Area Rugs To Know: The Pazryk Carpet

If you're looking for a brief history of Persian rugs

, well, sorry, because you're out of luck. To truly trace the full history of Persian rugs, you would have to follow a path of cultural growth of one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known. Presumably first created and used by nomadic tribes to cover the exposed and earthen ground of their tents, evidence of the first Persian rugs can be traced back to more than 4,000 years. In the history of Persian rugs or oriental rugs, evidence suggests that hand knotted rugs existed in the Middle East and other parts of central, northwest and eastern Asia long before 2,000 B.C.

The oldest known hand knotted Oriental rug was excavated from the Altai Mountains of Central Asia near Pazryk in 1948, thus baring the name "The Pazryk Carpet." The Pazryk Carpet was found in a semi-frozen Scythin burial mound and is currently housed in the Hermitage Museum in Leningrad, Russia today.

When the prince of Altai died, he was buried in a grave mound with many of his prized possessions, including the Pazryk Carpet. Unfortunately, soon after, the grave mound was robbed of its prized possessions, with the exception of the rug. The thieves obviously had no idea how precious the one item they left behind would soon become, in both cost and historical as well. The rug was semi-frozen because the thieves did not bother to cover up the hole they had dug to retrieve the items, rendering the hole exposed to the elements within the tomb. The combination of low temperature and precipitation within the tomb subsequently froze the carpet. The thieves' neglect actually ended up being a key component in helping preserve the carpet. This somewhat ironic story is the reason why the rug still exists today.

The Pazryk Carpet features sophisticated floral, geometric and pictorial motifs that have approximately 230 symmetrical knots per square inch. The rug is 6-feet by 6-inches and 6-feet by 0-inches. The carpet also shows that the weaver of the rug was extremely skilled in his or her duties because the rug was able to hold its shape and color for all those years. An indication that the dyes that were used were lasting and that the craftsmanship was high-quality.

Whether the rug was meant to be in the prince's home or solely for the sake of his burial, the rug tells an interesting story, subjectively or objectively. Although we cannot accurately appreciate the rug in its true and proper context, we can enjoy it for its beautiful, long-lasting livelihood and the rich history that it symbolizes. The rug itself is nearly 2,400 years old and its characteristics resemble how quality hand knotted rugs were and are still produced even today. Over the years, the details seen in the Pazryk Carpet have attempted to be replicated, but never perfected like its original parent.

by: Mark Etinger

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