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General/Historical Information: This Karabagh type of carpets were mainly woven in Shusha, the center of Karabagh Region. Later armenian people who settled in Karabagh only in 19th century, started to learn how to make carpet from Azeri Turks. For the present time, they introduce the Lampa Karabagh rug as an armenian art. There are a number of Lampa carpets with armenian inscriptions on them. They show erroneously these inscriptions as a proof that this carpet was firstly made by armenian, and it belongs to armenian culture.

Until today this kind of culture plagiarism (theft) is continuing in every branch of art by armenian people worldwide.

In old times, there were making these carpets in complete sets; two sides and one central carpet. These big carpets adorned the old houses. In Karabagh Azerian dialect "lampa" means ceiling. They were using these carpets to cover even the ceilings. One of these beautiful carpets were decorating one of the most prominent Azeri commanders general Samed bey Mehmandarov's (1856-1931) house.

Art Analysis: Karabagh type of carpets are known for their cheerful and bright colors. Color gamma of these products is based on broad variety of natural (vegetative) paints. Amazing gamma of color combinations along with geometrical forms of vegetative and animal motives bring to these carpets a special identity, that allows to unite them into a separate type of "the Karabagh carpets".

Middle field of this carpet composition is completely filled with different decorative motives. Their shape, color and creative idea carefully combine these elements with each other. Each of them is subordinated to the general ornamental image of the carpet.

Lampa is considered as one of the most difficult carpet of Karabagh Carpet Art School. It possesses an original design, which could be seen in Khanlyq and Lachak Turunj carpets. We are talking about the shape of middle medallion. But the originality of Lampa carpets is in having a oblong shape octagonal medallion. At both sides of this medallion there are two oblong ketebe with blue background. It is also the originality of Lampa carpets. And at the end of both sides in central field there are gubba's (head). Shusha carpet masters call it "Chellek".

Another main element of central field is Parrot images, which beautify the general view of the carpet.  At the corner of central field there are lachak's, which also decorates the carpet. In old times, there were making these carpets in complete sets; two sides and one central carpet.

In oblong shaped side carpets the border are generally being narrow. In the central carpets the border (kayma) is thicker.

Pile: WOOL

Warps: wool

Weft: wool

Density/Kpsm (knots per square meter): up to 160 000

Colors: Naturally dyed

Size: 125cmx300cm

Area: 3.75m2

Weight: 10kg

Kg/m2: 2.66

AGE: More than 90 years

Condition: Some parts of the selvages have been corroded.

Technical Analysis: The main characteristic of Karabagh type of “Lampa” carpets is having an oblong shape.

Density of Karabagh Lampa carpets generally varies from 35x35 to 40x40 per square decimeter. (up to 160.000 knots per square meter)

The height of pile: 7-9mm

Comments: Since Karabagh Region was occupied by Armenia, it is very difficult to find a real Karabagh rug. Armenian terrorists expelled Azeri population of Karabagh, so actually there is nobody else left to make original Karabagh carpets there.

Researched and prepared by Vugar Dadashov

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