Weaving in the 19th and 20th Centuries Chelaberd Rugs
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Weaving in the 19th and 20th Centuries: The Art of Chelaberd Rugs
Overview
The art of Caucasian weaving over the last 180 years is a rich tapestry of cultural influences. Factors such as culture, ethnography, politics, religion, geography, and climate have all played a significant role in shaping the region’s rug weaving. Recently, the exceptional quality of these rugs has attracted scholarly attention, resulting in a well-documented body of research.
Determining Origin and Design
Identifying the exact origin of Caucasian rugs merely through their designs and colors is challenging. While some patterns have been traced to specific sources, they represent only a fraction of the extensive variety found in the region. The type of wool and the pile length are crucial indicators of a carpet's origin. Rugs made in mountainous areas, where sheep produce heavier fleece, tend to have a richer and longer pile, while those from lowland areas are lighter.
Regional Characteristics
1. Long-Pile Rugs: Regions like Kazak, Gendje, Lesghi, and parts of Karabagh are known for their long, heavy piles with vibrant colors.
2. Medium-Pile Rugs: Talish, Lenkoran, and Daghestan rugs typically have a medium pile.
3. Low-Pile Rugs: Areas such as Shirvan, Kuba, and Baku produce fine low-pile rugs.
The Diversity of Designs
The Caucasus is home to around 350 tribes speaking approximately 150 dialects, resulting in diverse cultural influences on rug designs. In the southwest, Christian Armenians predominate, while Tartars and Persians inhabit the southeast. The northern regions are home to tribes like the Shirvans, Daghestans, Chechens, and Lesghis, with Cherkesses to the northwest.
The complexity of attributing specific designs to locations is notable. Russian scholar S. Zerminov identified 123 villages in southern and mid-Caucasus producing unique carpet designs. This diversity highlights the deep historical roots of many animal motifs, some tracing back to Scythian origins.
Weaving Regions
For simplicity, the Caucasus can be divided into ten weaving areas: Kazak, Karabagh, Gendje, Talish, Moghan, Shirvan, Baku, Kuba, Daghestan, and Derbend. However, the term "Kazak" is often used generically for a wide array of Caucasian rugs not limited to the Kazak district.
Chelaberd Rugs: A Unique Craft
Often referred to as Eagle Kazaks, Chelaberd rugs, while similar in design to Kazak rugs, are structurally distinct and rooted in Karabagh weaving traditions. Weavers in these two regions use thick yarns, creating superficial similarities. Chelaberd weavings feature a distinctive Caucasian weave with two weft threads after every two rows of knots, in contrast to the irregular number of wefts found in Kazak.
Chelaberd rugs originate from the southeastern Caucasus near northern Persia. This mountainous region, stretching from the Caspian to the Black Sea, is where some of the most collectible rugs were created, particularly those from 1800 to 1900. The late 19th century marked a pinnacle in village and nomadic rug weaving, characterized by inventive designs, natural dyes, and vibrant colors.
Traditional sizes like 4x6 and 5x7 were common for Chelaberd rugs, making runners in these dimensions exceptionally rare and prized by collectors. The best rugs from this era showcased the creativity of cottage-industry weavers who adapted traditional motifs such as sunburst medallions, dragons, and temple arches with local materials.
The Eagle Kazak Name
The origin of the name "Eagle Kazak" is debated. It may refer to the central medallion design resembling the Russian double-headed eagle. Another theory suggests "Chelaberd" translates to "Eagle" in a mix of Armenian, Russian, and Arabic dialects, though this is less widely accepted.
In summary, Caucasian and Chelaberd rugs represent a fascinating blend of artistic tradition and regional diversity, reflecting a rich history that continues to captivate collectors and scholars today.
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