Gazakh carpets
Carpet weaving is an ancient and traditional form of
art in Azerbaijan. Origins and development of Azeri carpeting with
its main patterns and ornaments extended over the many centuries.
The archaeological materials and written sources confirm that the
carpets were woven here in as far back as to the Bronze Age (2nd
millennium BC). Since that time various carpeting centers and
schools have formed in Azerbaijan in accord with technological and
artistic peculiarities of carpets from different regions.
Gazakh is one of the famous carpet-weaving centers
in Azerbaijan. Different kinds of carpets, both pile and pile-less
(zili and verni types), are widely introduced into the life of local
people. Even in the first quarter of XX century, each Azeri family
who lived here usually wove 4-5 rugs a year, with the size not less
than 5 meters each. And according to local tradition, the brides had
to weave carpets, which were the basis of their dowry.
In the Middle Ages the carpets woven in Gazakh were widely presented
at the bazaars of Ganja, Barda, Baku, Tbilisi and other cities. They
were relatively cheaper than the carpets from some other regions,
but unequalled quality and patterns attracted the attention of
traders. Carpets of Gazakh region were
very popular with foreign merchants as well. Sample Gazakh rugs
displayed in various museums throughout the world present the
outstanding monument of the richest heritage of the Azerbaijani folk
art. For example, the specimens of fine Gazakh carpets of the XIV -
XVIII centuries are in the collections of the Museum of Art in
Berlin, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Victoria and Albert
in London, the Hermitage in Saint-Petersburg, the Museum of Fine
Arts in Budapest and others. Many famous painters of the world used
in their works an Azerbaijan carpet as a decorative element. The
image of the Gazakh carpet may be seen in the tableau of the XV
century Italian painter Carlo Crivelli "Happy news'", in the picture
of the famous German painter of Renaissance Hans Holbein
"Ambassadors" (1533) and others.
Gazakh carpets belong to the "Ganja-Gazakh"
carpeting school and represent the following groups:
Gazakh carpet area which includes one of the
ancient cities of Azerbaijan Gazakh, the villages surrounding
it, and regions Agstafa and Tovuz. Gazakh group includes carpets
with such compositions as "Gazakh", "Salahli", "Shikhli",
"Kemerli", "Demirchiler", "Gaymagly", "Dagkesemen", "Oysuzlu"
and pile-less carpets verni and zili.
Borchali, the territory of Georgia populated by
Azerbaijanis living compactly. From the well-known rugs of this
region can be noted carpets "Borchali", "Karayazi", "Kachagan",
"Karachop" and "Karagoyunlu".
Geycha located in the territory of Armenia,
historical place of Azerbaijanis living here till 1988. The
carpet center includes Bambak, Lambali, Ijevan and areas around
Geycha lake (today's Sevan).
The Gazakh carpets are characterised by original
composition and predominance of a central medallion on the monotone
field background, with a geometrical ornamental pattern, and a focus
on a schematic presentation of the totemic beats and animals.
Carpets have great strength, are average in size, with low weaving
densities, between 60 000 and 120 000 knots per m2, and high pile
6-12 mm; prayer rugs numerous.
| The
samples of Gazakh carpets. |
Gazakh group.
"Gazakh". I variant
image01 |
Gazakh group.
"Gazakh". II variant
image02 |
Gazakh group.
"Gazakh". III variant
image03 |
Gazakh group.
"Gazakh". IV variant
image04 |
Gazakh group.
"Gazakh". V variant
image05 |
Gazakh group.
"Gazakh"
image06 |
Gazakh group.
"Salahli"
image07 |
Gazakh group.
"Salahli"
image08 |
Gazakh group.
"Shixli" I variant.
image09 |
Gazakh group.
"Shixli" II variant.
image10 |
Gazakh group.
"Shixli" III variant.
image11 |
Gazakh group.
"Kemerli"
image12 |
Gazakh group.
"Demirchiler"
image13 |
Gazakh group.
"Gaymaqly"
image14 |
Gazakh group.
"Geychely"
image15 |
Gazakh group.
"Dagkesemen" I variant.
image16 |
Gazakh group.
"Dagkesemen" II variant.
image17 |
Gazakh group.
"Oysuzly"
image18 |
Gazakh group.
"Gachagan"
image19 |
Gazakh group.
"Borchali"
image20 |
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