Стр. 127 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

127
The carpet has a rich compositional struc-
ture. The date 1277 AH appears on the right
top part of the middle field of the carpet.
The main decoration of the carpet consists
of 24 eight-pointed medallions arranged in
alternation along the length of the carpet,
giving the carpet a special aspect. Twelve
hooked motifs specific to “Mugan” carpets
are designed inside the medallions. These
carpets are called guyrumlu in the west.
Carpets of this composition were woven
during the middle centuries as well and
they attracted the interest of foreign visitors
in Azerbaijan. The veteran weavers of Lan-
karan and Ganja call this type of hooked
element damga (stamp) while Turkmen
weavers call them girkhbuynuz (forty-
horned). In the calendar of the ancient
Turkic peoples, hooked elements symbol-
ize twelve years. According to the Eastern
calendar, every year is centered on one
animal. Each of the hooks signals one year.
The edges of the medallions and schemes
are surrounded by z-shaped motifs. Some
weavers call the eight-pointed star motifs
seen inside the hooked medallions dord-
buynuz (four-horned). In the corners of
the middle field, the rectangular elements
are divided into schemes designed with
hooked elements. Old weavers named this
carpet “Gosha Gyol Mugan.” With roots in
the ancient past, these elements of Azerbai-
jani carpet art are also found on the carpets
of Central Asia and Afghanistan.
The gyols (medallion) are separated by
the schemes designed with sichandishi
(mouse teeth). Guard stripes decorated
with geometric rectangular motifs divided
into four parts surround the middle field of
the carpet. The outside of the guard stripe
is designed using cornelian and cream-
colored incomplete lines. The main border
of the carpet is adorned with zigzag edged
motifs. These cream-colored motifs are
reminiscent of stylized birds. These bird-
like motifs are arranged head to toe oppo-
site each other.
Floral elements fill the sumac, navy blue,
dark red, light brown, light green, and light
blue empty spaces. The border is surround-
ed by cream-colored su (water). The edges
of the border are finished with incomplete
lines designed in yellow and cornelian and
madakhils with light blue zigzags. The
main border at the top and bottom of the
carpet is decorated with stylized birds and
elements with zigzag edges.