Classification of Armenian carpets

The Armenian carpet is a term that defines the pile and lint-free carpets that were woven by Armenians living both in the Armenian Highland and outside it from the pre-Christian period (up to 301 years) to the present day. Carpet weaving, being one of the kinds of Armenian decorative and applied art, is inextricably linked with other kinds of decorative and applied art of Armenians, continuing the traditions of other kinds of national fine arts. According to the Soviet ethnographer S. Tokarev, the main difference between Armenian carpets Persian, Azeri and other carpets is that as ornamental motifs used stylized images of animals and humans, but this view is challenged in a variety of other sources, where it is stated that in almost all types of Azerbaijani carpets are found images of people, animals and birds . Also, the image of animals and birds is found on “luxurious” Persian carpets. Traditionally, carpets in Armenia are carpeted with floors, indoor walls of houses, sofas, chests, seats and beds. Until now, the carpets often serve as veils doorways, the sacristy and altars in the temples, they cover themselves altars in churches. Developing since ancient times, Armenian carpet weaving since ancient times is an integral part of everyday life as carpet weaving were engaged in almost every Armenian family, despite the fact that “carpet everywhere was an ancient female occupation of Armenians”.

Study of the peculiarities of Armenian carpets
Most Armenian carpets are usually viewed as state-territorial features, like oriental carpets, however, the iconography and ornamentation of Armenian carpets has its own characteristics, which have been noted by various researchers of the history of fine arts. So, back in 1908 Swedish scientist FR Martin in the book “The history of oriental carpets before 1800”, investigating the history of carpet weaving, including Armenian carpet weaving, came to the conclusion that Asia Minor, that is, historical Armenia, the eastern part of which is occupied The Armenian Highlands, is home to the “dragon” carpets.

In this book, FR Martin published for the first time a photo of the rare beauty of a carpet with dragon ornament, called “Goar”. The scientist drew attention to the fact that the ornamentation and style of execution of this carpet with a textile inscription in Armenian and the date coincide with many other carpets with dragon ornament. Based on this, FR Martin identified the Armenian origin of the “dragon” carpets. Armenia, as the region of origin of the “dragon carpets,” is also believed to be Armenag Sargsyan and the historian of Islamic art Richard Ettinghausen.

A teacher of art history from the University of San Francisco, Lauren Arnold came to the conclusion about the Armenian origin of many oriental carpets, which in several universities delivered a lecture on oriental carpets in the fine arts of the Renaissance. Thus, according to her opinion, the Anatolian carpet depicting the struggle of the dragon with the phoenix bird (XV century), stored in the Berlin Museum of Islamic Art, was woven by Armenians from Nakhichevan. To this conclusion she came, comparing the pattern with the image of a dragon on this carpet with motifs of dragons on the facade of the Florentine church of San Miniato al Monte, which was dedicated to the first Florentine Great Martyr Saint Minas (Minas, Miniato) (Italian Miniato, Armenian Մինաս), who, according to legend, was an Armenian prince and lived in the III century. Also Armenian, according to Lauren Arnold, is another carpet of the same period, called “Marby”.

In the opinion of The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts, despite the important role played by Armenian weavers and buyers in the production of carpets, the theories suggesting the Armenian origin of the “dragon” carpets should not be considered.

Among the few ancient Armenian carpets that have survived to this day, the so-called “dragon carpets” – “vishapagorgi”. Several of these 18th century carpets can be seen in the museums of Berlin, London, Vienna, Budapest, Istanbul and Cairo. Some magnificent examples of the early period can be seen in the Museum of Armenian History in Yerevan and in the Museum of Ethnography of Armenia in Sardarapat. For this group of carpets are characterized by several specific motives, the most important of which is the image of a stylized dragon guarding the Tree of Life.

At the base of many ornaments of Armenian carpets are rock carvings. This is evidenced by the results of a comparative analysis of rock carvings and drawings with geometric patterns of Armenian carpets. In the so-called “snake carpet” – “otsagorga” (the form of carpet, which is often found among Garabagh carpets), in the center is a swastika. From it grow shoots, ending with stars. Eight wriggling snakes, located around a square with a swastika sign, themselves form multi-colored swastikas, while the whole composition symbolizes the universe, and eight snakes protect it.

Classification of Armenian carpets
Depending on the principles underlying the association of carpets into groups by distinctive characteristics, there are various classifications of carpets: on technique of execution, on the basic decorative structure and ornaments, use and size, geographic and climatic factors, dyes and other characteristics.

