DagestanDagestanCarpetsCarpets

People say: People say: "spread your "spread your carpet out and I shall tell carpet out and I shall tell you what kind of person you what kind of person you areyou are”. And you make ”. And you make sure of this popular sure of this popular wisdom when you see the wisdom when you see the unique works of modest unique works of modest carpet-makers from the carpet-makers from the distant mountain Lezghin distant mountain Lezghin and Tabasaran auks. and Tabasaran auks. Complicated and fine Complicated and fine patters of the ornament, patters of the ornament, original gamut of colors original gamut of colors are achieved with the are achieved with the help of the ordinary help of the ordinary crochet hook and natural crochet hook and natural dye-stuffs from the grey dye-stuffs from the grey clover roots, walnut, pear clover roots, walnut, pear and apple-trees bark. and apple-trees bark.

The carpet art has The carpet art has been formed in been formed in Dagestan during Dagestan during many centuries. Its many centuries. Its origin and origin and improvement were improvement were the result of fast the result of fast development of development of contacts. contacts. According to ancient According to ancient Greek historians, in Greek historians, in the 5-century the 5-century ВСВС, the , the population of West population of West Coast of the Caspian Coast of the Caspian Sea was occupied in Sea was occupied in making of multimaking of multiсосоlord lord woolen fabrics. They woolen fabrics. They colored fabrics with colored fabrics with natural dyestuffs, natural dyestuffs, which were made of which were made of plants, growing in the plants, growing in the republic.republic.

Oriental pattern was Oriental pattern was widespread in many widespread in many regions and villages regions and villages of Dagestan. Almost of Dagestan. Almost each nation of those each nation of those who live in Dagestan who live in Dagestan has its favorites type has its favorites type of carpet.of carpet.The local masters, The local masters, especially women especially women produced not only produced not only carpets and rugs, but carpets and rugs, but also different knitted also different knitted woolen goods, such woolen goods, such as pillows, decorative as pillows, decorative mates, bags, mates, bags, curtains, socks and curtains, socks and stockings, knitted stockings, knitted boots and shoes.boots and shoes.

Decorative Decorative embroidery was also embroidery was also a typical occupation a typical occupation in many villages of in many villages of Dagestan. Today Dagestan. Today Dagestan is famous Dagestan is famous for its pile carpets, for its pile carpets, which are recognized which are recognized not only at home, not only at home, but also outside of it. but also outside of it. They are produced in They are produced in Lezghin, Tabasaran Lezghin, Tabasaran and Rutul regions and Rutul regions and in Derbent.and in Derbent.

Pile carpets, which are Pile carpets, which are made there, are known made there, are known under the name under the name «Daghestan» or «Daghestan» or «Derbent». They are «Derbent». They are widely known in our widely known in our country and are country and are exported to a number exported to a number of foreign countries, of foreign countries, including England, including England, Germany and the Germany and the U.S.A.U.S.A.Lezghins also make Lezghins also make carpets without pile, carpets without pile, known as «sumakh» known as «sumakh» which are used as a which are used as a rule, for a floor. They rule, for a floor. They are big, as one are big, as one «sumakh» should cover «sumakh» should cover a floor of the whole a floor of the whole room. room.

The average time period The average time period of an exploitation of the of an exploitation of the carpets is about 250-carpets is about 250-300 years. Daghestan 300 years. Daghestan hand-made carpets have hand-made carpets have national character, are national character, are very much valued as very much valued as family relic and family relic and treasure. They are firm, treasure. They are firm, durable and heavy durable and heavy inimitable color, inimitable color, composition and design. composition and design. Carpets as the works of Carpets as the works of eternally young and eternally young and unique art have unique art have preserved the traditions preserved the traditions and technology of the and technology of the old past till today. They old past till today. They are widely used to are widely used to decorate the interior of decorate the interior of the houses and social the houses and social places, they well places, they well harmonize with any harmonize with any furniture.furniture.

The main design on the The main design on the Daghestan carpets consists of Daghestan carpets consists of geometric ornament geometric ornament symbolizing silhouettes of symbolizing silhouettes of animals, birds and vegetation animals, birds and vegetation of the surrounding  life and of the surrounding  life and nature with typical nature with typical combination of warm and cold combination of warm and cold contoured colors giving the contoured colors giving the design expressiveness and design expressiveness and delicacy. They produce carpets delicacy. They produce carpets without a pile and the ones without a pile and the ones with embossed images. The with embossed images. The unique nature of the carpets unique nature of the carpets require good qualification, require good qualification, exquisite taste, individual exquisite taste, individual skill, great patience and hard skill, great patience and hard work and assiduity, because work and assiduity, because they are made in sedentary they are made in sedentary posture. posture.

Many experienced Many experienced masters can masters can perform their work perform their work without a technical without a technical scheme of design scheme of design having it in their having it in their memory. A good memory. A good carpet-maker very carpet-maker very keenly, hardly keenly, hardly touching the touching the threads of yarn can threads of yarn can perform about 7-8 perform about 7-8 thousand knots a thousand knots a day, spending only 2 day, spending only 2 seconds on each. seconds on each. Depending on use Depending on use each carpet has its each carpet has its own structure, own structure, design and coloringdesign and coloring

Daghestan carpets are exhibited in the museum Daghestan carpets are exhibited in the museum of New York, Paris, Montreal, Osaka, Milan, of New York, Paris, Montreal, Osaka, Milan, Tokyo, Izmir and many other places. In there Tokyo, Izmir and many other places. In there quality Daghestan carpets are not worse than quality Daghestan carpets are not worse than the best world samples. They are constantly the best world samples. They are constantly exhibited at international and home fairs and exhibited at international and home fairs and shows and were awarded honor diplomas and shows and were awarded honor diplomas and gold medals at the international exhibition in gold medals at the international exhibition in Brussels (Belgium, 1958), Leipzig exhibition-Brussels (Belgium, 1958), Leipzig exhibition-fair (Germany, 1967). The carpets are included fair (Germany, 1967). The carpets are included in the world catalogue under the names in the world catalogue under the names «Tabasaran», «Derbent», «Akhty», «Mikrakh». «Tabasaran», «Derbent», «Akhty», «Mikrakh». From ending of August to the beginning of From ending of August to the beginning of September in 2000 year in Russian Exhibition September in 2000 year in Russian Exhibition Centre has passed Russian Festival of economic Centre has passed Russian Festival of economic and cultural cooperation "Moscow and Russian and cultural cooperation "Moscow and Russian regions 2000". regions 2000".