History of carpets

Azerbaijan has been since the ancient times known as a center of a large
variety of crafts. The archeological dig on the territory of Azerbaijan testifies to
the well developed agriculture, stock raising, metal working, pottery and
ceramics, and last but not least carpet-weaving that date as far back as to the
2nd millennium BC.
The carpet making was born in rural huts and with time ranked among the
most essential arts. It was highly valued by the heads of states, and the gifted
weavers were glorified by the greatest poets.
The carpet history is assumed to be divided into the following four main
periods:

•I period - the early stage of the carpet development. The carpet ware is very
simple, without any motifs and patterns. The first palas and djedjims appear.

•II period - introduction of the kilim weaving practice by the intricate threading
technique.

•III period - weaving of shadda, verni, sumakh, zili. The period of simple and
complex whipping techniques.

•IV period - introduction of the knotted pile weaving. Both from the technical
and artistic standpoints this stage can be considered the acme of the carpet
making.
Carpet-weaving schools
Kuba-Shirvan school

The Kuba carpets are remarkable for a wide variety of

designs, which may differ even from village to village. The
ornamental pattern is characterized by geometrical and vegetal
motifs, most of them stylized. These include Gyryz, Gymyl,
Gonakend, Shahnezerli and other carpets.

The Shirvan school is famous for its superb carpets.

The school totals 25 compositions. The Salyan carpets, with
similar artistic and technical features, also belong to this school.
The Shirvan carpets are characterized by an intricate design,
which depicts numerous artifacts of everyday life, birds and
people.
Carpet-weaving schools
(cont’d)
Ganja-Kazakh school

The carpets of this school are notable for peculiarity

of their compositions and ornamental patterns. The
Ganja carpets include a relatively small number of
carpet compositions, all in all between 8 and 20 patterns.
The Kazakh carpets cover about 16 compositions with
various patterns. Kazakh, which is located on the
NW of Azerbaijan, is the most famous carpet production
region and also accounts for the Kazakh and Borchaly
carpet groups. The Kazakh carpets have a geometrical
ornamental pattern, the composition is not very complex
with a focus on a schematic presentation of the geometrical
patterns, plants and animals. The ornamental decor of the
Ganja carpets is rich and diverse, with a focus on geometrical
motifs as well as schematic presentation of plants and animals.
Carpet-weaving schools
(cont’d)
Baku school

The Baku school of carpet weaving includes the villages of Novkhany, Fatmai, Nardaran,
Bulbulya, Mardakan, Gaadi. These carpets are marked for their increased softness of the
material and intense colors, as well as excellent artistic taste and exquisite decoration.
This school has about 10 compositions. The carpet composition often includes
medallions. They are filled by various motifs, most often by stylized images of plants, which
lost their resemblance to the original object after they had been geometrized.

Karabakh school

The Karabakh carpets amount to 33 compositions. Due to the specifics of the

local sheep wool the Karabakh carpets are characterized by thick pile, high and
fluffy. These carpets are marked for their vivid and joyous colors. They are
divided into four groups: without medallions, with medallions, namazlyk and
subject carpet. In the mountainous part of Karabakh the carpets were made
in Malybeili, Muradkhanly, Dashbulakh, Jebrail, Goradis and many other villages.
Geographical illustration
of schools