Prototype. Chapter text drafted from the research notes and not yet checked at the archives. Images awaiting permission are marked.

Pazyryk felt appliqué hangings and furnishings (Altai burial mounds)

Object · not yet checked at the source · Image permission pending

Made by: Pazyryk culture (Early Iron Age Altai)
Date: 5th–3rd century BCE (dating disputed)
Place: Pazyryk valley, Altai Mountains
Held by: State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg
Number: not found (inventory numbers for these felts were not in search results)
Materials: wool felt, dyed fur
Themes: Rug-making techniques

View at the source Cited in chapter 1, note 11

Cite this source

Pazyryk culture (Early Iron Age Altai). Pazyryk felt appliqué hangings and furnishings (Altai burial mounds), 5th–3rd century BCE (dating disputed). State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, not found (inventory numbers for these felts were not in search results). depts.washington.edu/silkroad/museums/shm/shmpazyryk.html.

Research notes

What it shows: the earliest firm, well-known group of decorated felts. Britannica (Scythian art) says felt appliqué wall hangings were found at Pazyryk, some with the Great Goddess or part-human beasts and others with geometric or animal motifs. Wikipedia says the best-known figural hangings (an investiture scene and a part-human, part-bird creature) are in the Hermitage. The University of Washington Silk Road page on the Hermitage notes saddlecloths and cushions with appliqué felt, dyed fur and embroidery. A Hermitage curator's tour report also mentions felt swan figures. Felt here is cut and sewn appliqué on felt grounds, not woven. Conflicts: the Hermitage listing dates Barrow 5 to 252–238 BCE, which is later than Rudenko's original dates, and other sources give 5th–4th or 4th–3rd century BCE. An Art Resource image calls the Hermitage 'Horseman' felt a 'carpet detail', but a blog calls it a wall hanging. Sources: https://www.britannica.com/art/Scythian-art · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pazyryk_culture · https://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/museums/shm/shmpazyryk.html · https://www.artres.com/archive/Horseman--Pazyryk-felt-artifact--Carpet-Detail---5th-4th-century-BC--Artist--Ancient-Altaian--Pazyryk-Burial-Mounds-2UN86IV293G.html Checked at source (Oct 2026): the University of Washington Silk Road page was read in full. It shows a felt appliqué fragment with a bird (Barrow no. 5, 252–238 BCE; Rudenko 1953, pl. XC) and a drawing of a felt appliqué hanging with a sphinx and a fantastic bird (Inv. 1687/1, preserved piece 110 × 80 cm); those are the two images here. The other sources above are still from search results only.