Стр. 11 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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hood. Thus the spinning wheel became the
witness of happy and sad moments of her life
and became her friend.
In 1905-1906, I.M. Kara-Murza distributed
design drawings among Guba’s weavers to
help them make carpet patterns; the first time
this had been done in Azerbaijan. In 1913, a
carpet with these designs received great rec-
ognition at a carpet exhibition held in St. Pe-
tersburg, Russia.
In 1912, purchase and distribution agencies
were established in Imamgulu village for the
carpets of Guba, which encouraged them to
use quality wool and natural colors and to pro-
tect them from profiteers. As a result of organ-
ized work, the carpets belonging to the Guba
group were the basis of export in this period.
V.M. Zummer wrote in his research “Modern
Guba Carpets” that in the beginning of the
twentieth century, the demand increased for
Azerbaijani carpets all over the world.
The Italians say that Azerbaijani carpets will
soon replace paintings and wall patterns in
their apartments and Americans order carpets
to fit the size of their apartments and widely
use carpets for warming and adorning rooms.
Thus the interest in carpets with geometric
compositions and abstract patterns increas-
ingly grows, becoming an integral part of Eu-
ropean life. Of course, the weavers of Guba
who lived as nomadic cattle-breeders were en-
gaged in carpet weaving to satisfy their daily
needs, which led to the development of this
handicraft.
The Azerbaijani branch of the Caucasian
State Trading Organization (Zagostorg) held
an exhibition March 23-24, 1926 entitled “Fes-
tival of Folk Art” and devoted to the art of car-
pets in Guba where weaving was widespread.
The aim of this event was to stimulate further
development of weaving traditions in the car-
pet arts. Ten of the more than 200 fine carpets
1. Carpet “Sirt-Chichi.” Wool. Pile weave. 237x136.
Beginning of 19th century. Guba group. Azerbaijan.
2. Entrance doors of Guba region.
3. Carpet “Alpan.” Wool. Pile weave. 330x170. 19th century.
Guba group. Azerbaijan.
3