Fachralo (Borchaly) Rugs
Borchaly was a formerly Persian khanate then a county of the Tiflis Governorate of the Caucasus Viceroyalty of the Russian Empire and then of Democratic Republic of Georgia and of Democratic Republic of Armenia with its administrative center in Shulaveri. Now, it is part of the Armenia’s region of Lori and Georgia’s region of Kvemo Kartli.
The name has various possible spells each with various possible Romanizations as well as corrupted ones. The list includes Fachralo, Fekhraly, Fakhrali, Borchalou, Borgjalu, Borchaly, etc. The name belong to an old Turkic clan who had been settled once by Hulagu Khan (reign: 1256-1265) in the northwest of his Ilkhanate of Persia and three century later were moved from there to Caucasian territories of the Safavid Empire by Shah Abbas the Great (reign: 1588-1629).
Fachralo rugs are classified as Kazaks. The reputation of Kazak pieces backs to the 19th century when rug production of the area boomed under the Tsarist Russia.
Technical aspects and the structure of Fachralo Rugs
Antique Fachralo have a knot density of about 64 knots per square inch. Knots are symmetric (Turkish). Warps, wefts and piles are woolen in antique pieces. Area rug sizes are favored including long ones. Runners, too, could be found. Prayer sizes are
common including rare sizes and formats like square.
Dyeing and painting of Fachralo rugs
Fachralo palette consists typically of bright colors to moderate the bold geometric motifs. Red, blue, pistachio and fields, while the secondary palette include a vast range of light and dark shades shades, from to apricot to natural black wool. Designs with Fachralo’s typical medallion dominated by pistachio. Brick red of the region is famous. Deep pinks and golden khakis are common.
Designs and patterns of the Fachralo rugs
The star-like medallion attributed to Fachralo is typically adorned with hooks and ram’s horn and tiny filing motifs. The medallion may be used as central medallion or in double and triple-medallion designs on either a pistachio blue, or red field. Interestingly Fachralo prayer designs, too, may be designed with a medallion.
An Antique Fachralo rug made in the late 19th
Another design attributed to Fachralo called Peacock Fachralo consisted of two couple of confronting geometric peacocks around a central medallion.
