Moldavian Carpets

Posted on 13 mar 2008

Carpet weaving is one of the most ancient kinds of decorative and applied arts in Moldova. Archeological excavations showed that weaving has centuries-old history. Carpet weaving developed in leaps and bounds every century. With the lapse of time Moldavians occupied with this handicraft improving their skills. As a rule women devoted themselves to the carpet weaving but men took part only in some preparation work. Weaving skill was appreciated by the common people. Girls apprenticed from 10-11 years old. Carpets were one of the important gifts in the dowry. They signified prosperity and diligence of the future wife.

Carpets were weaved from the woolen yarn. They were very beautiful and people looked after them to pass from generation to generation as a family treasure.

Handmade carpets for Moldavians are traditional items of home decoration. They are separated into several types depending on a purpose: big carpets (2x4 m), long carpets (1x10 m) and bench coverings (2x3 m)

• Big carpets (război, scoarţă, covor) adorn walls of living room (Casa Mare) with very beautiful ornamental design
• Long carpets (păritare) are put below big carpets decorated with geometric patterns
• Design of bench coverings (lăicere) may be either with separate stripes or stripes with geometric and floral patterns.

Carpets of different sizes with simple design adorn floors.

One of the national peculiarities of Moldavian carpets is ornamental variety. Each of them reflects visual environment with its richness and beauty. Craftswomen used to express such patterns as trees, flowers, bouquet, fruits. Geometrical design in the form of a triangles, rhombs and squares was and is also in fashion. The craftswoman always weaves the carpet in a new way that is why every item is unique and inimitable.

All Moldavian carpets are in beautiful, pleasant, quit and warm colors.

Long ago wool was painted with solutions made from flowers, roots, bark, leaves. People very often used for coloring such plants as fustic, flowers of dandelion, bark of oak. Natural coloring added unusual expressiveness in the design of Moldavian carpets. There were 5 – 8 widespread colors: brown, green, and pink, yellow, blue.

Today carpet weaving is on the advanced technological level. But in spite of these achievements the basic manufacture is done by hand.

The best Moldavian carpets are genuine art. They are kept and exposed in St. Petersburg State Ethnographic Museum and in the State Museum of Regional Studies Museum in Chisinau.