Classification by creation time
The oldest fully preserved classic Armenian carpet is an arched carpet, dating back to 1202. It was woven in the village of Banants, historical Gardman, Utic province, in the Gandzak area. On the carpet is depicted a three-edged apse that is identical to the apses repeatedly found on Armenian miniatures in medieval Armenian manuscripts. The bases of the columns depict palm trees embodying the tree of life. Above the capitals of the pair columns are crosses, vases, then birds resembling dove-motives, which, according to art historian V. Temurdzhyan, symbolize the vessels in which the myrrh is kept. The carpet has three characteristic belts. The wide outer belt is lined with four-petalled rosettes with garlands, on the other belt – traditional stylized lily patterns. On a narrower belt there is an inscription:

In memory of Hripsime from Kirakos Bananetsi in the year 651 (1202) of the Armenian calendar I wove this carpet.

In the carpet belts is the most common symbol, inherent in the Armenian “dragon” carpets, the “S” sign. The expert on carpets VA Holly believes that ” this sign is characteristic of the oldest carpets.” The carpet field is woven in a dark red color typical for classic Armenian carpets. The contours of the columns are woven with light threads. The background of the wide golden belt, the branches of the leaves are green, the rosettes are one yellowish and reddish. Red lilies are directed by heads to the center of the carpet, along the edges are green.

Of the surviving copies of Armenian carpets, early “dragon carpets” or “vishapagorg” are distinguished, which date from the 15th century to the century. On the carpets of an earlier period, the depictions of dragons and the fight of animals are very realistic, but after a while they are transformed into stylized ornaments.

Stylized floral patterns in carpets are often combined with plant and animal motifs. The most interesting are the “dragon” carpets, where among the plant patterns are depicted figures of fairy dragons and other animals. This is the oldest group of ornaments, which has no analogues in the art of carpet making – “vishapargorg” (dragon carpet). An important link in the composition of the carpet field is the ” vishap ” (dragon) itself – a character of Armenian folklore, endowed with good and evil qualities. The carpet field is filled with a vertical composition, which, by its mirror image, divides the carpet in the center into two equal parts. The colorful range of carpets is bright, but harmonious, favorite colors – red, blue, green, yellow. Archaic “vishapargorg” is characterized by a dark, almost black base. Light yellow colors, blue and red are used to make the elements of the carpet stand out clearly on a black background. Comparing the composition of archaic Armenian and rustic carpets of the second half of the twentieth century, the extremely persistent nature of the main motif and color is clearly visible. The motif of the dragon protecting the Tree of Life is preserved in the modern carpet, although it is geometrically simplified and reduced in size.

Later there are carpets with the Tree of Life, in the composition of which graceful trees stand out. It is important not to confuse vishapas with images of another sacred sign – the World Tree, which in the Armenian tradition is called the Tree of Life, the sacred center of the world. The world tree is a fairly common story in the religions of different peoples: the sacred ash from the Vikings, the symbol of oak among the Slavs, the world tree among the Babylonians, Assyrians and the minor Jews. There are many other symbols and ornaments on Armenian carpets. Some images are episodic, that is, they can “tell” about certain events that took place in the past – scenes of hunting, battles.

In the 17th century a vegetative-geometric type of carpet appeared, the central rosette of which was decorated with a restless and luxuriant vegetative decoration, and stylized floating ducks, birds with folded wings and horses were weaving along the free fields.

Carpets with “octahedrons”, also related to the vegetative-geometric type, are characteristic for the XVIII century. “Dragon carpets” were replaced by carpets with a floral pattern, some reaching 6 or even 8 meters in length. These patterns were of an upward character or were arranged in the form of diamonds around the central point. In the XVIII century, a new direction appeared ornaments, plant and animal, were stylized in such a way as to give the impression of an abstract picture. Much attention was paid to strengthening the ornamentality of the ornamental border, which began to abound with trefoils, leaves, flowers, antennae and other patterns. On old carpets you can find a beautiful border in the form of a garland of musical instruments similar to lyres.

Modern carpets “Cossacks” are distinguished by a large bold design and uniform color. Dense weaving in combination with high pile provides low wear and durability of the product. The basis is made of wool of natural color, usually in three strings. Weft wool, or natural gray, or painted in red. Two weft threads are usually inserted after each row of nodules. The ends can end in several ways. As Schuhmann explains, the beginning of the carpet forms a loop, so that the free ends of the threads are not cut off, but are pulled back to the other end. This is done by applying a stick-roll across the warp threads, and the loop wraps around it. When the carpet is woven, this stick is removed, leaving a loop at the end. On the opposite edge at this time, the free ends are either knotted, or spread out with a pigtail parallel to the duck.

