The term "carpet" comes from Old Italian
carpita, "carpire" meaning
to pluck.
The term "carpet" is often used interchangeably with the term "rug". Some define a carpet as stretching from wall to wall.
Another definition treats rugs as of lower quality or of smaller size, with carpets quite often having finished ends.
Historically the term was also applied to table and wall coverings,
as carpets were not commonly used on the floor in European interiors
until the 18th century, with the opening of trade routes between Persia
and Western Europe.
The rugs are knotted in wool based on a silk
foundation which gives the rug strength yet flexibility while allowing
for tighter, more accurate knotting.
Some rugs, particularly those from Kashmir
can be made from silk on a cotton foundation, these tend to be larger
pieces with lower knot counts. The idea being that a person can have a
large rug made from silk without the need to spend tens of thousands of
pounds. These rugs will tend to have a knot-count similar to a fine wool
on cotton rug, meaning it will take the same time to weave. Any
additional costs are only made from the more expensive materials used.
Full silk rugs are the most expensive on the
market. Not only are the materials used in making the rugs costly, but
the nature of a 100% silk rug means that more often than not the design
is particularly intricate; this means more time is spent weaving a silk
rug than a wool rug of similar size. A typical high quality Persian or
Oriental rug made in wool might have between 140 and 300 knots per
square inch - a high quality silk could range between 450 and 900 KPSI -
that's 2-3 times the number of knots than its wool counterpart. Weaving
the rug will require 2-3 times the amount of work which becomes more
skilled the more intricate the pattern becomes; meaning at least 2-3
times the price!
Some of the finest silk rugs can have more
than 1,000 knots per square inch but are extremely rare and cost in the
tens, if not hundreds of thousands.
Flat-weave carpets
Shadda
Shadda is a flat weave carpet, made primarily in Nakhchivan, Agdam,
Gubadly, Agjabedi. The artistic composition of shadda made by
complicated whipping, as well as its constituents have a complex form.
Early in the 20th century the oldest weavers and carpet experts called
this type of carpets “shadra’ or “shatra”. The word “shadda” is a
distorted form of “shatranj” and “shadvard”. Shadda comes in a number of
varieties, each having a specific technique such as monochrome,
checkered or subject. Monochrome shadda are made by the simple
interweaving technique. Shadda with a checkered pattern is based on the
palas and jejim principle. The same technique is used to make
subject-based shadda. The subject shadda “Davali” are famous all over
the world. They use practically one and the same subject with the
composition being almost invariable: the camelcade moving along the
carpet field from left to right, along a few horizontal rows, and each
string running into a figure of a sarvan on foot. The humans and animals
are set off against the dark-red field, its color is smooth and hot.
Azerbaijani carpet centers.
Verni
The most widely spread type of the flat-weave carpet is “verni”.
Perhaps none of the flat-weave carpets can boast such a monumental
pattern and harmonious clarity as the “verni” made only in Azerbaijan.
The technical perfection and utmost emotionality of these carpets is a
sort of acme of the Azerbaijani carpet art. Sample “verni” displayed in
various museums throughout the world present the outstanding monument of
the richest heritage of the Azerbaijani folk art in which we by right
take pride. Among the “verni” centers were Agjabedi, Barda, Agdam,
Nakhchivan. The key décor feature, which is intrinsical to every ”verni”
is the S-element. Its shape varies, it may resemble both figure 5 and
letter S. This element means “dragon” among the nomads and “water” among
the village people. Based on the stories told by the oldest Azerbaijani
weavers with nomadic roots, a dragon featuring carpet would protect the
family from foul weather. In Taoism, a dragon is associated with
spring. The Tibet pantheon considers dragon as a good deity, a master of
chiefs. If the S-element takes up the whole of the carpet space, it
would be viewed as an image of a dragon itself rather than a dragon
symbol. This element has been known to the local weaver for centuries
and is characterized by an ability to come alive through embodiment in a
specific image and to symbolize the good and happiness.
Jejim
Jejims are woven on simple horizontal looms by narrow stripes
30–35 cm wide and 15–10 cm long. The resulting product is a cloth to be
used as a wall carpet, a bedding coverlet, or curtains. The width of a
jejim matches the distance between the weaver’s feet as in the process
of weaving the whole width of the cloth should pass through the weaver’s
feet. The ornamental décor of jejims is diverse and rich. Various
vertical stripes that decorate jejims are spectacular, colorful and
decorative. They are often decorated by stylized images of utensils
(comb, thread, candlesticks) and geometrical elements. Up to the mid
20th century delicate jejims were used to make garments both for men and
women. The major jejim production centers are Barda, Nakhchivan,
Zangilan, Shusha, Shamakhy.
