Sericulture in Karabakh

Sericulture appeared on the territory of Azerbaijan as early as the 5th-7th centuries. One of the centers of the industry is Karabakh, which was famous for its silk products far beyond the borders of Azerbaijan. Qarabag.com has prepared material on the history of the development of the production of silk and silk products in Karabakh.

Since ancient times, Karabakh has been famous for its artisanal silk products, in particular for its silk carpets and jejims of extremely fine workmanship with beautiful original drawings. In this respect, the village of Lambaran has acquired a special fame.
[Transcaucasia.  Soviet republics: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Abkhazia, Adjaristan, South Ossetia, Nag.  Karabakh, Nakhichevan.  Statistical and economic collection. Publication of the Supreme Economic Council of T. S.  F. S. R., 1925, page 383].
Over time, the increase in the yield and productivity of silk in the region led to the opening of new factories and mills that fully comply with European standards.

In 1875, a silk reeling factory that used European method of production was opened in the Jabrayil county. The silk produced here was exported to European countries at a higher price. In the same year, 2 more factories of this type were opened in the Shusha county.
[Caucasian calendar for 1877, Tiflis, 1876, p. 24].

In 1894, factories of the Shusha county, the number of which reached 16, played the main role in the silk reeling industry.
[Caucasian calendar for 1896, Tiflis, 1895, p. 287; 289].

In addition to exporting silk to European countries, the Karabakh region produced expensive carpets.
By 1915, the number of silk reeling factories in Jabrayil district reached 3, in Shusha district – 22, in Karyagin district – 4.
During the period of Azerbaijan’s annexation to the USSR, 25 silk reeling factories operated in Karabakh.
[Transcaucasia. Soviet republics: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Abkhazia, Adjaristan, South Ossetia, Nag.  Karabakh, Nakhichevan.  Statistical and economic collection. Publication of the Supreme Economic Council of T. S.  F. S. R., 1925, page 276].

In 1925, the Karabakh market was considered to be one of the main markets for cocoons and other sericulture products in Azerbaijan.
It should also be noted that, at that time, considerable impetus to the revival and improvement of the sericulture industry was given by the special sericulture cooperatives.
[Transcaucasia. Soviet republics: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Abkhazia, Adjaristan, South Ossetia, Nag.  Karabakh, Nakhichevan.  Statistical and economic collection. Publication of the Supreme Economic Council of T. S.  F. S. R., 1925, page 270].