evil of the native land not touch.

So, conjuring, you wove a carpet

For a thread, a thread in thought choosing.

Mountains and snow were woven into the pattern,

The cry of cranes and cloud feathers,

Blooming alpine meadows,

Ancient legends and beliefs.

And the carpet bloomed to flower flower,

Like native Dagestan in the height of summer.

For a thread a thread, so from beautiful lines

The creation of a poet is born.

Rasul Gamzatov

List of used sources and literature

1. Bayrambekov M.M., Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Dagestan - Reserve of Folk Art Crafts, 2005

2.Debirov P. "Carpets of Dagestan".Dagestan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2006

3. Mammaev M.M. Decorative and applied art of Dagestan. Makhachkala, 1989.

Annex 2

2. Carpet making


The main advantage of our carpets is the unique energy that the carpet creates in the house for decades. This is achieved by the fact that they are made of 100% wool and on a wool basis. All dyes used in the manufacture of the carpet are of natural origin. The colors in our carpets are the colors of nature, not chemical materials. When you look at the carpet for a month, a year, 10 years, this circumstance begins to play an important role. This is what conveys closeness to nature and creates the energy of love and harmony. The patterns and geometric shapes used in the carpets are not repeated and convey the nature of the Caucasus, flora and fauna, reflected in the figurative thinking of the creators of the carpet.

The presence of such a carpet in a person's house makes a person kinder and has a calming effect. Such an impact is not momentary, but the carpet reveals its essence, playing with the natural colors of nature for many years. These images give birth in the mind of the owner of the association and a strong connection with the native land. Such energy is transmitted not only to the residents of the house where the carpet will be located, but also to the guests who will come to this house.

This section presents exclusively handmade carpets. The production of such carpets takes from 2-3 months to one year. Carpets are made of wool dyed exclusively with natural dyes. The dyes are made from plants according to ancient dyeing recipes, which were restored from the literature published in the 18th and 19th century, on the secrets of dyeing. And also by conducting experiments with dyeing vegetable raw materials. We get red, burgundy and pink from madder root, blue and green from indigo, yellow from barberry, etc.

Carpets of value as objects of material culture of the peoples of Russia and the former Soviet Union. We know that earlier many peoples were engaged in carpet weaving. Individual copies of these carpets have been preserved in museums. Many carpets, unfortunately, were taken abroad. However, there is no bad without good. Due to the fact that they were taken out, they were preserved in private collections. And we have the opportunity to see the drawings of these carpets published in catalogs published in the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany and other countries.

Here is the review of the buyer Vyacheslav: “Everything comes and goes in life. When I saw the carpet, I remembered my mother’s carpet in Derbent where we grew up. What could be better than this? Mother’s carpet had the same colors. I really like this in Moscow I was looking for such a carpet on the Internet but did not find it. But I am glad that I found my carpet. My wife says that it is as if not in Moscow, but at home, in Derbent!"

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the video filmed by the manufacturers of our carpets:

Attention: special offer for interior designers!

Good day, dear blog readers. Today you will find a very interesting article about the world-famous folk craft of Dagestan - carpet weaving. Really, Dagestan carpets are considered the standard of elegance and quality, and very often I heard rave reviews from people who said that even Persian carpets are not as beautiful and of high quality as Dagestan ones.

The idea of ​​writing this article was suggested to me by a regular reader of the blog, Jamal Ramazanov. If you remember, at the end of 2011 I held a New Year's contest. So, then Jamal's article "Tabasaran carpets are the pride of the people" took an honorable third place. I think it's time for me to have my say on this subject.

You know, before starting to write this article, I looked through a lot of information about Dagestan carpets on the Internet, and noticed a very interesting detail - everyone writes (or rewrites) about the history, development and current state of the carpet weaving industry, but nowhere is the process of creating the most beautiful Tabasaran carpets carpets and where a person can buy such carpets. Realizing that one article does not fit everything, I decided to give you all the information in three articles:

  1. Why Dagestan carpets valued above the Persian
  2. Mechanism and process of creation Tabasaran carpets
  3. How and where can you buy Dagestan carpets?

