Стр. 254 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

254
Carpet. Wool. Pile-weave. Iravan group. Basarkechar, Goyche, western Azerbaijan. 227x118. 1331 AH/1910 CE.
In the upper part of the carpet the date 1331 AH appears. This carpet is distinguished by its unique design. There are two large tree
images in the middle field of this navy blue background carpet. The tree element is one of the decorative plant motifs widespread in
the decorative applied arts of Azerbaijan, including carpets. These decorative elements reached their highest development point in the
15-18th centuries. The tree image depicted on Azerbaijani carpets since ancient times has its roots in Eastern descriptive arts. Tree ima-
ges are often encountered on ceramics, stone, metal products, fabrics, embroidery, and carpets. In most cases, this image turns into the
central and organizational motif of many compositional structures. The tree image has a special place in the imaginations of Eastern
people since ancient times. They considered trees to hold magic forces, saw them as sources of miraculous characteristics, and wors-
hipped them. The tree image reflects a universal worldly motif. As a result of the miraculous characteristics related to trees, they have
been idolized among many nations and entered the mythology of many world religions and nations. Throughout many millennia, the
tree image was reflected in the descriptive and decorative applied art pieces as “world” or “life” tree. The tree became the symbol of
the future, immortality, fertility, breeding, abundance, happiness, and so on. Stories related to “the tree of life” are included in the holy
book of Zoroastrians, “Avesta.” In several nations of the Caucasus, including Azerbaijan, worship of trees still exists.