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Preface
Azerbaijani carpets are rare masterpieces of world carpet weaving art. This is linked to the ancient history of the
carpet-weaving art, its enrichment, and the protection of experience and traditions to be handed down to future
generations achieved by the best carpet weavers with enormous care. There has always been a huge demand for the
carpets produced here both in Azerbaijan and abroad. In addition to meeting daily household needs and satisfying
the aesthetic taste of people, Azerbaijani carpets have turned into irreplaceable art samples. Taking into conside-
ration all of these factors, on November 16, 2010, Azerbaijani carpets were included in the Representative List of
UNESCO on the World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. “Azer-Ilme” has also helped widely in the popularization
and development of the carpet-weaving art in Azerbaijan. In the real meaning of word, a scientific-experimental
research and advocacy complex was established here and the publication of the magazine, “Azerbaijani Carpets,”
was launched. The main line in the field of research and popularization of Azerbaijani carpets is connected with
the realization of the great project called “Azerbaijani Carpets with All Their Schools.” The first fundamental piece
within this project, “Azerbaijani Carpets Karabakh Group,” was published in Azerbaijani-English and Azerbaijani-
Russian languages (Baku, Elm, 2010, 272 pages).
The “Azerbaijani Carpets Karabakh Group” book includes articles on “Great Project: Azerbaijani Carpets with All
their Schools,” “Karabakh District of Azerbaijan: Historical Essay,” “Karabakh Carpets: from History up to Now,”
“Carpets and Silk Embroideries Woven in Karabakh in World Museums and Private Collections,” “From the Kara-
bakh Carpets Collection of ‘Azer-Ilme’s’ ‘Magic Knots’ Gallery,” and other sections. For the first time in the research
history of Azerbaijan’s carpet-weaving art, in addition to artistic features of a hundred Karabakh carpets, their tech-
nical indicators were also identified and reflected in the book. After being published, the “Azerbaijani Carpets Kara-
bakh Group” book received great attention and a positive reception among the world’s well-known carpet masters
and carpet lovers. This research was the winner of the “Book of the Year” nomination. The research of the history
and development, especially as concerns similarities of carpet weaving arts, proves that Azerbaijan’s Karabakh dist-
rict has always been Azerbaijan’s historical territory and has developed as part of its rich material and moral influ-
ence. In addition, this book should be considered as a contribution to the successful conduction of the joint work of
governments and nations targeted at ending the Armenian invasion of Azerbaijani lands and the restoration of the
territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In addition to the studies on the Karabakh group of Azerbaijani
carpets, research on other carpet groups was also carried out, including research devoted to the Iravan group.
According to studies related to Azerbaijani carpets, different local groups and schools (Karabakh, Guba, Shirvan,
Baku, Ganja, Gazakh, Nakhchivan, and Tabriz) divide this area. Considering major trends of carpet weaving deve-
lopment among Azerbaijanis living in present-day Armenia, historical geographical western Azerbaijan was studi-
ed in conjunction with Gazakh, Karabakh, and other groups. However, the studies required that it be separated as
“Iravan Group” in order to create an objective view of the development of carpet weaving in western Azerbaijan.
This is explained by several natural, socio-economic, and political factors (natural geographic conditions, agricultu-
ral lives of the population, the Armenian government’s intentional genocide and deportation policy against Azerba-
ijanis, implementation of deportation of Azerbaijanis from their ancestral territories, and other factors). Having the
Iravan Group of Azerbaijani carpets considered separately is significant for safeguarding of the people’s traditions,
keeping these traditions alive, and for loyalty to Azerbaijani historical lands.
The “Azerbaijani Carpets Iravan Group” book presents general compositions concerning the research on Kara-
bakh carpets. Here, the history of western Azerbaijan territory is reflected and characteristics of the Iravan group
carpets are analyzed. Photos and depictions of 102 rare carpets are also given. The type, color harmony, semantics of
each carpet, and philosophical views of people about their surroundings and development definitely indicate that
they are the reflection of an Azerbaijani reality. As irrefutable evidence of this, it should be noted that the Iravan
carpet group found its particular place in the carpet-weaving context of Azerbaijan in general and is based on achie-
vements and successes obtained here. The new fundamental book introduced to readers through “Azerbaijani Car-
pets with all Their Schools” project is dedicated to carpets of the Tabriz group. As one of the greatest of Azerbaijan’s
carpet weaving groups, Tabriz reflects all the highest achievements in addition to having unique features. The same
general conception follows the books on the Karabakh and Iravan groups are held in the “Azerbaijani Carpets Tabriz
Group” book, but issues emerging from the specifics of the Tabriz group are also considered. In accordance with
the tradition adopted in the “great project,” a historical context is given special significance here as well. For this
purpose, the historical path of western Azerbaijan in general and major achievements of its development are exami-
ned. Following this examination, overall characteristics of the Tabriz group of Azerbaijani carpets are represented.
Professional pictures of 89 carpets (held in a special collection) and their specifics are introduced on the basis of
modern carpet weaving criteria and compose the main substance of the book. In addition to their ideal artistic cha-
racteristics, “inscriptions” with considerable content adorn carpets of the Tabriz group. Therefore, all inscriptions
on carpets were translated from Persian and included in the research. This kind of approach was instrumental in
thoroughly discovering the philosophy of these carpets. One of the most important scientific innovations is that ma-
jor elements of these carpets that are often seen as artistic images are represented separately to be more effectively
understood. As a result of this approach, the characteristics of each carpet with all their components encompassed
a profound scientific research. As in publications on other groups, “Azerbaijani Carpets Tabriz Group” ends with
a bibliography. In addition to being a new achievement in the study of Azerbaijan’s carpet weaving art, the “Azer-
baijani Carpets Tabriz Group” book is a great contribution to the research of carpet weaving throughout the world.
Vidadi Muradov
Professor of Decorative Applied Arts
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