I will write the second and third articles later. Subscribe to blog updates , so as not to miss the appearance of new articles on the blog (). And today you will receive basic information about carpets, and a pleasant surprise awaits you at the end of the article. I want to immediately clarify the question of why in some cases I say "Dagestan carpets", and others - "Tabasaran carpets". In fact, they are one and the same. Indeed, carpet weaving in Dagestan is associated, first of all, with the activities of the Tabasaran people. In general, a very interesting "division of people's labor" has developed in the mountainous republic. In the old days, they even said this: “The Dargins of the village of Kubachi are known for metal processing and stone carving, the Avars of the village of Untsukul are masters of artistic notching with metal on wood, the inhabitants of Tabasaran are skilled carpet weavers.” And now, let's look at the history of carpet weaving.

Dagestan carpets: the history of appearance and purpose

The first mention of Dagestan carpets can be found in the writings of the "father of history" - Herodotus. Traditional Dagestan carpet weaving is based on the traditions of oriental craftsmen. Indeed, for many centuries, Europeans equipped trading expeditions to Persia and China in order to bring from there not only silk, but also carpets. Any self-respecting aristocrat or monarch had a whole scattering of the most beautiful carpet products of the East. By the way, the oldest carpet that has survived to this day was found during excavations in 1949, and today it is included in the golden collection of the Hermitage:

It is foolish to think that carpets were originally invented as a luxury item. Initially, they had a very narrow functional character. Think for yourself, in the East in ancient times lived mainly nomads. And what is the most important thing for a nomad? The first is greater mobility, the second is a quick home improvement, the third is protection from climatic factors, that is, to be warm and dry. It was carpets that fully met all the requirements that were necessary for the life of nomads. It is clear that those carpets were very different from what we see today. But, this is how carpet weaving was started.

Later, people realized that the carpet is not only protection from the wind, but also a way to stand out among their relatives. So they came to the fact that they began to weave beautiful and exquisite carpet products. Further, this led to the fact that the quantity, quality and beauty of carpets determined the level of wealth of a person. Each ruler of the Ancient East tried to surround himself with expensive and exquisite carpets, thus emphasizing his superiority over the others.

By the way, do you know how the quality of a product was checked in ancient times in Dagestan? I read somewhere that before the quality control of carpets took place in three stages: 1 - a herd of horses was passed through a freshly woven carpet; 2 - after that, they kept the product under the scorching rays of the sun for several days; 3 - the last stage was that the carpets were lowered into the water and left there for some time. If after all these "tests" the carpet did not lose its properties, then it was believed that the master did a great job. That was technology!

Why are real Tabasaran carpets valued higher than Persian ones?

Is it even possible to compare Tabasaran carpets with Persian (Iranian) ones? In fact, it is possible and necessary. Although, there is no need to belittle the quality of work, the talent and fame of Iranian craftsmen, but the facts remain facts. The average “lifespan” of a Persian carpet is 70-150 years, while Dagestan carpets will “live” for 300-400 years. This is the case if "exploit" for its intended purpose. Yes, I emphasize that all the above figures refer to handmade carpets.

In recent years, unfortunately, the quality of making Tabasaran carpets has begun to deteriorate due to the fact that people who want to profit from it have taken up this business. As we know, in such cases, no one thinks about the quality and level of service. Although, it should be noted that until now a huge number of craftsmen weave in exactly the ways and methods that their grandfathers and great-grandfathers taught. The process of making handmade carpets has not changed much.

Dagestan is the center of hand-made carpet weaving in the Russian territory. Distinctive features of Dagestan carpets are the richness of patterns combined with clear compositions and color schemes. All drawings are impeccably and clearly woven, the main ornaments are large in size. In woven products, a combination of warm and cold colors is characteristic.

Dagestan carpet weaving

Dagestan pile carpets, popular all over the world, are produced in the south of the republic. Conventionally, models are divided into four types, which differ in ornaments, density and length of the pile:

  • Lezgi - “ahty”, “mikrah”, “kasumkent”;
  • Derbent - "Derbent";
  • rutul - "rutul";
  • Tabasaran - "rushul", "khiv", "tabasaran".

For rugs of the Khiv type, the distinguishing features are a long pile (up to 6 mm) and the number of knots (tied per 10 cm 2) up to 1764 pieces. In other carpet products, the number of knots is less and amounts to 1600.

