The Decoration of a Felt Carpet

Turning to the characteristics of the decoration of the felt carpet, we will first focus on its color features.

The wool used for the applied patterns is currently dyed in various colors: red, raspberry, pink, yellow, orange, green. White (natural color) wool is also widely used.

When decorating the carpet, a specific color scheme is chosen, consisting of two to three colors. Usually, white or yellow, raspberry or red, pink or orange colors are laid on a brown background. The pattern is often created with a single-colored felt strand. The described methods of applying the pattern allow for a variety of carpet decorations.

Sometimes slightly twisted strands of two contrasting colors (usually white and black) are applied to the felt. A carpet made in this way truly becomes colorful, justifying its name. Often, the pattern is outlined with a strip of felt of a different color, which is characteristic of the artistic design of most Kyrgyz items. Sometimes the pattern is created by filling the background with colored wool, for which the colored strand is flattened on the felt.


“Ala-kiyiz”. The pattern of the central field is created with a strand; the borders are made by flattening the wool. Batken region.

When creating the pattern, the craftswoman first highlights the border by laying a colored wool cord as a dividing line. After that, the central field of the carpet is determined. Most often, it is then divided into sections where patterns are placed. Dividing the central field into sections creates a compositional solution for the decoration of the carpet. The sections usually take the form of rectangles, diamonds, and triangles. The latter are created by sequentially dividing rectangles with lines going diagonally.

The motifs of the ornaments on the “ala kiyiz” are not particularly complex. Their elements are among the oldest and most characteristic of all Kyrgyz ornamentation. Most of them are attributed by S. V. Ivanov to the first ornamental complex, which, in his opinion, formed among the late nomads in the 9th-12th centuries.


“Ala kiyiz”. The pattern is cut-out. Batken region.

The decoration of the southern Kyrgyz felt carpet with an embedded pattern is represented by several varieties:

I. The central field is occupied by two to three longitudinal stripes filled with various patterns.
II. The central field is divided into rectangles arranged in one or two rows. Each rectangle is filled with a pattern of one or two designs. In the latter case, they alternate.
III. The central field is divided by transverse stripes into three or four rectangles, each of which is crossed by two diagonal lines; a uniform ornamental motif is introduced into the triangles thus formed.
Sometimes the field is not divided into rectangles, but diagonal intersections remain on it. In this case, diagonally placed diamonds are created, which are filled with a pattern, and similar or similar patterns are introduced into the spaces formed between the sides of the diamond.
IV. The entire central field is occupied by medallions, uniform or differently shaped rosettes; arranged along the axis of the carpet. In such a construction, additional ornamental motifs are sometimes introduced, scattered in the free spaces.


A part of the felt strip “dzhabyk bash”, made with a mosaic. Two strips are sewn together. Uzgen region.

Thus, the central field of the Kyrgyz felt carpet with an embedded pattern mainly has a geometric structure in the form of diamonds, squares, rectangles, and triangles, into which the pattern is introduced. Here, the main characteristic features of Kyrgyz applied art are laid down, which are also revealed in other felt products, as well as in weaving, textile production, and embroidery. The roundness of forms in the construction of the central field, observed in Uzbek felts, is not characteristic of the Kyrgyz.