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All images courtesy of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan unless otherwise noted

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All images courtesy of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan unless otherwise noted

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  1. Many of the carpets that we think of as “Caucasian” or even more simply as “Oriental,” are in fact from Azerbaijan. Following a silk road that has gone on for centuries we find ourselves in the small mountainous villages of Azerbaijan, a point from which the craftsmen who weave the carpets continue to spread their skill world wide. Through the beauty of their designs we can begin affirming Azerbaijan’s place in the world of oriental rugs. All images courtesy of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan unless otherwise noted

  2. Role of Carpets in Azerbaijani History Evidence of Loom Azeri Carpet in Hans Memling Triptych Carpets are considered “the business card” of Azerbaijan, playing a significant role in the country’s culture and identity. This is true today, and throughout the country’s history. Archeological findings confirm that carpet related products have been produced in Azerbaijan since Ancient times. The writings of numerous foreign travellers throughout history-from ancient Greek historian Xenophon to Venetian traveller Marco Polo-confirm the long-time existence of carpet design in Azerbaijani and the long-time esteem these designs have yielded throughout the world. Azerbaijani carpets have not only been referenced in the writings of Marco Polo but also the paintings of the Renaissance and within the country’s own national literature, suggesting their national as well as international importance.

  3. Azerbaijan in the World of “Oriental Rugs” Map of Weaving Centers, Sotheby’s Rug Catalogue

  4. Preparing the Wool-Imajilik Carpets are most often made of wool, a material used for its low cost, its durability and its convenience. Once selected, the wool is converted into yarn through a spindle and then dyed so that is can be woven into a carpet. But first, the wool must undergo an additional process. The wool is carded, a process of pulling the material apart so the strands may be separated and placed parallel to one another. This process was quite labor intensive and was fulfilled with the help of close relatives and neighbors. Typical of Azerbaijan, this type of mutual help is called imajilik. Sheep Shearing Sheep Carding Creating Yarn Via Spindle

  5. Painting Carpets with the Country’s Soil The flora of Azerbaijan is very rich and many of its plants possess qualities suitable for coloring. Using the leaves, stalks, fruits, fruits peel, flowers, and blossoms of various plants, Azerbaijani dyers, called boyaqchi, obtained the majority of the colors and tints they used from vegetables. Boyaqchi began using cheaper and faster chemical dyes in the late 19th century to accommodate a growing demand from the Russian market. However, these dyes did not satisfy the desires of the foreign market, a market that retained an interest in the quality of natural dyes. Ultimately the high quality and stability of the natural dyes have won Azerbaijani carpets international fame.

  6. Azerbaijani Carpets can be divided into two categories: fleecy carpets and carpets without pile. The art of Azerbaijani carpets differs from the carpet production of other countries not only for the richness of their ornamental design but also due the variety of carpets without pile. When weaving, Azerbaijan carpet weavers employed a very rare Turkbafknot on simple looms. On these looms they used a variety of tools to lay weft through the threads of the foundation, moving behind and in front of the static warp, eventually creating the design. Weaving Carpets

  7. The Culture of Carpets: Luxury Good or Everyday Item? Since ancient times, the number of quality carpets a family had was a sign of their wealth. Holding great monetary value and suggesting prestige, in the Middle Ages the local population paid their taxes with carpets and the royalty gifted them to mausoleums and rulers of other states. But carpets were and continue to be more than a luxury object. One of the most important items of everyday life, the Azerbaijani people not only weave carpets but also sit on them, pray on them, eat on them and drape them over their furniture and walls, for warmth and decoration. Today, Azerbaijani Carpets are part of the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

  8. Azerbaijani Carpets: Seven Schools One of the main distinctive features of Azerbaijani carpet weaving is that each region of the country produces its own type of carpet, and each region employs a unique, artistic composition, which is transmitted from generation to generation. Based on these regions and the individual designs, composition and color selection they favor, Azerbaijani carpet design can be separated into 7 schools. Guba Tebriz Shivran Gazakh Baki Ganja Karabakh Images courtesy of the Carpet Museum in Baku, Azerbaijan www.azcarpetmuseum.az

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