Karagashli Rugs
The Karagash people (Qaragash) are one of the ethnic Nogay groups that live in the Caucus, mostly in Azerbaijan Republic and Russia. The name Karagashli probably means black-browed in Turkish. The largest Karagash settlement is the town of Rastopulovka in Russia. So many villages in Azerbaijan Republic have been named after the Karagash people.
A village named so south of Derbend, at the northeastern part of Azerbaijan which traditionally categorized a weaving center in Kuba weaving region. This little village made Karagashli a big name in the world of rugs. One of the most sought-after Caucasian designs named after the village.
The village was considered an important weaving center in the Kuba region during the 19th century. The high quality fine-woven Kubas were woven here.
Technical aspects and the structure of Karagashli Rugs
Rugs woven in Kuba are the finest of all Caucasian rugs and Karagashli rugs are maybe the finest in Kuba. Karagashli pieces have an average knot density of 144 knots per square inch. Knots are symmetrical (Turkic).
Wool is the main raw material. Wefts may be either cotton or wool. Rugs are mostly small here. Runners are also found.
Dyeing and painting of Karagashli rugs
Shades of red obtained here from madder root. This dominated the Karagashli palette alongside a shade of blue like azure, indigo or midnight blue. Ivory could also be seen for fields. A rich yellow is used for the borders.
Secondary palette may include ivory, orange, dark brown, dark red, red, gold, yellow, green, green-blue, dark blue, blue, light blue, dark purple, purple, camel, azure, pistachio, apricot and cream.
Designs and patterns of the Karagashli rugs
The motif and design made of it named Karagashli after the village is a quadrilateral leaf-shaped palmette with enlarged geometricized Eslimi bands. Usually small rugs of the area are designed with this motif. Such palmettes and Eslimi bands are floral and curvilinear by nature, having roots in the Safavid royal workshops of Tabriz, Kashan and Isfahan. Enlarged geometrized version of these Persian motifs first appeared in Ardabil and Meshkin rugs, which used to provide inspiration for Caucasian weaving centers.
Pole medallion designs are also common in Karagashli as well as lattice designs. All-over designs could also be found, mostly filled by a tiny floral or animal motifs. Borders of Karagashli rugs are mostly designed with a border design called “leaf and calyx” “leaf and goblet” or Dust-Kami in Persian, meaning “friendly salute”, the design consists of goblets and leaves. Narrow margins are normally filled with tiny blossoms or diamonds.
Another border used in Karagashli pieces is called Kufic or Kufesque. The design resembles an early type of Islamic calligraphy, named after Kufa which is a Mesopotamian city.
