Page 73 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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Due to the rich natural habitat and good
geographical conditions in Nakhchivan, car-
pet weaving has developed there since an-
cient times. The primitive clay distaffs and
bone spindle tips found in the Kultepe set-
tlement (4th-3rd millennium B.C.) prove that
Nakhchivan is one of the oldest carpet weav-
ing centers. The people of Nakhchivan were
familiar with the secrets of procuring natural
dye from plants and they used the same dye
to paint the earthenware that they used in
daily life. For this purpose they used mainly
two colors: black and red.
Bone tools also played a large role in the households of ancient
Nakhchivan. The population made weaving tools and needles
mainly from bone. Based on excavations, the inhabitants were en-
gaged not only in farming and raising sheep, but also in weaving,
dyeing and producing ceramic and bronze objects.
In terms of weaving, the clothing culture of Nakhchivan is par-
ticularly noteworthy. In ancient times, women’s clothing in Nakh-
chivan usually consisted of red-brown, green, or silver hues. The
colors in the clothes were carefully selected according to their har-
mony. In terms of beadwork, plant patterns predominated. The
neatness of the work and the entire system of Nakhchivan clothing
indicates a highly developed sewing technology. Different kinds of
sewing techniques, such as gulabatin, malima, baft, lace, garagoz,
sarma, beads, crochet, and others, were used for decoration. There
were also different kinds of trousers worn among Nakhchivan
women.
Men’s clothing in Nakhchivan was similar to other regions of
Azerbaijan and included arkhalig, gushgar, trousers, chukha,
sheepskin coat, felt cloak, and felt in addition to headgear made of
different fabrics in the style of caps, tashkulah, painted caps, and
others.
Arabic authors of the Middle Ages wrote manuscripts describ-
ing the widespread carpet weaving in Nakhchivan and the carpets
woven in this territory gained great fame. In the tenth-century (982)
"Hudud al-alam," the village of Mugan was mentioned as being
famous for its chuval and palas; Nakhchivan, Khoy, and Salmas
were famous for the production of zili and carpets; and Shirvan was
known for its fabrics.
Both practical and aesthetic needs contributed to the development
and progress of carpet weaving in Nakhchivan. Densely woven pile
and flat weave carpets of 20-30 meters square, such as kecha, palas,
jejim, kilim, shedde, and zili, were used for covering floors as well
as warming and decorating rooms. The art of carpet weaving is also
widespread in the Sharur, Shahbuz, Ordubad, and Julfa regions.
Trade relations with neighbouring countries influenced the de-
velopment of carpets in this area.
Historically in Nakhchivan, Albaz and Mazekh breeds of sheep,
silk, and goat and camel wool were used in carpet weaving. The
density of carpets was from 35x35 to 40x40, with a relatively thick
Jejim. Wool. Flat weave. Beginning of 19th century.
Nakhchivan Group. Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani carpets / NAKHCHIVAN GROUP