The length of the pile depends on the area where the carpet was woven. The higher the carpet we live in the mountains, the longer the pile, because the carpet often serves to preserve the home heat in the winter cold. Armenian carpets-Cossacks “have an average length of pile from 8 to 12 millimeters.Usually these carpets are heavy, they are difficult to manage, it seems that you roll a slow-moving body.

Carpet patterns reflect the plant and animal life of these areas. The central field of Armenian carpets is ornamented in most cases with large and small medallions or heavily geometrized conventional images of figures of animals, birds, trees, flowers and other elements that fill the entire carpet field.

According to the classification, which is common among collectors, by the time of creation, carpets are divided into antique (created no later than 100 years ago) and collectible (woven not earlier than 100 years ago).

Classification of Armenian carpets on the territory of manufacture
Traditionally, until the 1990s, all carpets that originated from Transcaucasia were defined as Caucasian carpets. All the carpets that belonged to the Caucasus during the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries were made in the territories where three Transcaucasian republics were located in the Soviet period: the Azerbaijani SSR, the Armenian SSR and the Georgian SSR. Carpets woven in Dagestan also belonged to Caucasian carpets.

Classification of Armenian carpets in the carpet-weaving areas. XX century
The main carpet-weaving areas of Armenia in the Soviet period of the XX century were: Yerevan, Leninakan, Stepanavan, Ijevan, Sevan, Bayazet and Zangezur. Many carpets are named after the places of their development. Armenian carpets woven in the Soviet period were made from wool yarn of hardware spinning, which is used for nap and duck. For the basis, mainly cotton yarn was used. Pile yarn is stained with plant and strong synthetic dyes.

One of the early classifications of Armenian carpets was compiled by MD Isaev and is presented in the book “Carpet Production of Transcaucasia”, published in 1932 in Tbilisi. Among the Transcaucasian carpets with a thin and short nap he distinguished Armenian carpets of the Shirvan type, which were weaved in the Armenian villages of the Karamaria, Kirk, Kalagya and Ushtal districts. MD Isaev noted that the production in Armenia was reorganized so as to produce carpets of finer yarn and with a low pile. On the territory of Armenia, he singled out the following carpet-ridden areas: Loriysky with the villages of Ardvi, Berd, Lejan, Dseg; Pambsky with the villages of Shog, Uzunlar, Haghpat and Dseg; Ijevan-Shamshadinsky with the town of Ijevan and villages Verin Agdan, Ashtarak, Sevkar, Jarhech, Tauzkala, Ardanish, Djil, Agbulag, and also villages along the Karakoun gorge – Chaikend, Gelkend; Zangezour with the villages of Dig, Khndzoretsk, Goris, also sat down next to Okhchi tea in the Kafansky district and the village of Brnakot in the Sisian district; Daralagsky; Basargetscharsky; Leninakansky.

The classification of Armenian carpets of Transcaucasia proposed by M. Ter-Mikaelyan became more widespread. According to this classification by the manufacturing area, the carpets woven by the Armenians of Transcaucasia in the first quarter of the 20th century were divided into seven subgroups.

As Stepanian writes, by the first quarter of the 20th century carpets were primarily woven in the eastern regions of the Armenian SSR. In the north were two carpet-weaving districts. First, Loriysky, including centers in the villages of Ardvi, Berd, Lejan, Agarak, Urut and Chochkan, and secondly, Pambak, including centers in the villages of Shnokh, Akhpat, Uzunlar, Dseh and Shagali. Between Lake Sevan and the border with the Azerbaijani SSR were located three carpet-weaving districts. First, Ijevan, including centers in the city of Ijevan, Agdan,Khashtarak, Sevkar, Uzuntala, Jahach and Achajur, and secondly, Shamshadin, including Tuzkala, Chinchin and Navur, and thirdly, Sevan, including centers in the villages of Chaiken, Gelkend, Takhludja and Agbulah. To the south was located the Daralagyz region with the centers in the villages of Basargeczar, Agruda, Mazra, Yarpuzlu and Kati. And the seventh district is Zangezur with centers in the city of Goris and the villages of Khndzoresk and Dig.

