National Gallery of Armenia

 On November 23, the National Gallery of Armenia welcomes the exhibition of Mouchegh and Mikael Martirossyan-Tchaloyan’s carpet collection. The exhibition is dedicated to the 22^nd anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia.

 Mouchegh and Mikael Martirossyan-Tchaloyan’s Carpet Collection

 This collection, the temporary exhibition of which is organized at the National Gallery of Armenia, has its deserved place among the rich and comprehensive collections of textile. The exhibited collection includes Flemish and French tapestry items of the 16^th-19^th centuries. These carpets, woven on the basis of cardboards made by famous Western European painters, are distinguished by high quality of their accomplishment. They best introduce the artistic and technological qualities of French and Belgian tapestry.

The collection includes Persian carpets as well as carpets from Central Asia and those of carpet weaving centers of Asia Minor.

In relation to the study of carpet weaving traditions of Asia Minor, the 17^th-century carpet “Lorenzo Lotto”, with cruciform patterns is of great significance.

The collection also includes many Armenian carpets, some of which have Armenian inscriptions and numerals. In this sense, noteworthy is the carpet “Flowery”, woven in 840 A.D.

The exhibition also includes carpets “Khndzoresk”, “Paraka”, “Khachgorg”, “Arevagorg” as well as many other carpets of carpet weaving centers of Artsakh, Tavush, Lori, Syunik and East of Vaspourakan. The masterpieces of the collection are the 18^th-century classic “Vishapagorg” (Dragon Carpet) and vegetal-floral carpets, which have an important role in the study of Armenian carpet weaving.  Thus, the carpet collection of Mouchegh and Mikael Martirossyan-Tchaloyan has a great scientific and cognitive significance. Its exhibition is an essential contribution to the study of Armenian carpet weaving culture and to the popularization of Armenian carpet.

                                                                  Candidate of Historical Sciences, carpet specialist

                                                                                                                   Ashkhunj Poghosyan