The Activities of the Russian Authorities to Restore and Preserve the Traditions of Folk Carpet Weaving in the Transcaspian Region of the Russian Empire

The research is devoted to carpet production, one of the most famous handicrafts of the Turkmen people, who have carried the secrets of carpet weaving through centuries and millennia.The beauty and grace of Turkmen carpets, the purity of colors, the strength of the fabric, and the symmetry of drawings and figures have not only fascinated the most discerning connoisseurs of oriental art at all times, but have also made Turkmen carpets a sought-after exhibit at exhibitions around the world and the subject of enthusiastic appreciation by all visitors.The author notes that after the entry of the Turkmen lands into the Russian Empire and overcoming the civilizational isolation in the life of the indigenous population, entrepreneurs of various stripes began to intensively buy up the best carpet products woven before the annexation of the region for resale in domestic Russian and foreign markets.The carpet boom has also led to the emergence of enterprising customers, who have significantly accelerated carpet production in Turkmen villages to the detriment of its traditional quality.Despite the fact that since the mid-90s of the 19th century, the cities of Merv and Ashgabat have become major centers of trade in Turkmen (Tekin) carpets, and their main producer is the Merv Oasis, the decline in the quality of Tekin carpets under the influence of entrepreneurship and market needs seriously concerned the administration of the Transcaspian region, which began to take decisive measures to maintain and the development of this valuable and extremely important branch of local production.The article analyzes these measures, which, in the author's opinion, are of scientific interest to fill in the gaps in the history of the Transcaspian region and Russian-Turkmen relations.