ARMENIAN CARPETS

One of the most ancient types of the popular decorative applied arts of Armenia is carpeting. The earliest remains found during excavations date from II-I millenniums B.C. Some carpet remnants unearthed at a burial place of XIV-IX centuries B.C. bear sings of the swastika, symbol of water and snake - representations which are met on statuettes and ceramic objects from IV-I millenniums B,C. and later on they accompany all kinds of Armenian art in its subsequent periods of development (Ayass, Hellenistic, medieval and mode~n periods). Fragments of carpets and stair-carpets found as a result of archaeological excavations at Karmir-Blur and at Arin-Berd indicate that the technique of execution, the colour gamut and the ornamentation much coincide with the technique of execution, colouring and principles of compositional execution in present-day art of carpeting.

Innumerable evidences have been preserved in Greek, Roman, Arabian, Byzantine and Bulgarian sources about famous ancient and medieval Armenian rugs and carpets. Representations of Armenian carpets introduced inio compositions are often met in the productions of European painting of XIV-XVII centuries. Unique Armenian carpets are preserved in the museums of Paris, Berlin, Stambul, London, Moscow, Leningrad, New York, Vienna, Budapest, Baku, Tbilisi, etc. The oldest of them is a carpet of the year 1202, with a woven inscription in Armenian, produced in the village of Banants, Gandzak District (present Kirovabad).

Over the entire territory of historic Armenia (Greater Armenia, Smaller Armenia, Higher Armenia, Cilicia), carpets served not only as profitable goods but also were objects of necessity for every household. Carpets were ornaments of brides' doxvries.

The set contains representations of colour reprodtictions of carpets dating from XIX century.

AESM - Armenian Ethnographic State Muzeum
AHSM - Armenian History State Muzeum
APASM - Armenian People's Art State Muzeum