The Art of Kyrgyz Carpet Weavers

During the years of imperialist and civil war, and during the basmachi uprising in southern Kyrgyzstan, carpets were not produced. Only after enduring hardships did the artisans take up their production again, but carpet weaving took on different forms. The production of small pile items ceased, as they lost their value in the new living conditions. The main pile item became the carpet.

Starting from the 1930s, the Soviet government undertook a series of measures to develop Kyrgyz carpet weaving. Industrial cooperatives were organized. The first enterprises for carpet production in southern Kyrgyzstan were the artels "Krasnaya Nov" (1927) and "Gairat" (1928). In the following years, other artels grew within the system of the Osh industrial cooperative society; notably, carpet artels were also organized in northern Kyrgyzstan. However, they did not receive widespread development.

In recent years, carpet making has been organized in factory conditions (Bishkek), where products are still made by hand, but on vertical looms. However, the carpet products do not meet national artistic tastes. This is explained by the fact that genuine folk masters are not involved in carpet production, and the artists creating the sketches have not yet mastered the traditions of Kyrgyz carpet art.

In home settings, carpet making has developed most in the Laylak and Batken districts. Here, carpet weavers prepare carpets not only for their own needs but also for sale. They are exported to the market in Isfara (Tajikistan). On Sundays, the market is adorned with carpets, which are hung between trees, on poles, and walls, and spread on the ground. Colorful Kyrgyz carpets attract great attention. Crowds of people admire the artistic works of Kyrgyz women. After a brief bargaining (the buyers are mainly Tajiks and Uzbeks), the place of the purchased carpet is taken by a new one, which also does not hang for long.

Such brisk carpet trading indicates, on one hand, a significant and growing demand from the local population for quality and beautiful carpets, and on the other hand, that neighboring peoples highly value the art of Kyrgyz carpet weavers.