From May 2, 2006 Georgian National Museum offers new exhibition named Carpets and Rugs from the 18th-20th Centuries.

The exposition is developed in the framework of the series of events unknown collections of the Museum. These occasions aim to present to public treasures kept in the storages of the Museum. S. Janashia Museum of Georgia’s carpet and rug collection contains some of the finest examples that have not been displayed for more than 150 years and present exhibition aims to fill this gap. For the first time, the reserved collection of carpets and rugs made in Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Dagestan and Georgia are on display and it boast over 70 impressive patterns including several most unique and expensive ones that date back to the 18th century. On the exhibition the oldest is shadda, which belongs to the end of the 18th century. It was purchased in Azerbaijan in 1866 by the director of the Museum Gustav Radde. Carpet weaving has a long tradition. It is yet difficult to point out where and when did the first carpet and the art of carpet making originated. The origin can be traced back to the Neolithic age (7000 B.C.). It is anticipated by the researchers that they may have originated in the dry steppe regions inhabited by the nomads. As with the most things in nomadic life, the origins were based on clothing and shelter not ornamentation. They were essential items in a constant battle for survival. According to the experts, the general areas demarcated where the carpets may have been first produced are Iran, Turkmenistan, central Asia, Mongolia and China referred as „Carpet belt“. According to a legend, the great Egyptian Queen Cleopatra presented herself to Caesar - rolled up inside a carpet. In the Eastern world carpets and rugs have traditionally been used for prayer, shelter, the transportation of goods, and of course for comfort and decoration. The exhibition is kindly sponsored by the Bank of Georgia.