Carpets of the Ijevan type
These carpets are created on the basis of studying ornaments of Armenian miniatures; their artistic merits are widely known. The main motive of a typical Armenian carpet is the lotus flower, given in longitudinal section and with unfolded petals. The larger flower forms are located along the middle vertical axis of the carpet, and the smaller ones are on the sides. From these flower forms, in the diagonal directions, jagged leaf-shaped figures that separate the carpet field into separate cells in which geometrically arranged images of domestic animals and wild animals are placed.

Sheet-shaped figures and figures of animals are filled with a picture of stems and small buds, leaves and flower rosettes. The background of the central field is red-magenta, pomegranate-red, pink, green, light blue, blue and white.

The border bordering the central field, in most cases consists of a leading broad fringe and two accompanying rims, separated from the leading border by narrow patterned strips. The ornament of the leading edge consists of flowers in a longitudinal section, leaves and buds, as if strung on one common stem going around the entire rim.

The accompanying rims are filled with continuous comb ornament, various small flower rosettes, triangular and square figures and have a darker coloring.

The background of the leading border is cream or red, depending on the color tone of the central field of the carpet.

The range of colors is the same as in the central field.

The central field of the carpet of the Ijevan type is filled with an elongated hexagonal medallion with stepped edges. On a blue background of a medallion there is a floral ornament from large lotus flowers, curved jagged leaves and small flower forms. The medallion is surrounded by a broad border of bright red with a dark red pattern on it.

The range of colors of the central field is blue, bright red, burgundy, dark red, pink, golden yellow, green, white. The border of the carpet of the Ijevan type consists of a leading broad rim and two narrower escars accompanying the border, separated by patterned strips.

The ornament of the leading edge on a blue background is similar to the ornamentation of the central medallion and is made up of the same lotus flowers and curved jagged leaves.

Accompanying the rims on a light background have a pattern of four-petalled color rosettes, connected by stems and data in a wavy motion. The color range of the curb is the same as that of the central field. The approximate ratio of the width of the curb of this group of carpets to the width of the carpet is 1: 3, 1: 4.

The width of the palasade at each end of the carpet is 3-4 centimeters. The length of the fringe is 6-10 centimeters. The density of carpets of this group is 160-250 knots on 1 square decimeter, the pile height is 4-6 millimeters. The sizes of carpets are 2-10 square meters.

Armenian carpets from other regions of Transcaucasia
Less popular in comparison with other types of Armenian carpet, mostly woven in the Armenian-populated weaving villages (Kirk, Kalagya, Ushtal and others) of the Shirvan region of Azerbaijan.

The central field of the carpet is ornamented with geometrical figures, the basis of which are samples of the animal and plant world. In other cases, it is ornamented with square or concave medallions. The medallion often incorporates a rhombus with a hook-shaped ornament, and in a rhombus – a star-rosette. The whole field is filled with small diamond-shaped figures, made up of T-shaped shapes, and flower rosettes. Carpets often have Christian cross motifs, many Armenian carpets of this type are signed and contain inscriptions in Armenian.

The background of the central field of carpets of the “Shirvan” type is mostly mahrenov-red, dark blue and blue.

The rim of the carpet, bordering the central field, consists of a wide leading edge and narrower rims accompanying the rim.

The ornamentation of the curb consists mostly of geometrized rosettes and linear forms. The color scheme of the carpet is mahrenov-red, pink, golden-yellow, green, blue, blue, white and black. The approximate ratio of the width of the curb to the width of the carpet is 1: 3, 1: 4. The width of the palasade at each end of the carpet is 3-4 centimeters. The length of the fringe is 6-10 centimeters. The pile height is 4-6 millimeters. The density of carpets of this group is 160-250 knots on 1 square decimeter. The sizes of carpets are 2-2.5 square meters.

Carpets of the “Gandzak” and “Cossack” type differ in their unique composition. The central field of these carpets is ornamented with two or three large medallions. Often the medallions have a double contour surrounded by a hook-shaped ornament. The background of the central field is filled with elongated hexagons, starlike, round and polygonal rosettes, geometricized vegetal ornamentation.

The background of the central field is mostly dark red, blue, golden yellow, white. The rim of the carpet, framing the central field, consists of a leading broad fringe and narrow rims accompanying it.

The ornament of the leading edge is made up of so-called “mutton horns”, geometrical rosettes and other forms.

The range of colors – white, red, blue, blue, green, yellow, cream and their shades.

The approximate ratio of the width of the curb to the width of the carpet is 1: 4, 1: 6.

The width of the wedge at each end of the carpet is 3-4 centimeters, the density of carpets of the “Gandzak” and “Kazak” types is 90-140 knots per 1 square decimeter, the pile height is 6-8 millimeters. The length is 6-10 centimeters. Dimensions of carpets 3,5-4 square meters.

