The best Tabasaran carpets: description, patterns, features and reviews

Dagestan is the center of hand carpet weaving in the Russian territory. The distinctive features of Dagestan carpets are a wealth of patterns in combination with clear compositions and color solutions. 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

Popular Dagestan pile carpets are produced in the south of the republic. Conditionally models are divided into four types, which differ in ornamentation, density and length of the pile:

• Lezghin - "akhty", "mikrah", "kasumkent";
• Derbent - Derbent;
• Rutulian - "rutul";
• Tabasaran - "rushul", "Khiv", "Tabasaran".

For carpets of the "hiv" type, the distinctive features are long nap (up to 6 mm) and the number of knots (tied to 10 cm ² ) to 1764 pieces. In other carpets the number of knots is less and is up to 1600.

Features of Tabasaran carpets

Previously, the most significant household item was considered Tabasaran carpets handmade. Prices for them were so high that after selling one family for more than six months could live comfortably. Such a carpet product at a cost equivalent to a couple of horses or several heads of smaller cattle.

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

In the past, there was a weaving machine in each house. If they were not used, it was carefully disassembled and stored until the moment it was needed. The young girl from Tabasaran always had two large carpets and one small carpet in her dowry. At the same time, one should be woven by her hands, in extreme cases the bride should take part in its creation.

In ancient times, to check the quality of the carpet made on it, they let the horses run through, left for a few days in the rain and sun, sometimes soaked. The carpet had to remain in the original form: only then the skilled worker will prove the quality of his work. The best Tabasaran carpets served their owners more than three hundred years.

Manufacture of Tabasaran carpets

It is generally believed that Dagestani and Tabasaran carpets are one and the same. But only in the south of Dagestan the craft of creating carpets has been preserved. Only hard work was done by women. The carpet was woven by a skilled worker along with friends, neighbors, relatives. It happens that up to six women work for one machine. They talk, sing songs, tell funny stories, talk. Sometimes one carpet product was created for more than five months. Carpet weave knots. On one knot in a professional needlewoman takes up to two seconds, and for a day they are associated with about eight thousand. It is noteworthy that in a small carpet you can count more than three million such nodules.

On the loom, which is in the middle of the house, stretch the white thread. They serve as a kind of canvas, through which the pattern will be woven. On this basis, multi-colored threads begin to tie knots, which gradually acquire a complete shape.

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

Lint-free carpet "sumac", which covers the floor, stands out among others by a special method of weaving. On the reverse side, long woolen threads (up to 15 cm) 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. Women who worked on this product, they dance national dances. Such a rite testifies to the end of this hard work. Dancers transmit the carpet their positive energy. To traditional dances, single women and those who did not take part in its creation are not allowed.

Figure - the main thing in the carpet

For Tabasaran carpets, the gradual embracing of smaller patterns with larger fragments is typical. The area of the carpet is small. Each of them is placed in medallions. Then they are placed inside polygons. Any small pattern and all large ornaments are highlighted with edging and color filling. With the help of geometric connections, the needlewoman is woven with colorful curls and patterns. In these embossings on the stroke have an ornament of a branch with flowers.

In the middle of pile carpets in a checkerboard arrangement large drawings are associated with the leaves of trees. In the middle of the largest ornaments, smaller, corresponding to the configuration, fit in the drawings. They are made in lighter or darker color shades. Between large details weave geometric flowers and outlines of birds. The whole carpet pattern is combined into a single whole by means 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 masters. It happens that in the middle a small medallion is added, although there are ornaments without it. The form of safar is like a flower with the right petals. Carpets, which are decorated with a star, attract attention with a wide variety of used shades. All the details of the star are located on the field in a strictly verified order. The central part of the carpet is mostly made in blue and red.

Mercher

Another popular among the craftsmen for making Tabasaran carpets is the figure of the merkher, similar to the shape of a sled. In the middle of the article, medallions are placed in turn in the form of squares and hexagons. They are connected along the entire length of the carpet by lines. These combined geometric figures resemble the silhouette of a sleigh. Often, from the bordered edges to the side to the medallions, they are fastened the drawings that resemble the puppet silhouette. The unoccupied place is filled with small elements. The rim is distinguished by a large number of patterned fragments, the carpet looks rich and elegant. All figures, patterns and patterns are strictly geometric. Coloring is a harmonious combination of yarn of blue and red colors with the addition of a white, bright blue hue of wool.

Tourar, Topancha, Checkers and Pistols

The most popular drawing of Tabasaran carpets is a round (checkers). The patterned figures in this kind of pattern are placed diagonally. The name came from association with crossed swords or pistols. These ornaments are combined with small medallions. As a result of the diagonal combination, a grid is created, which is placed at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the edges. Traditionally, in the center there are up to three rows of very small medallions, which are united by patterns of poppies. By the width and length of the carpet are placed from three to seven rows of larger fragments.

This kind of drawing is done in light shades of beige, blue, brown. In the drawings checkers use the saturated blue, green, red colors, bordered with black. Unplanned places of the background of the needlewoman are regularly filled with small rosettes or other patterns. The final point in the design of the figure is a wavy rim, the color of which is white with blue patterns.

Carpet Museum 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 millennial history of carpets, 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 given that the dyes are used artificial. The original Tabasaran carpet with the use of natural colors is several times more expensive. Today, hand-made Tabasaran carpets can be seen in the best museums of Paris, London, Tokyo. Houses and palaces of the first persons of various powers are decorated with woven products. At international exhibitions, carpet products are constantly winning gold medals.

Live, appreciate life and rejoice in it - such wishes of the craftsmen convey the patterns and painting of the carpet. You can look at the picture for hours at a time: someone will see the trees and birds on it, someone the face of a stranger staring into the distance. The next spectator will look at the mountains rising upwards, and the plain at the foot along which the man with the plow comes and plows the land. It seems that you saw all the smallest details on Tabasaran carpets, when suddenly a picture appears before your eyes, which you did not notice before ... And again the picture changes ...