Стр. 217 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

217
The date 1312 AH appears at the top of the
carpet.
A large light red background gyol (medal-
lion) occurs on the middle field of the navy
blue background carpet. The edges of the gyol
are bulged and have zigzag shapes. These
bulged and zigzag areas are surrounded with
white and navy blue stripes. The empty spaces
between the bulges of the gyol are decorated
with rhombic elements similar to spider webs.
A navy blue oblong medallion is located in the
center of the gyol. This medallion resembles
common carpet compositions. Two orange and
one light blue fylfot motif inside the gyol in
the center attracts the attention. The fylfot, of-
ten encountered in all fields of the decorative
applied art of Azerbaijan, represents the four
main existences of the world (or sometimes
the sun). According to research concerning
symbolic meanings, the fylfot symbol is also
known by the terms svastika or “swastika;”
the word “swastika” is a Sanskrit word mean-
ing “is-good” or “is-to-be.” This element rep-
resented happiness and wishes. In the Islamic
world, however, this element is widespread
under the name charkhi-falak (ups and downs
of life). Beginning in the Neolithic period, this
element was depicted on art pieces in complex
forms as a religious sign in Azerbaijan, but in
simpler forms as of the 19th century. These ele-
ments are encountered on stamp-like moulds
discovered during archeological excavations.
Art masters researching the origin of the fyl-
fot note that this element is also a symbol of
the sun, an idea confirmed by many European
scientists. The striped circle symbolizing the
sun was gradually stylized, eventually result-
ing in this shape. The empty spaces along the
edges of the fylfot are filled with goshabuynuz
(double-horned), rhombic, octagonal star, buta
(almond-shaped), and other motifs. The edges
of the gyol are surrounded with yellow back-
ground stripes and completed with mehrab-
like (shrine) triangular motifs at the top and
bottom. Orange and yellow hooked and rhom-
bic elements are depicted in the triangular ar-
eas. The fylfot motifs in the center of the medal-
lion are repeated in the corners of the carpet’s
middle field. On the right and left, the empty
spaces of the middle field are decorated with
green, orange, cream, yellow, red, and navy
blue rhomboid motifs with hooked edges of
various sizes. These motifs are designed in two
rows in a chainlike arrangement on the right
and left and in a scattered form in other areas.
The orange middle field of the carpet is deco-
rated with floral elements. A border with a tur-
quoise background surrounds the middle field
on both sides. There are either buta or bird-like
motifs inside these borders. These motifs are
designed with yellow, red, green, watermelon,
white, and light brown. The edges of the butas
are completed with dark navy blue su (water).
The borders are surrounded with sichandishi
(mouse teeth) depicted in white and orange.
The orange ebresh of the carpet is clearly no-
ticeable.