Features of Tabasaran carpets

Previously, the most significant household item was considered handmade. Their prices were so high that after selling one, the family could live comfortably for more than six months. Such a carpet product was equal in value to a couple of horses or several heads of smaller cattle.

Tabasaran carpets differ from others in their durability, the secret of which is explained by the special technique for making high-quality yarn. To do this, use the wool of high-mountain sheep and dye it in different colors using natural dyes: walnut bark, wormwood, barberry.

In the past, every home had a loom for weaving. If it was not used, then it was carefully dismantled and stored until it was needed. A young girl from Tabasaran always had two large carpets and one small carpet product as her dowry. At the same time, one must be woven by her hands, in extreme cases, the bride had to take part in its creation.

In ancient times, to check the quality of the carpet made, they let horses run over it, left it for several days in the rain and sun, and sometimes soaked it. The carpet had to remain in its original form: only then the craftswoman would prove the quality of her work. The best Tabasaran carpets served their owners for more than three hundred years.

Making Tabasaran carpets

It is generally accepted that Dagestan and Tabasaran carpets are one and the same. But only in the south of Dagestan the craft of making carpets has been preserved. Such hard work was done exclusively by women. The carpet was woven by a craftswoman together with her friends, neighbors, and relatives. It happens that up to six women work at one machine. They talk, sing songs, tell funny stories, communicate. Sometimes one carpet product was created for more than five months. The carpet is woven by tying knots. It takes up to two seconds for a professional needlewoman to make one knot, and about eight thousand of them are tied in a day. It is noteworthy that more than three million such knots can be counted in a small carpet.

On the loom, which is located in the middle of the house, white threads are pulled. They serve as a kind of canvas with which the drawing will be woven. On this basis, knots begin to be tied with multi-colored threads, which gradually take on a finished shape.

Pile carpets were hung on the walls to decorate the home.

The lint-free "sumac" carpet, which covers the floor, stands out among others with a special weaving technique. On the reverse side, long woolen (up to 15 cm) threads remain on it. Thanks to them, the carpet is very soft and warm.

When the carpet is woven, it is cleaned of accumulated dust and debris, taken out into the yard. The women who worked on this work are dancing national dances. Such a rite testifies to the end of this difficult work. The dancers convey their positive energy to the carpet. Single women and those who did not take part in its creation are not allowed to traditional dances.

Drawing is the main thing in a carpet

Tabasaran carpets are characterized by a gradual covering of small patterns by larger fragments. Small sockets are placed over the area of ​​the carpet product. Each of them is placed in medallions. Then they are placed inside the polygons. Any small pattern and all large ornaments are highlighted with a border and color fill. With the help of geometric connections, needlewomen weave multi-colored curls and patterns. In these embossings, an ornament of branches with flowers is placed on the stroke.

In the middle of pile carpets, large drawings are placed in a checkerboard pattern, which are associated with tree leaves. In the middle of the largest ornaments, smaller drawings are entered, corresponding in configuration. They are available in lighter or darker colors. Geometric flowers and outlines of birds are woven between large details. The entire pattern of the carpet is combined into a single whole with the help of a stepped stroke.

Safar

Safar is a star, a very interesting pattern of Tabasaran carpets. The name implies the location of the star in the center of the carpet. This is the favorite finish of professional craftswomen. It happens that a small medallion is added to the middle, although there are ornaments without it. The shape of a safar resembles a flower with regular petals. Carpets that are decorated with a star attract attention with a wide variety of shades used. All details of the star are placed across the field in a strictly verified order. The central part of the carpet is most often made in blue and red.

Merher

Another popular Tabasaran carpet maker is the merher pattern, which looks like a sled. In the middle of the product, medallions in the form of squares and hexagons are placed in turn. They are connected along the entire length of the carpet with lines. These combined geometric shapes resemble the silhouette of a sled. Often, drawings are knitted from the bordered edges to the medallions, outwardly resembling a puppet silhouette. The unoccupied space is filled with small elements. The border is distinguished by a large number of patterned fragments, the carpet looks rich and elegant. All figures, drawings and patterns are strictly geometric. Coloring - a harmonious combination of blue and red yarns with the addition of a white, bright blue shade of wool.

