Carpet Patterns Related to the Animal World
Characteristics of Main Carpet Patterns
Many ornamental motifs of Kyrgyz carpets bear a strong resemblance to the patterns of products from various peoples of Central Asia, Kazakhstan, the Caucasus, and Xinjiang, indicating deep common roots. Some carpet patterns used by the Kyrgyz are very expressive. They likely symbolically reflected specific objects that formed the basis of ancient ornamentation. Countless variations, inevitable in individual creativity, have over time brought significant changes to the forms of the ornament. The craftswomen assert that the ornament executed by them on carpets was either passed down from their mothers or borrowed from old carpets, and sometimes from fabrics.
Based on the data about the semantic meaning of the patterns obtained from the carpet makers, we have the opportunity to reveal the content of some ornamental motifs. However, it should be noted that the craftswomen sometimes provided completely contradictory information. Some identical patterns were interpreted differently by them. This will be indicated in the further exposition.
Fig. 45. Samples of ornamentation on the central field of pile products. 1,6 — “gaz ayak”, “karga tyrmak”; 2—5 — “kochkor muyuuz”, “kochkorok”, “kaykalak”; 7, 8—10 — “kosh muyuuz”, “kaykalak”; 11—14 — “kochkor muyuuz”, “kaykalak”; 15, 24—“ilmek”, “kaykalak”; 16—“omurtka”; 17, 19—“kekilik kash”; 18, 23—“jildyz”; 20—“tay tuyak”; 21— “toguz dyobyo”; 22—“pashaiy kochot”; 25—“taylak taman”; 26—“alma gul”; 27—“kurakcha”; 28—“bali-bali”.
With the exception of the pattern reproducing an amulet, there are no images in carpet ornamentation that are in any way connected with religious beliefs.
Based on the names and partially the content of ornamental motifs found in the carpet products of southern Kyrgyz, the following groups of patterns can be outlined, recreating images of the real world surrounding the nomadic Kyrgyz. These are patterns in which the names reflect the animal and plant world; fabric designs; household items; the art of a particular people; representations of the celestial world. Let us briefly characterize the main carpet patterns.
Fig. 46. Samples of ornamentation on the central field of pile products. 1—“chit kochot; 2—“orus kochot”; 3— “kynyr moyun”; 4, 5 — “pashaiy kochot”; 6—“kalkan”; 7 — “chayan kuyruk”; 8—“chayan”; 9—“tutkuch”; 10—“omurtka”; 11—“kitay shak”; 12, 26—“gul kesht”; 13—15, 19—“mashaty”; 16—18, 22—“karakalpak kochot”; 21, 23— “kosh muyuuz”; 25—“kyyach kochot”; 24, 27, 28— “kaykalak”.
The most frequently encountered patterns are those whose names are related to the animal world. Among them, the horned motif “kochkorok” (“kaykalak”) takes first place. This pattern is placed by the craftswomen on all carpet products, and on ancient small ones, it is predominant. Often, the decorative task lies in developing a complex composition based on this main pattern. The horn motif is always a branch from the sides and corners of a diamond (less often a square) if the pattern is placed on the central field, or from a wavy line, which usually decorates the border. Among many variations of horned motifs, we note the placement in a diamond of four or nine F-shaped figures resembling the ornament on Eastern Turkestan carpets of the 19th century.
The “kochkorok” pattern is also typical for carpet products of Kyrgyz living in Pamir, Uzbekistan. A similar ornament is known among Uzbeks.
In carpet ornamentation, the pattern kekilik kash (eyebrows of the stone partridge) is used in the form of a multi-tiered medallion with geometric divisions (triangles, squares) in its center and hook-shaped protrusions at the sides. It is often used in Karakalpak carpet products, as well as among the Lokay on carpet “mapramach”.
The next common patterns are the so-called “tracks” of various animals: “it taman”, “myshyk taman” — cat's paw print, “taylak taman”, “zholbors taman” — tiger's paw print. However, most of these patterns on carpet products have the outlines of a rosette and are often perceived by the craftswomen as plant ornamentation.
Many craftswomen call it “toguz dyobyo”.
The first two mentioned patterns are often found in the stripes of the border, while the next two are usually placed on the central field of the carpet in a longitudinal-transverse order, as noted in the composition of the second type of carpet.
Similar patterns and in the same composition adorn Andijan carpets. These patterns are less frequently found on small carpet products.
Fig. 47. Samples of ornamentation on the border of pile products. 1— “synar muyuuz; 2, 5, 8—“ilmek”; 3—“kosh ilmek”; 4, 6, 9, 12—“it kuyruk”; 7—“kaykalak”, “kosh muyuuz”; 10—“bagdzhagay”; 11 — “kalit”; 13 — “bash kerege”; 14—“bali-bali”; 15—17 — “gul kesht”; 18—19 — “pychak uchu”; 20—“kynyr moyun”; 21 — “tumarcha”; 22 — “it taman” (in the center), “kyopolek kanat” (on the edges); 23—24 — “kavyrga”.
Among the carpet patterns whose names relate to the animal world, it is worth noting kavyrga (rib, ribbed), “omurtka”, “barmaq”. They are popular in the decoration of the carpet border and, apparently, have different origins. Thus, the “kavyrga” pattern is typical for Chinese ornamentation and is presumably borrowed from there.
The patterns “omurtka” and “barmaq” belong to the category of indigenous Kyrgyz designs. The first is also found in fabrics and embroidery, while the second is significantly associated with the ornamentation of felt carpets (“shirdamal”), where the pattern in the form of protrusions separates the central field from the border.
The pattern “it kuyruk”, which represents an S-shaped figure, is often found in the border of the carpet “ala kiyiz” and in carpet bags, as well as in embroideries.
The so-called “Turkish cucumber” pattern is widely spread in Central Asia and beyond. Among Kyrgyz craftswomen, it is called boto moyun (the neck of a camel) or kynyr moyun (curved neck).
In Andijan carpets made by Kyrgyz, it is referred to as badam (almond) or kalampir (pepper). A similar pattern is typical for Tajik and Uzbek (as well as Kyrgyz) embroideries and has the same names. It is also found on screens made of chiya.
The pattern called koy kyz (sheep's eye) by Kyrgyz carpet makers represents a simple spot on a contrasting background.
There are also patterns related to the animal world with names such as chayan kuyruk (scorpion's tail) and kyopolek kanat (butterfly's wing). The scorpion theme is quite close to Uzbek folk art and is popular in Andijan carpets.
The depiction of butterflies is typical for Chinese ornamentation; it is rarely used in Kyrgyz carpets, mainly in the border.
Seven types of Eastern Turkestan carpets