Among the family of “Cossack” carpets in trade, the following regional types are distinguished.

Lambalo. This is the name of the village in the Ganja region, where carpets with low pile are made, thin and silky to the touch. The wool for them is beautifully painted, the figure includes geometric flowers on the curb. The field is often not filled with ornamentation. The size of “lambalo” rarely exceeds 130 x 210 cm.
Shulaveri. A place in Southern Georgia where we weave carpets of fine wool, painted with magnificent dyes. A curious specimen, illustrated in the illustrations by Dr. Schurmann, has unusual medallions consisting of a multitude of narrow edges and multi-colored angular motifs. The yellow pattern of the mill surrounds medallions, reminiscent of the patterns of early Anatolian carpets, especially “ushakov.”
Grumbled. This region on the Armenian-Georgian border is famous for its silky wool and bold design, usually a continuous pattern of opposing hexagons, with a trefoil border made of white wool on a black or brown background. Sometimes the pattern consists of octagonal, spherical or hexagonal ornaments, filled with cross-shaped flowers. The best examples of such carpets date back to the XIX century.
The mountain district of Lori-Pambak is characterized by long -tailed “Cossacks”, who are recognized by their bold and impressive design. A massive central medallion is often surrounded by a large field of primary color.
Caracas with a black-brown background, decorated with a rich pattern, preferably from birds and flowers, are made in the city of Caraclis, along the Yerevan-Tbilisi railway line.
The city of Ijevan, north of Lake Sevan, is famous for making carpets like lori-pambak strictness of drawing and gloomy color.
From Fakhralo, located to the west of Shulaveri, loosely woven carpets came in, often with a pattern in polygons in the middle bordered by prayer arches (mirabs). They have an outer rim of leaves and flower cups, while garlands of orchered tulips surround the center.
The village of Karchakhpyur near Lake Sevan is distinguished by particularly magnificent large square “kashki”. A wonderful green color is used for the field. To the touch, these carpets are silky and woven very tightly. They often have small pattern squares filled with stars on a bright field. These squares are grouped around a central square or an octagon. At both ends of the carpet field, prayer arches are woven.

The production of carpets of the “Cossack” type is concentrated to the north and northwest of Lake Sevan.

Carpets of the “Karabakh” type
Another large center of Armenian carpet weaving is Karabakh, located in the east and southeast of Lake Sevan.

Carpet “Goar”
One of the peculiarities of Armenian carpets from Karabakh is the presence of textile inscriptions on them. Most of the Armenian carpets that have survived to this day are Karabakh with inscriptions. The earliest of the surviving Armenian carpets of Garabagh is the famous lint-free carpet “Goar”, dating from 1700. In the inscription of the weaver, the carpet calls itself and indicates the year of completion of the work:

I, Gohar, sinful and weak in spirit, with my own newly learned hands weaved this carpet. He who reads this inscription, let him speak to the Lord about me. In 1149 (1700),

. The carpet “Goar” was first seen in 1899 when he was exhibited in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum, where he was photographed. In 1908 the photograph was published by FR Martin (FR Martin). The text on the carpet “Gohar” was translated in 1908 by an outstanding linguist Norayr de Bizansom (fr. Norayr de Byzance. In 1977, the carpet “Gohar” was sold at auction in London LeFevre and Partners. In 2004, the carpet was re-sold and is in a private collection.

According to Peter Pope, the carpet was intended for the church, which was a parishioner of a weaver, and probably was used in the ceremonies of the church, which explains its exceptionally well-preserved..

Features of Armenian carpets from Karabakh
Armenian carpets from Karabakh are carpets woven by Armenians. Most of the surviving Armenian carpets from Karabakh contain inscriptions in Armenian. Until recent years, when describing Armenian carpets of the “Karabakh” type, Karabakh was listed as a region within Azerbaijan. So, the famous connoisseur of oriental carpets Peter Pap (Peter Pap) when assessing the carpet, which he dated about 1880, at the time of the assessment described as a carpet leading origin from Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan. In February 2009, Peter Pap supplemented the text of the carpet description, pointing out that “Karabakh historically and culturally differs from Azerbaijan. To date, Karabakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) remains a controversial region, whose borders lie within the territory of Azerbaijan, and whose population is almost exclusively composed of Armenians. ” Further, Peter Pap writes: “Garabagh carpets are named first of all by their geographical location, where they were woven.” About the carpet, which Peter Dad estimated earlier, he writes the following: “This example (carpet) can be considered an Armenian carpet, but other ethnic groups could be represented among the weavers, since these carpets were usually made in small workshops in various villages. In these villages there could be Kurds and Azerbaijani Turks, certainly Muslims, as well as Armenian Christians. Ultimately, it is difficult to determine the ethnic origin of a particular carpet, since all such textile products in trade are designated as “Karabakh” “.