Turar, topancha, checkers and pistols

The most demanded pattern of Tabasaran carpet products is turar (checkers). Patterned shapes in this type of pattern are placed diagonally. The name comes from an association with crossed sabers or pistols. These ornaments are united by small medallions. As a result of the diagonal combination, a grid is created that is placed at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the edges. Traditionally, there are up to three rows of very small medallions in the center, which are united by topancha patterns. Three to seven rows of larger fragments are placed along the width and length of the carpet.

This type of pattern is performed in light shades of beige, blue, brown. In drawings of checkers, saturated blue, green, red colors, bordered by black, are used. The unoccupied places of the background of the needlewoman are regularly filled with small rosettes or other patterns. The final point in the design of the pattern is considered to be a wavy border, the color of which is white with blue patterns.

in Derbent

In 1982, the Museum of Carpet Weaving was opened in the city. It was placed in the premises of the Armenian church, which was built in 1870. Given the thousand-year history of carpet making, the location of the exposition in the city center attracts many tourists. Many of them come specially to see the real Tabasaran carpet. The price of the product starts from 10,000 rubles per square meter of carpet. And this is considering that artificial dyes are used. An original Tabasaran carpet made with natural dyes costs several times more. Today Tabasaran handmade carpets can be seen in the best museums in Paris, London, Tokyo. Houses and palaces of the first persons of various powers are decorated with woven products. At international exhibition events, carpet products constantly win gold medals.

Live, appreciate life and enjoy it - such wishes of the craftswomen are conveyed by the patterns and painting of the carpet. You can peer at the drawing for hours: someone will see the trees and birds on it, someone will see the face of a stranger looking into the distance. The next viewer will consider the mountains rising up, and the plain at the foot, along which a man with a plow goes and plows the land. It seems that you have seen all the smallest details on the Tabasaran carpets, when suddenly a drawing appears before your eyes that you had not noticed before... And again the picture changes...

It is known that tea is made in India, cars are made in Germany, and magnificent woolen carpets are made in Tabasaran. I mean real, handmade pile carpets, the colorful patterns of which were invented many centuries ago. We went to Dagestan to learn as much as possible about this region - the country of mountains - and, of course, we could not help but visit the place that is famous all over the world for its carpet production - the Tabasaran region. By the way, the Tabasarans are the only people in Russia who continue to engage in the traditional form of national art - carpet weaving.

The well-known skepticism about the "photo against the background of the carpet" gave rise to an unfair attitude towards it as an unnecessary, outdated thing. In addition, our apartments, in which everyone seeks to express their individuality, are becoming less and less like the homes of our ancestors - and are often filled with meaningless things. But life flies very quickly, and over the years you begin to comprehend the value of those things that were invented many generations ago. Yanka and I have long understood that the carpet in the house is a useful thing, so we began to think about where to get it. A trip to Dagestan turned out to be just in time, becoming for us a kind of pilgrimage behind the carpet.

Tabasaran met us with magnificent mountain scenery. The rich colors of the green valleys, illuminated by the slanting rays of the sun, looked especially solemn against the background of the approaching leaden clouds. We went to visit one of the many houses where carpets are made, and in this we were just finishing the work that had begun six months ago. The owners agreed to wait for us so that we could see with our own eyes the completion of many months of work by several craftswomen. Of course we were in a hurry. On the way, Mohammed, our friend from Derbent, who organized this trip, told the history of Tabasaran and, in particular, the history of carpet weaving.
Once upon a time, carpets were not as elegant as they are now, and did not serve to decorate a room at all. The nomadic peoples who inhabited the countries of the East began to make them for their homes, primarily as a functional thing that would help keep the house warm, easily transported from one parking lot to another, and at the same time would serve for many years. Over time, carpets began to be covered with patterns that became more and more complex and elegant, and by their decoration one could judge the well-being of the owner. Carpets became a luxury item without losing their original qualities, and from poor huts they migrated to the palaces of eastern rulers and influential rich people.
Today, carpets are a must in every Dagestan home: poorer families have sumakhs - lint-free rugs, and in wealthy houses the floors are covered with simply magnificent specimens - thick, with a high pile and very pleasant to the touch. When we visited someone, we usually did not pay much attention to them until we arrived in Tabasaran and found out how much time and work one such masterpiece costs.

