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“Ajdahali” carpets woven in Karabakh are
named for their particular compositions. They
were once known as “Khatai” in Azerbaijani
carpet weaving. “Ajdahali” carpets have a com-
plicated structure. “Khatai” is a decorative ele-
ment that has a complicated form and pleated
edges similar to different leaves decorated with
flowery branches. They are arranged from bot-
tom to top and have zigzagged edges. Among
the branches, there are “Afshan gulu” ele-
ments and other floral motifs depicted on these
carpets with an “Afshan” composition. The
dragon motif was passed on by Mongols, es-
pecially Uyghurs, to Central Asia from the Far
East in the eighteenth century and became the
“Khatai” composition and spread in Azerbai-
jan.
The dragon motifs are depicted in different
forms in different types of decorative-applied
art of Azerbaijan, including carpets.
On this carpet, the dragon motifs surround
the “Afshan gulu” element on both sides as if
protecting it. Flowers and trees were interpret-
ed by ancient Turks as the meaning of life. The
dragons depicted here are the guards of life. In
addition to dragons, other mythical animals
are also depicted on the middle field and bor-
ders of carpets with “Khatai” compositions.
The main element of the carpet consists of several rhombic
“gyol” (medallion) in different colors placed inside of one an-
other. The remaining areas of the middle field are filled with differ-
ent elements on the principle of rapports placed at a small distance
from each other along zigzagged lines.
The vertical central arrow on Guba carpets is decorated with mo-
tifs in different sizes. These can be “khoncha” (tray) or large me-
dallions arranged in the middle field from top to bottom. The zig-
zag-like lines forming rhombs on this carpet with a sumac-colored
setting are designed in brown and cream colors. The rhombs in
the center are depicted in blue and light brown. Four flowers with
zigzagged edges are represented inside the smallest rhombic gyol
in the center.
There are bird images on the middle field of the carpet in ad-
dition to floral images. When united with fine lines, the filler ele-
ments create a net-like structure.
Although the carpet looks symmetric at first sight, the elements
depicted here do not repeat each other. Each element is distin-
guished in a unique way, although insignificantly. However, the
foundation of the carpet is not disordered.
Carpet. “Ajdahali” (With Dragon). Wool.
325x171. 19th century. Karabakh group.
Azerbaijan. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
New York, USA.
Carpet. Wool. Pile weave. 401x188. 17th-18th centuries.
Guba group. Azerbaijan. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
New York, USA.