Friday wut. What's with Russians and all those carpets?

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Greetings, comrades & comradesses! You may've seen it as part of a Russia-related meme or something. Or you may've just accidentally come across it on the Internet. Point is, Russians seem a bit obsessed with carpets. Especially carpets on the walls. They take all sorts of weird pics with colorful carpets at the background. Some have been rather ridiculous. See for yourselves:








































I could go on all day. So what's the matter with all those carpets, you may ask? Well, it's an old tradition dating back to Soviet times, which remains very much ingrained in the Russian psyche. Back in the day, a carpet on the wall could have a few functions:

1. Practical. Wall-paper was hard to find and very expensive, so more basic carpets were a compromise solution. And Russians are very practical people - they became especially pragmatic during the Soviet times when money was never enough, and goods on the market were even more scarce.

2. As a perceived element of luxury. I mean, just look at all those colors! Russians love colors. The more elaborate carpets were so expensive at the time, they were often part of a bride's dowery at a wedding, substituting paintings and other luxurious stuff, while still displaying the family's wealth.

3. Practicality again: serving to keep noise away and the warm inside. Russians do like to keep warm. The old proverb that even the walls have ears was particularly valid in Soviet times, when the neighbors could be government informants. A carpet makes the wall thicker, you know. And in a concrete residence building, half an inch of extra wall thickness could save lives.

Today, a carpet on the wall is considered an anachronism, part of an old epoch. But you can see that the tradition is very much alive and kicking in some corners of Mother Russia.

Comments

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

This is sooo badass I can't even begin to describe it.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

There was one with a guy posing topless with a mask and a samurai sword in front of a huge carpet, with the pic of his fave fluffy dog in the corner. I don't seem to be able to find it right now but it's fucking epic.

[dreamville-bg.livejournal.com]

We here usually call that type of carpet a "Persian carpet". We don't put it on the walls, but it does decorate quite a few interiors.

[mutive.livejournal.com]

This is a Russian thing? I grew up with carpets on my walls. :) (The hand knotted ones really are works of art, so it felt like a shame to risk spilling stuff on them/ruining them. So instead we displayed them like the amazing tapestries they are.)

[merig00.livejournal.com]

Soundproofing and insulation. Plus to cover up crappy wallpaper. Also with soviet shortages when you see something being sold you better buy it. And unlike dinnerware sets (which every self respecting soviet family had multiple sets of) you can't just hide carpets in the cabinets).

[nairiporter.livejournal.com]

The people in the pictures doing some weird things is one thing - but you must admit the carpets themselves look great.