Armenian carpets from Karabakh, that is, carpets woven by Armenians from Karabakh (despite the fact that most of them contain inscriptions in Armenian) are distinguished by the fact that their nap is denser and the stitches are shallower. Wool for the base is usually taken brown. “Garabagh carpets a variety of floral motifs, densely saturating the central field and curb, the richness of the colorful scale give birth to the image of a flowering garden. At a deep tone in a dark blue, dark red or green background of the central field, in a calm rhythm, multicolored large and small flower rosettes intertwined with thin stems are repeated. ” As this area is located almost on the border with Persia, ornaments give out Persian influences. Compositions are not so stylized and less geometric than those of Cossack carpets, and usually more dense floral ornaments are used.

Ulrich Shurman subdivided carpets of the “Karabakh” type into several types:

Carpets from the Armenian village of Jraberd (Chelabird or otherwise Choraberd), which is a small homeland of the famous “Cossacks with eagles”, named so from the radial pattern coming from the central medallion, with protruding processes like wings and feathers of a large bird. Such carpets are well known to collectors and are highly appreciated.
Carpets from the Armenian village of Khndzoresk ((Armenian Խնձորեսկ), located in the eastern part of the Syunik marz of Armenia) are “cloudy-striped” carpets “Cossacks”, so named because of the whitish motifs repeating throughout the field. The middle part of the carpet is occupied by square medallions, each of which has a swastika.
Carpets from the city of Shusha with a variety of filigree ornaments, full of creative fiction. The single-colored fields of these carpets are often of the Karabakh koshenno-red color, although there are carpets with an ivory field. With the expectation of selling to Russian officers and officials Shusha Armenians wove carpets, medallions of which are filled with bouquets of roses. This approached Western European furniture, brought to the Caucasus by Russian and European settlers.
Carpets from the village of Horadiz, located in the very south of Karabakh with a cotton thread in the duck. They have an unusual pattern: stylized scorpions of white and red color on a dark blue background bordered by a well-developed deciduous curb of turquoise and gray color on a motley-red background.
Other remarkable types of Karabakh carpets are the so-called “lamp-Karabakh” or “kara-deh”, which somewhat resembles Persian carpets; “Khan-Karabakh”, which is basically a prayer rug; “Kazim ushag” with plant and geometric multicolored patterns, which weave the Kurds; and “Shanik” carpets, which often have a blue-black background and thin stitches.

The central field of “Karabakh” type carpets is usually filled with ornamentation, consisting of multi-petalled flower rosettes, interconnected by stems. Often it depicts wild and domestic animals. The background of the central field is dark red or dark blue. The border, framing the central field of the carpet, consists of one wide and several accompanying narrow edges. Ornament of rims – floral. The range of the carpet is made up of white, red, blue, pink, blue, golden yellow, cream colors and shades. The approximate ratio of the width of the curb to the width of the carpet is 1: 4, 1: 5. The sizes of carpets are 2-10 square meters. Carpets of this group have an oblong shape, their density is 110-160 knots per 1 square decimeter, the height of the pile is 6-8 millimeters. The width of the capstone at each end of the carpet is 2-4 centimeters. The length of the fringe is 6-10 centimeters.

The art of carpet weaving reached the industrial scale only in the XIX century, when several carpet-weaving workshops began to operate in Shusha, the products of which were exported. In Soviet times, the traditions of carpet weaving in Karabakh continued to develop both in private farms and at the state enterprise “Stepanakert Carpet Factory”. At the present time, carpet weaving is experiencing its second birth. In Stepanakert and Shusha there are carpet factories where carpets are hand-woven in accordance with traditional technologies. Carpet-making workshops also operate in some villages. Especially for tourists, souvenir rugs of small sizes, convenient for transportation, with traditional patterns or symbols of Karabakh are woven. Such rugs can be purchased at stores selling souvenirs.

Classification of Armenian carpets according to the technique of execution
According to the technique of execution, all Armenian carpets can be divided into two main groups: pile and lint-free. Also Armenian craftsmen made felt carpets, but they were always appreciated by less woven carpets.

Source from Wikipedia