Стр. 16 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

14
ter protecting this life. This composition may
be observed in “sumakh” and other pile weave
carpets.
One of the special features of Guba carpets re-
garding plant patterns is the motif of grapevine
leaves woven on “Ugah” and other carpets.
Sometimes, the grapevine leaves fully decorate
the central field of a composition and sometimes
are woven in parallel lines in the central field
or separately in the center as in the “Pirebedil”
carpet. In all cases, this element carries a sym-
bolic meaning of paradise in addition to
reflecting the nature of the Guba carpet
group.
Carpets assume a conservative mean-
ing in the history of art. New artistic
styles and scripts are created in the cul-
ture, especially on the carpets through-
out history. From this point of view, it is
possible to see various combinations on
Guba carpets such as ancient alphabets,
Persian language, and Hijri dates.
It is also observed in the carpets belong-
ing to the Guba group that very interest-
ing calligraphic scripts become geometri-
cal decorations. The “Gadim Minare”
(ancient minaret) composition is a good
example. The word “Allah” is woven in
Arabic calligraphy in succession on the
border strip of the oblong gol covering
the internal surface of the carpet. The patterns
in the same script style may include “kufi” ele-
ments used on the border strip of most Guba
group carpets.
It is not accidental that sometimes a carpet is
called a written monument or stone chronicle.
Some social events and beliefs are reflected in
the knots on this type of carpet. From this point
of view, the alphabet assumes a special place
when eternalized on carpets.
Following the arrival of Islam, great changes
1
2