The oldest carpet in the world. The most ancient carpet

The oldest carpet is kept in the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, its age is more than 2.5 thousand years. I went specifically to look at it) Therefore, at the end there are several photographs of snow-covered St. Petersburg, taken along the way)) The carpet is unique, preserved due to the fact that a kind of freezer was formed in the burial. Found in the Altai Mountains - in the largest 5th Pazyryk mound. Used as a saddle on one of the sacrificed horses. In the center is an ornament of 24 cross-shaped figures, each of which represents 4 stylized lotus buds. On one of the borders there is an image of a griffin, on the other there are 24 deer with antlers. On the widest strip there are 28 figures of mounted and dismounted horsemen. The carpet uses bright yellow, blue and red colors. The carpet was very bright.

The Pazyryk carpet is made with a symmetrical double knot (Turkish), per 1 square. dm 3600 knots were manually tied, and there are over 1,250,000 of them in the entire carpet), quite dense. There is a version about the Iranian homeland of the carpet, but it could also have been made in Central Asia, through which the Altaians had contact with Iran and the Middle East. A lot of research and versions)

Pile wool carpet. Pazyryk culture. V-IV centuries BC. Size 183x200 cm, knotting technique. Mountain Altai, Pazyryk tract, river valley. Big Ulagan. Fifth Pazyryk mound (excavations by S.I. Rudenko 1949) Hermitage

Carpet weaving has a very ancient history, evidence of this is the discovery of bronze blades of carpet knives found in the Sumbar burial ground in Turkmenistan, dating back to the 14th century BC. The composition of the carpet is framed by 5 borders - to this day traditionally carpets have an odd number of borders

This is a felt carpet from the same mound, it was studied in more detail by L.L. Barkova, you can read others. The carpet served as a yurt, in which, apparently, the leader’s body lay for some time. The carpet was then placed in a burial place. In the drawing, the horseman stands in front of a goddess sitting on a throne. The goddess is bald in a wig, like many of the women in the burials

A log chamber in which two logs lay - a girl was buried with the leader

The cart that brought the leader to his resting place

Mummy of a leader with tattoos deciphered. An image of a leopard is “thrown” over the shoulder, which seems to “come to life” during its movement

Leather horse mask, he went to another world in the form of a deer

These felt swans were mounted on the tops of the yurt poles, the feathers at the ends of the wings were painted black, such a color does not occur in nature) two associations arose - it seems that the New Zealand Maori had the coolest feathers of a similar color, they had the right to wear only " leaders", the birds to which these feathers belonged died out, they began to use the feathers of other birds, but tinted) I also remembered the "geese-swans" that carried the heroes of fairy tales to the afterlife, across the river with jelly banks) rye jelly was an integral part of the funeral feast

It was under this hall in the basement that Khalturin installed a bomb to blow up Alexander II; here was the guard room, and above it was the dining room. The Tsar was not injured, 11 soldiers of the Finnish regiment were killed, 56 were wounded. In the dining room, a chandelier fell on the dining table, the wall cracked and the electricity went out

These amulets are already in the next room

Fragment of mummy skin with tattoo

Preserved Chinese silk shirt, wool skirt, leather shoes

You can enter the Hermitage from Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street through the courtyards of the Chapel - the inscription above the arch shows the entrance

Having passed the enfilade of courtyards, you find yourself in the courtyard of the Chapel itself - below is a view of the Chapel, if you turn around

And ahead is the bridge over the Moika and Palace Square

Hermitage (Winter Palace)

And the General Staff building

In winter, the entrance to the Hermitage from Palace Square

This is the entrance for those who are going to buy a ticket at the museum, but there is also the opportunity to buy a ticket in the courtyard from a machine, at the ticket office of the General Staff Building, or via the Internet - with a ticket you can enter the Hermitage without queuing. It's a small queue even though it's Saturday because it's winter and cold

This view opens from the windows of the palace halls on the second floor.

Previously I wrote about the jewelry and tattoos of the Altai princess

Etymology

It is believed that the word "carpet" was borrowed by the Old Russian language from the Turkic languages. One of the earliest uses of this word in the Old Russian language is The Tale of Bygone Years, under the year 6485 () it is written:

Original text (Old Russian)
“And look for Ambassador Oropolk. and dragging the corpse from the rowing from morning until noon. and the lie came from underneath the corpse. and put it outside and on the carpet"

Processing specifics

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.

