This information is contributed by Arto Tavukciyan on Facebook in the focused forum: Persian ACarpets and Oriental Rugs
The rug shown here is a Chahar Mahal Armenian rug with a woven inscription that reads: “Hovsep Shaghil, 1889.” Structurally, it is single-wefted and uses a symmetrical knot.
That detail matters, because many collectors assume Armenian weaving traditions are primarily associated with multiple-wefted construction—especially in Armenian homelands such as Eastern Anatolia and the Caucasus, where multiple wefts were common.
However, Armenian weavers worked far beyond those regions. Armenians wove throughout Anatolia, the Caucasus, and Iran, not only because they lived across these areas, but also because they were widely valued and often employed for their weaving proficiency.
In the 17th century, Shah Abbas I forcibly relocated roughly 200,000 Armenians from Nakhichevan and Yerevan to Isfahan and other regions of Iran. One of his main goals was to leverage Armenian craftsmanship and commercial expertise to expand Iran’s international trade, since Armenians already had extensive experience operating in global markets.
In Iran, Armenian weavers largely adopted single-weft structures. Persian-Armenian rug specialist and author Myreni Hovasapian noted:
“I researched six Armenian regions of Iran, and I found that Armenian rugs are single-wefted. I only saw two or three rugs woven with two wefts.”
Most Armenian rugs woven in Iran were made with symmetrical knots, although some regions—such as Lilihan—used asymmetrical knots, reflecting local habits and regional practice.
Updated information: Feb 2026
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This web page serves as an introduction to Armenian Rugs and highlights the contribution made by Armenians to the art form of rug weaving, primarily in the Caucasus region.
http://zangezur.tripod.com/rugs/armrug.html
http://zangezur.tripod.com/rugs/armrug.html
Posted Feb 2013
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