TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF COLOR BLENDING AND STRUCTURAL VARIATION IN CONTEMPORARY BUKHARA PILE AND FLAT-WEAVE CARPETS

Contemporary Bukhara carpet weaving represents a dynamic interaction between inherited textile technologies, material properties, colour practices, and changing design preferences. While the visual identity of Bukhara carpets is frequently discussed in relation to ornament and regional style, the technical mechanisms through which colour and structure influence visual perception require further systematic attention. This study examines colour blending and structural variation in contemporary Bukhara pile and flat-weave carpets, with particular emphasis on the relationship between yarn characteristics, weaving technique, colour interaction, pile height, structural density, and pattern formation. A qualitative technical analysis was conducted using documentary evidence concerning Uzbek carpet production, material preparation, pile and flat-weave construction, and regional characteristics of Bukhara carpets. The analysis distinguishes between the optical effects produced by adjacent coloured yarns and those generated through actual colour mixing during yarn preparation. It further examines how pile height, knot structure, warp and weft organization, surface density, and weaving technique affect the perception of colour and pattern. The findings indicate that colour in Bukhara carpets cannot be separated from construction technique. In pile carpets, the orientation and density of pile create changes in light absorption and reflection, producing tonal variation that can intensify or soften colours. In flat-weave carpets, the closer visual integration of warp and weft produces a more linear and structurally exposed colour field. Contemporary Bukhara production demonstrates an increasing tendency to combine established red-dominant and geometric visual traditions with modified colour palettes and adapted compositions. The study concludes that colour blending should be understood as a technical and perceptual process rather than merely a decorative choice. Understanding this interaction provides a basis for more systematic documentation, conservation, contemporary design development, and quality assessment of Bukhara carpets.