With the invention of aniline dyes in the 19th century, carpet production experienced a real boom. Carpets have dropped sharply in price and competition has increased. The centuries-old hegemony of Persia began to be pushed aside by Türkiye, China and even Europe. But the best carpets, for example those made of silk threads, are still very expensive. Today, aniline dyes are gradually being replaced by polymer and synthetic dyes, which do not require fixing and do not fade. The most modern, third generation of dyes are chrome. In terms of properties, they are practically indistinguishable from natural ones, but not as rich in color.

However, modern technologies have made it possible to equalize the quality of synthetic carpets with classic wool ones. Synthetic carpets have a significant advantage in operation: they are easier to care for.

Depending on the production technology and the method of fastening the yarn onto the base, the following types of carpets are distinguished: woven, braided, felt, tufted (from the English tuft - “to grow in bunches”) and needle-punched. Needle punching and tufting production is high-speed, automated, and cheap. The process of making woven carpets is much slower and more complex. Imitating traditional handwork, woven carpets are significantly more expensive than tufted and needle-punched ones. They are flat textile products consisting of two intersecting systems of threads: longitudinal and transverse.

History of carpet weaving

Machine used for carpet weaving, vertical direction, top part on the wall

The history of woven carpets goes back thousands of years. Since ancient times, people have decorated their homes with carpets. Simple, hand-woven and dense pieces of knitted material served not only decorative purposes, but also testified to the wealth of the owners, and most importantly, served as a reliable way of protection from the cold.

The first woven paintings in history made using the carpet technique date back to the 16th -11th centuries BC. e. Their images were found in a tomb from the New Kingdom era. And a fresco found in Beni Hassan (10th century BC) hid the oldest image in history of the carpet-making process.

Perhaps a fragment of the oldest carpet was discovered in an Urartian settlement of the 9th century BC. e. in Karmir-Blur. S. Rudenko came to the conclusion that the carpet was woven by one of the Iranian peoples - the Persians, Parthians or Medes, but Elizabeth Barber believes that Rudenko did not analyze all possible locations of the origin of the carpet.

The Pazyryk carpet is made so-called. Turkish symmetrical double knot (3600 knots are manually tied per 1 dm², and there are over 1,250,000 of them in the entire carpet), and therefore it has a fairly high density. Decorated with laconic ornaments with pronounced anthropomorphic and zoomorphic elements (riders on horses).

Nomads

Gallery

Small rug

Wool carpet

Carpet for prayer

Notes

carpet // Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language by Max Vasmer
English cover - blanket, covering
Carpet - Based on the fact that this word has unusual phonetic features, it can be assumed that it is a borrowing; Wed Brückner 241. The source was probably Danube-Bulgian, Volga-Bulgian. (Old Chuv.) *kavǝ̂r-from *kebir; Wed Middle-Turkic kiviz, küwuz, chagat., eastern Turkic. kigiz “felt blanket”, Tat., Kazakh. kīz, Mongolian kebis "carpet", Kalm. kews; see Räsänen, FUF 29, 196; ZfslPh 20, 448; Ramstedt, KWb. 230. Incredibly phonetically borrowing from ancient history. ko
- Max Vasmer. Etymological dictionary of the Russian language by Max Vasmer.
PSRL. - T. 2. Ipatiev Chronicle. - St. Petersburg, 1908. - Stlb. 57-88
Materials for the dictionary of the Old Russian language Works of I. I. Sreznevsky St. Petersburg, 1893. Volume 1. column 1244
The Tale of Bygone Years. Translation by D. S. Likhachev
E. Barber. "Prehistoric Textiles: The Development of Cloth in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages with Special Reference to the Aegean" - Princeton University Press, 1991 - p. 202 - ISBN 069100224X, 9780691002248 " A scrap of another pile fabric was found in the 7th-6th century B.C. level at Karmir-Blur in Armenia, along with a garment with a small amount of tapestry decoralion dune in wool and bast on a wool warp (Verkhovskaja 1955). Unfortunately, we are given no information as to how the woolen pile was introduced. Similarly, the charred remains of both pile and weft-faced textiles in some sort of animal fiber were recovered farther south at flasanlu, from the late 9th century B.C. (Dyson 1964, 21)»
Barbara Brend "Islamic art" Harvard University Press, 1991 p240 ISBN067446866X, 9780674468665 p 43 Textiles and carpets
The earliest surviving carpet, now in the Hermitage, was found among frozen grave goods at Pazyryk in Siberia, and is dated approximately to the fifth century bc. It has a field of squared rosettes, and borders with clk lede horses. Whether the Pazyryk carpet was made Central or Western Asia is a matter of debate, but Armenia in particular has been mentioned as a possible place of origin.
S. I. Rudenko “The Art of Altai and Western Asia (mid-1st millennium BC)” M., 1961
Ulrich Schurmann, The Pazyryk, Its Use and Origin, p. 46, New York, 1982, Munich, 1982
“From all the evidence available I am convinced that the Pazyryk rug was a funeral accessory and most likely a masterpiece of Armenian workmanship.”

