TRIBAL CARPETS: THE FIRST LOOK

Russian General Andrei Andreevich Bogolyubov created the first book which fully explored the rich tradition of carpet weaving in Central Asia. Printed in Russian and French in 1907, the book Carpets of Central Asia displays various carpets on folio-sized chromolithographic prints, some so detailed you can see individual handmade knots in the pattern. Beyond the many floor rugs shown, he also included various ways that Central Asian ethnic groups incorporated artistic design and superior craftsmanship in everyday items, like the camel flank hanging shown above. Each print is a recreation of a carpet from his personal collection and unveils the rich cultural narrative and artistic expression that adorns the homes of Central Asia. I’ve spent hundreds of hours exploring dim rug stores and estate sales searching for antique handmade rugs, and I really enjoyed exploring one of the first appreciations of traditional tribal carpets in the West.

by Olivia Lechthaler, Actuarial Science, Class of 2026

Andrei Andreevich Bogolyubov
Kovrovyi͡a Izdi͡elii͡a Sredneĭ Azii
St. Petersburg: Expedition Prepared State Papers, 1908
Eberly Family Special Collections Library