Tradition of carpet weaving has been a big part of the social and cultural life of Azerbaijanis for ages. The earliest examples of Azerbaijani carpets go back in time to at least the Bronze Age. Earlier carpets tend to have a more simple form, by time evolving into masterpieces with unique symbols and sophisticated techniques. Traditionally, a more classical weaving developed into using lamb’s wool and silk. With the development in dyeing and spinning, carpet-makers gained a gift of freedom in the exploration of new techniques. Diving deeper in the process of production, carpet-makers were inspired to create symbols and patterns by history, folklore, spirituality and nature. And just like that, carpets reflect the formation of the history of the whole country.
In Azerbaijan, carpets are classified based on their belonging to one of the “schools” of carpet-weaving: Baku-Absheron, Guba and Shirvan, Ganja and Gazakh, Karabakh. These schools differ from each other based on the materials, weaving methods, pattern and colors used. The uniqueness of each carpet can be noticed by a well-trained eye of the experts as even a small detail can tell them a story of the specific region, city or even a village. Among diverse Azerbaijani carpets, flat-woven and pile are the most popular.
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF AZERBAIJANI CARPETS
The big collection of Azerbaijani carpets can be observed at the Carpet Museum in Baku. The museum in the shape of rolled-up carpet, designed by Austrian architect Franz Janz has the largest collection of Azerbaijani carpets – 6000. The carpets here date back to the 17th-20th centuries and tell us unique stories of those times. The museum is open from Tuesday to Fridays and tickets can be purchased at the museum’s ticket office.
UNIQUE TOUCH TO THE TRADITIONAL AZERBAIJANI CARPETS
An example of contemporary outlook on the carpets can be seen at the Heydar Aliyev Centre. Those are the creations of a Baku based contemporary artist who brings his unique touch to the traditional Azerbaijani carpets. Just like our ancestors, he continues their idea and legacy by adding accurate social and cultural themes into the creation of carpets. In his own way, the artist intertwines the contemporary conceptual imagery with the traditional hand-woven carpets. Faig Ahmed’s imagination and unique style brought him international recognition and he was short-listed for the Jameel Art Prize 3 at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London back in 2013.
