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Verni flat-weave carpets are rare samples
of Azerbaijani carpet weaving art in
terms of their technical perfections and aesthet-
ic influence. These carpets are used as curtains,
covers, and wall decorations because of their
fine weaving. Verni are usually first woven in
narrow stripes and then united. They are wo-
ven only in Azerbaijan, mostly in the regions of
Karabakh and Kazakh. Karabakh verni contain
several samples. The most famous among them
consists of s-shaped large elements placed next
to each other. This complicated and original el-
ement has mythological aspects. It holds mean-
ing by expressing the symbolic meaning of wa-
ter and dragons often encountered in historical
legends, epics, and in the descriptive and deco-
rative art of the Far East and Turkic nations.
Years ago, people in Azerbaijan saw water
as sacred, used it in fortune-telling rituals, and
threw water behind people who left for a long
journey as a sign of good luck. Water is one of
the four important elements of life. The dragon
image is depicted parallel to water as a protec-
tor. Although the s-shaped element reflecting
the water-dragon motif had two meanings, it
was mostly commonly the symbol of water.
The s-shaped elements depicted on the su-
mac-colored setting on this verni are woven
in black and cream colors. The light and dark
color designs of the elements signify day and
night, good and evil, and other dichotomies.
Different geometric and stylized elements are
depicted inside the main elements; at the bot-
tom and top, birds, two-headed birds, and hu-
man images are represented as filler elements.
The main decoration of “Mugan” carpets is known as
“Hooked” in the east of Azerbaijan and “Guyrumlu” in the
west. It consists of hook-like elements known alternatively among
carpet weavers as “hooked” or “old-pattern.” These elements are
widespread in the carpet weaving arts of Azerbaijan, the history of
which stretch to ancient times, and are also encountered on carpets
woven in Central Asia. On carpets woven during both the Middle
Ages and the modern era, twelve hooks are depicted around this
element, but four three-hook elements are placed on the diagonal.
This element is called “damga” (stamp, brand), and the twelve
hooks surrounding it represent twelve years. Time calculations
were made not only in increments of days and months, but also in
segments of twelve months. Each year was linked to the name of an
animal (or constellation). An eight-angular star or an image called
“four horns” was placed in the center of this element. This is a sign
of the four elements that are the source of life. An eight-angular
star is depicted on this carpet. These motifs represent protectors of
humans, their fireplaces, and life itself from evil.
The sumac-colored setting of the carpet is divided into four
stripes in horizontal and vertical directions. As a result of the di-
vision, 64 right angles are created. Multi-colored eight-angular
hooked elements are depicted inside of each right angle.
The borders of the carpet consist of rectangular and rhombic dec-
orative elements.
Verni. Wool. Flat weave. 228x179.
Beginning of the 19th century.
Karabakh group. Azerbaijan. Metropolitan
Museum of Art. New York, USA.
Carpet. “Mugan.” Wool. Pile weave. 275x157. 19th century.
Iravan group. Azerbaijan. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
New York, USA.