The uncertainty of the carpet's origins seems to always be shrouded in mystery. However, the only thing that leaves no doubt is the fact that wicker forms of floor coverings were present in the Neolithic era (7000 BC).

However, the veil of secrecy will forever remain how the carpet actually came into being in the absence of documentary evidence. However, according to experts, there are two theories regarding this issue.

The first theory says that carpets were invented to serve a practical purpose for nomadic people. They were tightly bound to protect people from unfavorable climatic conditions. This also served as a reason to refuse to use the skins of their favorite animals. In this way, the carpet also served its original purpose - to protect the feet from direct contact with the ground. It is believed that such carpets came into everyday life as rudimentary forms of floor coverings that we use today. Developing from early times, this form of home decoration has become an integral attribute of not only a comfortable lifestyle, but also external beauty. The carpets had unique colors and were decorated with different motifs. In addition, such carpets were woven on a vertical loom, which could be disassembled and easily transported.
Proponents of the second theory believe that woven carpets were born earlier. However, they developed as a form of artistic production of sedentary peoples. Carpets then performed two functions at once - utilitarian and aesthetic. The formation of a permanent place of residence gave impetus to the sphere of carpet creation - they were used to decorate important festive and traditional ceremonies, and then carpets became an integral part of people’s lives.

Interestingly, some carpets were woven on horizontal looms, which evolved from their vertical cousin.

The Pazyryk carpet was excavated from the grave of a major Shiite military leader in the Pazyryk Valley in Altai, Siberia. The carpet was well preserved under the influence of the cold. Its origins date back to the 5th century BC. BC, this is the oldest example of an ancient carpet in the world. The carpet is an example of the author’s excellent craftsmanship, and there is no doubt that it was woven as a product to decorate a home; just pay attention to its appearance.

These important archaeological excavations led to the understanding that, whatever the actual reason for the birth of carpets and rugs, they all served and served for insulation from the climate along with concern for the improvement of the room.

Origin of carpets

The gradual spread of carpet art throughout the world over the centuries proved to be a hindrance in unraveling the mystery of its origin. However, many different carpet fragments have been discovered in excavations around the world. Reliable evidence from the Middle East suggests that carpet weaving was widespread in the second and third centuries BC. Therefore, this place is called the cradle of carpet weaving. People migrated to areas from Turkestan to the West, the Caucasus, Persia, eastern China, and then to India, spreading this art form. Additionally, this range of places is known as the Eastern Carpet Belt.

Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant and traveler, traveling through Turkey, said: “They weave the finest and most beautiful carpets in the world. They also weave silk fabrics of crimson and other colors, of extraordinary beauty and richness, and many other types of fabric."

An antique carpet as an object with a soul

Most of the antique forms of rugs and rugs we see today reflect the rich weaving and decoration of the Persian style. Developed over decades and centuries, these significant objects have endured everything with great respect and pride. Carpets woven before 1920 are classified as antiques. Traditionally, woven rugs with natural dyes are called antique rugs. Carpets woven from 1920-1930 to modern times are known as "modern carpets". Modern rugs usually take inspiration from Western designs.

The earlier chronological classification of living objects such as carpets is quite elementary. It is fascinating that carpets that were woven before the 17th century are so rare that they can only be seen in museums and large collections.

Types of carpets from different countries

Egypt

Carpets from the Islamic world, such as Egypt, are of extraordinary quality and are produced on a large scale. Thanks to their unique elegance, they sold well in the Far East. Early forms of rugs showed geometric designs. Egyptian carpets literally spread their wings to Istanbul, and then ended up in Cairo. Carpets from Cairo are very similar to those that could be found in East Turkestan.

