Guide to Fachralo Kazak Rugs
Fakhraly (Fakhralo) is due west of Kazak just over the Armenian border. There is some question as to whether Fachralo rugs belong in the Kazak group or the Gendge group. This is confused further by two towns named Fachraly. One west of Kazak and one east of Gendge. It is a guess but based on comparative analysis of the rugs themselves I am leaving Fachralo in the Kazak rug group.
Typical Rug Fachralo Structure
Structure: Symmetrical. 40 to 65 kpsi. Not depressed. Most examples seem to fall between 49 and 55 KPSI.
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: most have 3 ply wool some 2, natural colored.
Weft: 2 – 6 shots of 2 ply wool. 2 and 4 shots seem most common. Usually red or pink..
Pile: 2 Wool singles.
Ends: Upper – often has plainweave with warp fringe. Lower – loops or half-hitch end finish.
Selvages: 2 – 4 warp units reinforced often using rose or red wool or pile colors. Outer warp units are frequently attached interlaced warp units.
Examples:
Fachralo Kazak Prayer Rug
Here is a late 19th century Fachralo Kazak Prayer rug in mint condition. The blacks are corroded. The dyes are all the absolute finest, most saturated vegetable dyes typically seen on a rug of this type. A highly desirable and perfect Caucasian collectors piece.
Fachralo Kazak Prayer Rug
This is a splendid Fachralo Kazak Prayer Rug. The yellow main border is unusual. The main field design is less common as well.
Here is a rare Caucasian weaving from Karachopf, a Karachopk Prayer Rug. This ancient center was renowned for the largest and most beautiful carpets from the Caucasus Mountains in the second half of the 19th century. Many people are aware that Karachopf carpets have sold for many tens of thousands of dollars, even fifty thousand isn’t too hard to imagine. The Karachopf weavers employed the best dyers and obtained the great high altitude wool, that is so very soft and durable, to weave their carpets with. There always was something special about Karachopf Kazaks and their long-standing popularity reflects that.
This Prayer Rug contains many of the most basic Karachopf design elements and combines them with the large size and famous soft Karachopf wool to produce an absolute masterpiece of Caucasian rug weaving.
This rug measures 4 feet 4 inches X 8 feet. The dyes are all natural, and it is obvious this rug was always cherished, being well cared for, it is in near mint condition. The ends have been to the beauty parlor but no repiling and the selvages are original. The pile probably isn’t mint but it is full. The wool of the pile is incredibly soft, yet the pile is still about one half inch long. The white reciprocal figures in the white ground border come absolutely alive at night. In fact this rug glows in a fire or candlelight from the incredible sheen of the wool. The back looks really old, and the loose weave and great wool are consistent with a prayer rug made for local use and not for sale. This rug did in fact come directly out of the Caucasus Mountains and might well have been there for 120 to 150 years.
This is a classic Kazak back. The back is flat, there is no warp depression. Note the bright red wefts.
Fachralo Kazak Rug
This is a striking example of a fairly unusual example of a Fachralo Kazak. The main medallions are simpler than normally seen in published Fachralo rugs, and the compartment design is not that common either.
Fachralo rugs are in the Kazak group. One important attribution is the wefts. Gendge and Kazak rugs commonly have red wefts but undyed wefts such as these are not unheard of. This also has three shots of wefts which points to an attribution in the Gendge Kazak group. The ribbon border is unusual in Kazak. While common in Turkish rugs, we do see it in some Karabagh rugs. The minor octagonal field motif is one seen in Borchalo rugs as well.
Here is a 19th century museum quality Fachraly Kazak measuring 4’1” X 8’ 9″. This weaving is from Fachraly and exhibits the simple native high mountain aesthetic that has so justifiably made these among the most desirable of Caucasian rugs to collectors all over the world. The region of Kazak consists of the western area of the Caucasus Mountains stretching from Erivan in the South to Tiflis in the North. The populations were predominantly Armenian descent with a large proportion also nomadic Kurdish herdsmen. The present offering is early, perhaps being as old as 140 years. The dyes are vegetable and very mellowed. There is a pale green, a mid green, several shades of blue and red. The design is simple and direct, but it fully embodies the dignified and reserved aesthetic of the mid 19th century.
The small village of Fachraly is world renowned for its superlative weavings and dyes. The dyes in this piece are all vivid natural dyes that have aged and mellowed into highly attractive individualistic hues rather than the drab ones so often seen with old synthetic dyes.
The design is typical yet again so individualized that it is almost novel. The medallion motif is known from 16th and 17th century Anatolian weavings, possibly the inspiration for rugs like the present offering. The border of this rug is one of the very simplest of all Caucasian rug borders, and for this reason and the perfect balance in the mass of the elements of its design, this rug is truly an outstanding collectors piece. The dyes of this weaving contain two related colors that are truly exceptional.
