Magically playing, the colours of
carpets absorbed ruby brightness of pomegranate, golden brilliance of
quince, copper of saffron and lilac tints of grapes. Inexhaustible richness
of colours, inimitable in its beauty, interlacement of patterns,
flight of artistic fantasy and consummate skill – that is Azerbaijan carpet.
According to the historical sources, Azerbaijan was one of the most
important centers of pile and flat – woven carpets production in the East in
Middle Ages. Facts confirm that north-eastern part of Azerbaijan was a
center of high quality carpets production in the VIVII centuries.
 Famous Chinees
traveller Khuan- Tesauk, who visited Iran in the VII
century, wrote in his memoirs: "Azerbaijan is one of the largest centers of
the carpet-making". Historian (VII c.) Moisey Kalankaituksky
noted in "Agvan tarihi", that silk textiles and
multicoloured carpets were manufactured in the northern part of
Azerbaijan. In the manuscript" Khudud-AI-Alem" (X
century) is marked, that Azerbaijani town of Mugan was famous for its
Chuvals and Palases; towns of Nakhchevan, Khoi and
Salmas – for Zili, Khali and sashes (belts); Ardabil
and Shirvan – for coloured silk and woolen textiles.
Well-known historiographer Abu Jafar
Mukhammed Tabari (X century) speaking of the occupation of
Azerbaijan by Arabs, mentioned that in the north-eastern part of Azerbaijan
were manufactured carpets of high quality. Historian and traveller Al
Mukaddasi (X century) describing Azerbaijani town of Barda and its
market, noted: "...silk and clothes are sold at this market... and carpets
have no equals in the world"... Descriptions of the carpets are met in
Azerbaijani classical literature as well, especially in the masterpieces of
great Azerbaijan poets as Gatran Tabrizi (XI century),
Nizami Ganjevi, Khagani Shirvani (XII century) and
others.
 In
XIII century Venicean traveller Marko Polo wrote: "there are
many skillful masters in Azerbaijan who produce textile, carpet and
sabres widespread all over the world ". In the second half of the
XVth century Azerbaijani carpet-makers began to use golden and silver
threads, precious stones in the production of silk carpets. In XIII-XIV
centuries Azerbaijani jewelry and carpets attracted European, especially
Venicean merchants.
 Having
visited Azerbaijan dealers, travellers, ambassadors from different
countries, exported picturesque carpets and carpet-ware as commodities and
presents. And it’s not casually that we can find Azerbaijani carpets on the
canvases of the famous European artists. We can observe them on the picture"
Ambassadors" of Gans Golbein ; well-known artist Yan
Van Eik painted his picture" Madonne of the Canon Van der Pale" with
the Azerbaijan carpet "Kuba" on its background. In XVI-XVII
centuries, in the epoch of Safavids, Azerbaijani art of carpet-making
went through the stage of rapid development. In this period Tabriz,
Ardabil, Shemakha, Baku, Ganja and Barda were
considered to be the centres of carpet-making art. Being of highest
quality and having superb techniques of fulfillment, ornamental carpets
woven centuries ago in Shirvan, Karabakh, Apsheron,
Kuba, Kazakh, Ganja, Mugan, Talysh now decorate great
museums of Russia, Western Europe, and the United States of America. 90% of
the carpets, especially fiat woven, known in the world by the name of
"Caucasus" are primordial Azerbaijani carpets.
 The first State Museum of the
Carpet-making Art was established in 1967. The best examples of Azerbaijani
carpets and carpet-ware were displayed there. The exposition of this unique
Museum is decorated with the ancient carpets, woven in XVIII-XIX centuries
and ornamental carpets of the Soviet period. The organization of above
mentioned establishments by the Soviet State has created the necessary
prerequisites for more serious study of the artistic, theoretical and
technological aspects of the carpet-making art. According to the technology
and artistic decision Azerbaijani carpets can be divided into flat-woven
carpets and pile carpets.
There are 7 methods of flat-woven
technique of carpet-weaving, which resemble tapestry. At the same time there
are only two methods of pile carpet-weaving. Each Azerbaijan district is
famous for its own original carpets and carpetware peculiar for the
given zone. Palas, Jejim, Shedde, Kilim, Zili,
Vami and others are considered to be Azerbaijani flat-woven carpets.
Since ancient times such Azerbaijani flat-woven carpet-wares were widespread
as khurjun (travelling bag), mafrash (similar to
trunk), chul (popone), etc.
 Since
ancient times carpet-making in Azerbaijan was women’s business, who
cautiously shared their experience from generation to generation.
Composition, ornamentation and artistic methods were close and clear to
every carpet-maker, no matter how complicated they were. It is evidently
that from ancient times there was no woman in Karabakh, Barda,
Shusha, who could not weave carpets. One of the main parts of girl's
dowry was a complete-set of carpets ("Dastkhali-gabe")
consisting of 3 or 4 carpets. A bride herself had to take part in weaving of
such a complete-set. It is interesting to know that women, who came to seek
a girl for marriage usually inquired about her skills at weaving carpets. In
1917 in 222 villages of Ganja district more than 33069 persons were engaged
in carpet-making, that constitute 49% of the population and 56% of all the
handicraftsmen of the district. In the same year 39979 persons from 97 out
of 111 villages of Kuba district were carpet-makers and that number
constitutes 81 % of the district handicraftsmen. Such figures may be met in
the villages of Shirvan, Karabakh and Apsheron. These
facts confirmed that carpet-making gained expansion and was one of the main
spheres of applied arts in Azerbaijan.
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