Typically woven from wool, Egyptian carpets and rugs were made using asymmetrical knots or "gyordas" knots. Motifs like palmettes on a red carpet background were quite popular for Egyptian carpets. Unfortunately, there are practically no documents indicating the production or use of carpets from Egypt. However, Egyptian spectacular handmade carpets are famous throughout the world.

China

Chinese carpets are quite outstanding among other types of carpets around the world. Their characteristic features are motifs and a conservative choice of colors. Chinese rugs speak a mixture of languages and can be either floral or geometric. However, their style is very different from the style of carpets in Islamic countries.

Surprisingly, carpet weaving was not considered an art form in China until the second half of the 1700s. The heyday of carpets took place much later than in any other eastern country. The reason for this may be a banal shortage of wool in China.

Beautiful Chinese rugs are a wonderful combination of colors and usually feature abstract geometric shapes that are curvilinear in nature. The mixture of colors does not create any confusion, but there is a distinct style that is balanced and graceful.

Uniquely colored Chinese rugs typically display symbols from the natural world, ancient myths, Buddhism and Taoism. Interestingly, each symbol carries a special meaning that is not so easy to decipher.

Türkiye

Turkish rugs in general are inspired by local culture and traditions. All rugs inspired by Islamic culture depict geometric shapes or symbols.

An eccentrically attractive element of carpets from Turkish weavers is the vibrant color palette with strong tonality. Shades range from red, blue, yellow and other warm shades. In various specialized places where carpets were woven, works of different nature were born, which were widely in demand all over the world.

Millions of people around the world enjoy the softness and warmth of carpets in their homes. Although it is impossible to say with certainty how long ago people used carpets, there are suggestions that their origins date back to thousands of years BC. Firstly, carpets were used to insulate cold walls and floors of houses, and soon became a decorative accessory for homes. This is especially true for carpets that are hand woven. These carpets are considered a luxury and are mainly used and made for the wealthy segments of the population. Luckily, carpets are a very popular and common flooring option, which explains why they are available in hundreds of styles, materials and colors.

First of all, carpets must be well-groomed. They are an ideal haven for various bacteria and allergens, so regular cleaning is a must. Some rugs hide more dirt than others, but that doesn't mean regular cleaning isn't necessary. Dirt can greatly affect the appearance of carpets, as it can cause color loss or deterioration of the fibers. If you are interested in learning more about carpets, here are some interesting facts.

The oldest carpet in the world is the Pazyryk carpet, excavated by archaeologists from the grave of a Scythian prince in 1949. The reason why the carpet has stood the test of time is simple: the product was frozen and lay under the ice of the Siberian mountains. The carpet is believed to be over 2000 years old.
Today, the red carpet is used to mark the path taken by important people such as heads of state, politicians and, in recent years, VIPs and celebrities. The first event with a red carpet was held in 458 BC. e.
Iran's Qasr Al-Alam is the longest carpet in the world. It was designed by Ali Khaliki, an Iranian designer. The project was completed in 2007 and the carpet was woven over 16 months with the help of 1,200 women.
An Isfahan rug from central Persia, which was made from antique silk, is the most expensive rug ever sold at auction. It was sold in 2008 for $4,450,000.
Nicholas Bakalar published a scientific study in 2003 in which he claimed that the influenza virus, also known as the “stomach flu,” could live for a month on dirty carpet in a home. This is another reason why you should keep your carpets clean.·
It is believed that regular and proper maintenance and cleaning of carpets and upholstered furniture can significantly improve the air quality in the home due to the products' ability to trap dust and allergens.
Without proper and regular cleaning of carpets and upholstery, bacteria multiply faster than usual. Norovirus, salmonellosis, and Kawasaki syndrome are just some of the bacteria that live in carpets.
Carpets are the most common flooring choice in homes. About 65% of living rooms and 80% of bedrooms are carpeted.
Bed bugs can live in carpet fibers and wood floorboards. They are extremely fast for their size and can travel over 30 meters to obtain blood, usually at night and from people who are sleeping.
A person sheds about 1.5 million flakes of skin per hour, most of which will land on your carpet.
Indoor air typically contains about twice as much dust as outdoor air. And this is approximately a million microscopic particles per cubic centimeter of air. About 2,000 dust mites can live happily in 30 grams of dust accumulated on your carpet.
Wall-to-wall carpeting is more detrimental to your health than smaller rugs. Typically, wall-to-wall carpets are more likely to be exposed to moisture, chemicals, liquids, crumb infestations, and other substances that allow mold, yeast, and bacteria to grow.
Mothballs are commonly used to clean carpets. In concentrated form, it can be hazardous to breathing and cause headaches, nausea, and vomiting. This suspected carcinogen can be toxic to children, infants and pets.
One of the journalistic investigations in the United States highlighted the issue of cleanliness of carpet in hotels. Rooms were reviewed in a variety of price ranges, ranging from $55 to $400 per night. The results of the study are disappointing: traces of urine or semen were found in absolutely every room.
To brighten your carpet, sprinkle salt on the carpet and leave it for one hour before vacuuming. Salt is also effective in removing dirty marks.
In the Middle Ages, the floors of the house were covered with reeds, which acted as a disposable carpet. If it got dirty, it was simply thrown away.
Carcinogens from cigarettes when smoked indoors can settle in carpets. Dogs and cats, not to mention children, spend a lot of time on the floor and are therefore at risk of developing lung cancer.
Carpets are excellent places for mature fleas to live because fleas are comfortable in the dry environment of the carpet. Conversely, flea eggs love high humidity, which can be caused, for example, by insufficient ventilation in the room.