We were met by Umganat Suleymanova - a local resident, a poetess and just a good person. Carpets are made here in almost every house - if not for sale, then just for themselves. Umganat is no exception: he says that when he weaves a carpet, he rests his soul.

We went to the next house, where five craftswomen were finishing weaving a large carpet. Work on it was carried out for more than six months!

Taking off our shoes as usual in front of the porch, we squeezed one by one into a small room, half of which was occupied by a loom. A very beautiful, almost finished carpet was stretched on it, and women were sitting on a low bench in front of it. It is simply impossible to understand something in the complex interweaving of various threads and auxiliary sticks. The purpose of some tools is not at all clear. The women smile when they see our confusion - they can knit their complex knots without looking, along the way telling us about their work and showing us the intricacies of the craft by example.

To make a carpet, first prepare the base: dense cotton threads are tightly and tightly pulled onto the frame parallel to each other. Then several women sit down at the machine - and the main work begins. Using a special hook, they tie a special knot of colored yarn around each thread. The speed with which the hands of the craftswomen move is fantastic - so it is impossible to catch exactly how they tie the knot. When the row is finished, it is pressed with a special heavy comb, and the uneven ends are cut off with large scissors. Thus, a pile of a certain depth is formed. In order not to make a mistake with the pattern, women refer to the scheme from a cheat sheet, and the most experienced carpet weavers know the pattern by heart.

Particular attention in the carpet business is given to yarn. The most valuable is the carpet made of wool dyed with natural dyes. How to get this or that color has been known since ancient times - after all, there were no artificial colors before. A wide variety of colors can be obtained from plants and minerals, as well as from some insects. For example, the red color traditional for Dagestan carpets is extracted from the root of the madder plant. Also, many are familiar with such a natural dye as henna, from which a beautiful orange color is obtained. Synthetic dyes are more commonly used these days. This makes the carpet a little cheaper, since it does not take a lot of work to collect and process the components of natural dyes, but this does not reduce the quality of the carpet.

After the story, the women finished their work. One of them cut the warp threads, and the most beautiful carpet was solemnly transferred to the courtyard for its first photograph. Now he must go to his owner, who will last at least 300 years - it is not difficult to imagine how many future generations will see this carpet.

When we came to visit Migdet Gadzhievich, we already understood that we would not be able to leave Tabasaran without a carpet - this was just the only place where such purchases should be made. Migde, former director of a local school, and today a man who, together with his family, is trying to keep carpet production in the area, also told us a lot of interesting things.
Since ancient times, Tabasarans have been engaged in carpet weaving, and carpets were woven here in every house - both for themselves and for sale. Mastery was passed on from the elders to the younger ones: from early childhood, girls watched how their mothers work, and as young women they already became experienced craftswomen. In Tabasaran families, women were the main breadwinners of the family, as they earned much more than men. In the Soviet years, an organized production of carpets was established in Tabasaran. They began to weave not at home, but in one large carpet workshop, where almost all the women of the villages came to work. Today, this shop is still working, but far from being at full capacity, and most of the carpet weavers have returned to work at home again.

carpet shop

While we were listening to Migdet Gadzhievich, his mother Aminat, a ninety-year-old woman who was considered the best carpet weaver in the village, came out to us.
“Children still make me work,” Aminat jokingly complains, pointing to his knitting. The children laugh as they translate their mother's words from the complex Tabasaran language to us.
Finally, carpets were brought out into the yard, which were made by the women of this family. We squint from the bright colors, enhanced by the sun, and, exchanging glances with Yanka, we understand that our carpet has finally found us and is now right in front of ours. A few minutes later, in the trunk of our car, there was already a neat bundle, which we were going to deploy already in Moscow, in our apartment.
We spent the rest of the evening visiting Gadzhimurat, the head of the Tabasaran region, where we raised more than one toast to the guests and hosts, to children and parents, to Dagestan and Russia as a whole, and many, many other things, which is now hard to remember. Now, when I am writing this post at home, I am happy to once again say thank you to all the people of Tabasaran who have shown us so much sincere hospitality, as well as to those who helped us come to Tabasaran.

Thanks for attention.

 

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