There is a light lime green in the center of some medallions that is a superlative hue. This light green is balanced with a mid value lime color and a dark forest green. These are absolutely mid-19th century colors and are not found in later 19th century weaving. The blue looks like that of the deep blue sea. The central medallion has a true heraldic quality and projects a sense or feeling of greatness, like a great emblazon.
The piece was made of the traditional soft pliable wool found at high altitude. The knotting is quite fine at approximately 70-80 Ksi. The pile is medium length and is sufficient to conceal essentially all of the knot nodes. There are no apparent repairs. The selvages look to be original. This piece most probably belongs in the circa 1850 to 1870 range. The wefts are undyed wool.
Fachralo Kazak Rug
Kazak, Southwest Caucasus, Circa 1830. 160 x 123 cm (5’3″ x 4′). Symmetrically knotted wool pile on a wool foundation.
A rare and unusual rug decorated by a small hexagonal hooked medallion typical of the carpets from Borchalu, though flanked by two large ivory octagonal medallions characteristic of Fachralo Kazaks. The light blue field is enlivened by a series of hooked devices similar to the kotchanak motif seen on Turkoman rugs as well as on certain Karachop Kazaks, and is powerfully framed by a border consisting of polychrome double-T elements on a dark brown background. The archaic outline of the design and the refined palette allow us to date this rug to the first half of the nineteenth century, that is to a period preceding the establishment of the various Kazak typologies.
Antique Caucasian Kazak Fachralo Prayer Rug
Size: 192 x 127 cm
Region: West Asia > Caucasus > Central Caucasus > Kazak > Fachralo
Type: Rugs and Carpets > Bags and Trappings
Date/Period: 19th century: late
Structure: Knots: 45 (v) x 22 (h) = 990 / dm2
Condition: Very good, with good pile, though low on a few areas.
A beautiful and unusual Caucasian Kazak Fachralo prayer rug whose deep red central field is dominated by three large medallions, toped by three wavy bands with crenelated lines. The variety of motifs in the rich red field, its irregular depiction, the naiveté of some of them all suggest a village origin. The main border displays, on the sides, a beautiful and unusual motif.
Antique Caucasian Kazak Fachralo Prayer Rug
Size: 195 x 110 cm
Region: West Asia > Caucasus > Central Caucasus > Kazak > Fachralo
Type: Rugs and Carpets > Prayer rug
Date/Period: 20th century: first quarter
Structure: Knots: 42 (v) x 26 (h) = 1,092 / dm2
Condition: Very good, with a high pile, though low on a few areas
A beautiful Caucasian Kazak Fachralo prayer rug with a nice mihrab having a large Fachralo medallion inside. Traditional Kazak hooked ‘diamonds’ are displayed everywhere on this rug’s field and mihrab.
A Kazak rug Fachralo medallion, Bordjalu border
Kazak rug, Caucasus, 19th ct. Size 215 x 150 cm
The two powerful medallions, which occupy the bright red ground, seem to be borrowed from the Fachralo area. The double, center-connected placement in the field is peculiar. The spiral hook motifs repeat themselves with attraction for the main as well as the secondary ornament. Beautiful border frame, which points to the Bordjalou area.
Corroded browns, minim. After all, very good in pile of woolen pile.
Kazak Prayer Rug
130×119 cms. South Western Caucasus, Kazak region, 19th century.
A “picture book” Kazak Rug ca. 1850
Origin: Southwest Caucasus, ca. 1850
Size: approx. 193 x 140 cm
Notes on Condition: Literature References. A rare “picture book” collector’s item. Three expertly restored places, original red side finishes preserved.
A Kazak Prayer Rug, Southwest Caucasus, last quarter 19th Century
Approximately 5 ft. 6 in. by 4 ft. (1.68 m. by 1.22 m.)
Warp: Wool, Z3S, ivory
Weft: Wool, Z2S (loosely plied) 3-5 shoots, red
Pile: Wool, symmetrical knot
Density: 6-7 horizontal, 8-10 vertical
Sides: Wool, 2 cords of 2 warps each, overcast red
Ends: Warp fringe
Colors: Madder red, persimmon, teal, ivory, azure, ochre, seal brown, black
Fachralo Kazak Rug
Type: Fachralo (Fachralu)
Origin: Armenia – SW. Caucasus
Circa: Dated: 1321=1903
Category: Caucasian rugs
Length: 52 inches / 131 cms
Width: 44 inches / 113 cms
Other Info: Very densely knotted
Kazak Rug, Fachralo 1904
This Kazak prayer rug was woven in the Caucasus. It is dated 1904 (1322). It is in very good condition.