Among the carpets, there are those that stand out for their non-standard materials; there are products of enormous sizes. Ancient carpet products created by human hands have survived to this day.

The largest carpets

Carpets of enormous size are kept in Ashgabat at the Carpet Museum. One of them is called “Turkmen Kalby”, which is translated into Russian as “Turkmen shrine”. It was woven during the Second World War. The area of this product is one hundred and ninety square meters.

The record of the “Turkmen shrine” was broken after a giant carpet weighing one thousand two hundred kilograms appeared. The area it occupies is three hundred and one square meters. The record holder is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

The largest handmade carpet

Today, the world's largest carpet is comparable in area to a football field. It was woven specifically for a mosque in the United Arab Emirates - this is a prayer carpet. One thousand two hundred weavers worked on the creation of the masterpiece for one and a half years. During this time they used about thirty-eight tons of cotton and wool thread, brought specially from New Zealand and Iran. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the name of the mosque in which this bright carpet, dazzling with twenty-five shades, lies. It was very difficult to spread it; to do this, the product had to be cut into nine parts. After all the pieces were on the floor, they were sewn together again.

In total, the weavers tied two million two hundred sixty-eight thousand knots. The cost of this unique carpet is seven hundred million dollars.

The oldest carpets

Carpet weaving as an art originated in Ancient Persia (today's Iran) in the third century AD. Until that time, carpet products existed in the East mainly among nomadic peoples, which was due to their way of life.

The oldest carpet that has survived to this day was found in 1949 by Soviet archaeologists during an expedition. It is approximately two and a half thousand years old. It is kept in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.

Many ancient carpets are in museums in Turkey. Some of them date back to the eighth century AD. Several ancient items have been preserved due to the custom that existed in the East of donating carpets to mosques.

Carpets made from unusual materials

Some designers strive to create completely unique carpets, and many of them succeed. For example, Valentina Audrito is a creative designer who created a mat in the shape of a fried egg, a mat in the shape of a piece of sausage, a mat in the shape of bacon and salami.

Puzzle carpets have found their consumer, which can be assembled in different interpretations. The carpet-lamp, carpet-alarm clock and carpet-scales look interesting and unusual. Rugs in the shape of sawn wood, moss or stones support the theme of nature.

The most expensive carpet in the world

“Pearl carpet” is the name of the most expensive carpet in the world, listed in the Guinness Book of Records. It was made in 1860 by order of the Indian ruler. The silk carpet is trimmed with diamonds, sapphires and emeralds, and embroidered with pearls. On every square decimeter of this work of art there are five thousand beads and pearls.

This precious piece was put up for auction at Sothebys, where three buyers competed for the right to own the unique carpet. The lot was sold for almost five and a half million dollars, thanks to which the carpet was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the most expensive in the world. It is unknown who became the new owner of the “Pearl Carpet”. There are other records associated with jewelry. So, on the uznayvse website there is information about the most expensive precious stones.
Subscribe to our channel in Yandex.Zen