18
Gazakh-Borchaly carpets are known for
their heavy weight, tall height, and soft wool
with bright pile and dimensions of 150x200
or 220x260 centimeters. These carpets are
completely different from Baku, Shirvan,
Quba, and Tabriz carpets in their graphical and
techinical ornamentation. The carpets are often
thick, and woven from the highest quality wool.
Today this tradition continues. The color palette
of these carpets was obtained from natural
pigments and consists of red, sumac, deep
black, yellow, brown, green, and blue.
The patterns woven on the carpet in bright
red, dark red, and sumac colors attract people
with their beauty and affirm beliefs in the
magic force of the carpet. The fervent red
colors lend a deep shade to the carpet and
give a storng visual impact. The dark red
shade made from “kosenil” is known as “like
a red insect” and represents the strength and
influence of the sun, fire, and blood.
Due to the abundance of wool as a raw
material, a strong labor force, and easy access to
natural pigments, historically every family and
tribe in Gazakh had a weaving tradition. The
carpets not only served people’s practical needs
but also provided a necessary source of income.
The compositional structure of Gazakh-
Borchaly carpets consists mainly of abstract and
geometric ornaments, which were developed
over centuries, and related to the way of
life of the inhabitants who lived here. The
strength, energy, and magnetic force of the
carpet is a result symbolic forms. There are
mystical, esoteric, and sacred ideas found in
these symbols. Due to their holy meaning,
these carpets are commonly hung on the
wall, given as alms at holy places, or used for
prayers, rather than being used on the floor.
In the Gazakh-Borchaly group carpets,
symbols protecting humanity and life are
often woven; these symbols include water,
trees, pomegranates, plants, mythological
1
2
1...,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19 21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,...148