Zilli
Carpet Zilli “Zilli” is an interesting variety of flat-woven carpets.
They are characterized by stylized forms of animals and vegetal
elements. In terms of their composition and pattern the Azerbaijani
zillis are very diverse. They feature a plastic flexibility of the
pattern and emotional expressiveness. The ornamental decoration is
marked by images of large elements in the shape of big lozenges, paired
horns, various stylized elements. There are “zillis” with a variety of
compositions, which differed by peculiar vegetal ornamental patterns and
overall rich colors. The key element in such compositions lies in the
recurring alternation of colors along the horizontal pt vertical lines,
which form an energetic rhythm. As to their technical and artistic
qualities, “zillis” are rich in moving images of stylized birds,
elaborated “butas” and other elements. “Zilli’ were obviously influenced
by the tendency to fill in the space by various motifs, each being
repeated in the field according to its individual layout, and the
overall result resembles a fancy garden with a rich and fairy-tale
flora.
Kilim
Kilim is the most widespread type of flat-woven carpets. They are
made by passing the weft through the warp using the technique of
compound interweaving. Kilim is characterized by a slot-like gap
(opening) around the geometrical patterns. These openings impart a lace
effect the kilim. The technique of kilim weaving predetermines the
pattern shapes in the form of a lozenge, triangle, trapezium. Nearly all
the vegetal elements, images of animals, birds and humans are
geometrized in kilims. Kilims of different regions are distinguished by
their composition, pattern, and colors. In terms of their technical
peculiarities kilims can be classified into five major groups based on
the area of production: Kazakh, Karabakh, Absheron, Shirvan and Tebriz
kilims. They are all characterized by a balanced composition,
contrasting colors and clear symmetry. The patter is traditional, in the
form of large and small lozenge and hook-like elements, which are
rather expressive and dramatic.
Sumakh
The “Sumakh” carpets present one of the interesting types of
flat-weave carpets, which have become widely spread and recognized over
the last few centuries. Beginning with the 18th century “Sumakhs” have
been made in the Kuba nd Gusary districts. “Sumakhs” were created much
later than other types of flat-woven carpets. In the early stage of
their development they might have had their own individual composition,
but the “Sumakhs” of the 18th-20th centuries reproduce the compositions
and patters copied from the pile carpets made in Shirvan, Kuba, Karabakh
and Ganja. The technological peculiarity of “Sumakh” lies in their rich
composition and colors. The diverse stylized vegetal motifs, various
geometrical elements such as large hexahedral, square, rhomboid
medallions impart festive beauty to “Sumakh”. The traditional pattern
includes the minor edge with a wave-like pattern, which is called
“dolan-gach” (pass around - run away). It is used basically in all
“Sumakh” type carpets.
Palas
Palas is one of the widely spread flat-weave carpets. The palas
weaving process consists in passing the weft through the warp by a
simple technique. The weavers decorate the palas by traditional patters
in the form of horizontal stripes commonly used throughout Azerbaijan.
But every individual weavers had their own choice of composition and
colors. Changing the stripe size the weavers changed the correlation of
colors, thus creating countless variations of fine palases. As a rule,
the palas is not framed by a border. The palases called “chiy” are made
by a very unusual weaving technique. Similarly to other simple types of
palases the background of “chiy” is plain weave .
At the same time, the pattern-making thread is used to create a fine
tiny geometrical pattern by piercing “sanjma”. This creates the
embroidery effect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyFc2FhIDP4&feature=player_detailpage
Silk products over several millennia always treated luxuries . Me
shine silk carpet creates an aura of mystery , okuratno legends about
the miraculous discovery of silk Chinese Empress Xi Lin and distributing
mythical secrets of silk production around the world , regardless of
salary under penalty of death , after three thousand-year period of
secrecy of silk . And so, let me present : His Majesty silk carpet .Several nuances of making silk carpetsSilk Carpets most exotic of all carpets. Sparkling appearance, bright color, filigree and subtle weaving make them works of art. Masters of carpets from Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, China and India create handmade silk carpets of the highest quality .As warp and weft silk carpets often use cotton thread. But from 100% silk carpet has thinner captivity , greater strength and durability. Manufacture of silk carpets are very time-consuming process that takes a lot of time. To make a silk carpet area of 10 sq. m team of several of carpet will spend three to four years. Therefore, large carpets of silk, usually woven to order.