Fachralo Kazak
So-called Fachralo Kazak, south Caucasus late 19th-early 20th century. 6ft.2in. x 4ft.3in. 1.88m. x 1.30m. Very slight even wear overall.
A Fachralo Kazak rug, Southwest Caucasus
Late 19th century. Oxidized browns. Approximately 9 ft. 4 in. by 6 ft. 1 in. (2.84 by 1.85m.)
A Fachralo Kazak rug, Southwest Caucasus, circa 1875
Original kilim ends, oxidized browns, foldwear, minor selvage breaks, small missing area at end. Approximately 7ft. 9in. by 5ft. 4in. (2.36 by 1.63m.)
A Kazak rug, Southwest Caucasus
Last quarter 19th century. Original flatwoven end finishes, partially oxidized browns. Approximately 5 ft. 10 in. by 4 ft. 7 in. (1.78 by 1.40m.)
Antique Fachralo Kazak Prayer Rug
Offered here is an outstanding antique Fachralo Kazak Prayer rug in classic prayer design for this type of rug. Size 78″ x 56.” Natural wool warp and red dyed weft. Features a blue/green prayer medallion on a brick red field, with an ivory main border. A dark blue, tan, and brown complete the palette. Overall condition is great. Has a patch in upper right main border, (well shown in the photo). Dog eared lower right corner. Retains kelim strip at top, (folded over). Some loss to bottom guard border. Even wear, thin in a few spots. No color bleed and has not been painted or colored in any way. The rug is much more in square than seems from the photo, which was taken at a slight angle. This is a rare early prayer rug and would make a great addition for the collector of Caucasian rugs.
The Pollard rug is a classic Fachralo Kazak style prayer rug. The small diamond motifs in the central medallion is an attractive feature. Fachralo, or as it appears on newer maps Fachraly, is on the Azerbaijan border at the mouth of a huge valley that extends deep into the lesser Caucasus Mountains of Northern Armenia. Fachraly was a market center for all those Armenian towns that line that alley. As such the name Fachraly refers to rugs from a large area of Northern Armenia. Take a look at the freshness of the back. This would have had to have been a wall hanger.
1814 Fachralo
1814 Dated Piece
Size: 42″ x 64″
Warp: Ivory Wool
Weft: Light Red Wool, 2 shots per row
Knot Count (per inch): 8 H x 8.5 V = 70/sq. in.
Pile: Short about 1/8″, soft to the touch and glowing with deeply saturated colors
Selvedge: not original
Ends: not original
Colors (10): Ivory, Red, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Yellow/Gold, Deep Purple, Pink, Green, Blue-Green, Dark Brown
Fachralo Rug Dated 1903
1903 Dated Rug
Size: 32 1/2″ x 53″
Warp: Ivory wool
Weft: Light Red Wool – 2 shots
Selvedge: Double with 2 warps per bundle overbound in figure 8 in light red wool
Ends: 3/4″ plain weave in light red wool; bottom with looped warps; top cut warps
Knot Count (per inch): 7 H x 7 V = 49/sq. in.
Pile: Short about 3/16″ long, somewhat dry and bristly to the touch
Colors (7): Ivory, Yellow/Gold, Dark Blue, Mid Blue, Dark Red, Emerald Green, Dark Brown
Fachralo Kazak, Dated 1330 AH/1912 AD
The Hort 1904 Kazak Rug, Fachralo
A Kazak Prayer rug, Southwest Caucasus, last quarter 19th century
Approximately 4 ft. 7 in. by 3 ft. 5 in.
Warp: wool, Z3S, ivory
Weft: wool, Z1 or Z2S (Loosely plied), red, 2 – 3 shoots
Pile: wool, symmetric knot
Density: 7 – 8 H, 11 – 13V c
Sides: 2 cords of two warps each, overcast in red, some blue.
Ends: warp fringe
Colors: pomegranete, khaki, medium to deep teal, pecan, golden oak, walnut and indigo.
Fachralo Kazak rug, Caucasus, last quarter 19th century
Approximately 4 ft. 6 in. by 3 ft. 7 in.
A rare Kasak rug, Caucasus, early 20th ct.
Size: 224 x 159 cm
On a beautiful blue tone as a basic color, the inner panel carries a powerful, white-grounded cartouche with interesting animal abstractions in the corners. Eight stepped arches in red, yellow and white accompany them. The graphically clear ornament on the red ground of the main border is reminiscent of early Caucasian needlework and is accompanied by white-ground secondary bouquets. Very nice overall impression. Dark brown age-corroded. For the age, magnificently elevated.