Page 77 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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As in other regions of the country, flat weave carpets have al-
ways been basic items in the households of the population of
Nakhchivan. Ancient weavers produced most mafrash, chuval,
khurjun, heyba, chul, animal covers, and other household items
by using the weaving technique for flat weave carpets since they
were considered lightweight and soft. This custom still contin-
ues.
The fourth period of the carpet weaving arts is yarn knotting
when the pile weave method was created by winding loop and
then the gullabi knot. This period is considered a high develop-
ment stage from a technical and artistic point of view. The loop
knotting technique created the opportunity for the application of
complex compositions unlike any other method. In connection
with the development of this technique, new weaving tools were
invented (iron scissors, knife). Other weaving tools were used
in the process of weaving pile or flat weave carpets (heve and
kirkit).
The pile-weave carpets called “Achma-yumma,” “Aran,”
“Goja,” “Buynuz,” “Daryanur,” “Balig,” and “Shabali buta” as
well as flat weave carpets such as shedde, verni, and zili domi-
nate in Nakhchivan.
The knot density of Nakhchivan carpets varies from 30x30 to
40x40. The number of knots is 90,000-160,000 per square meter.
Sometimes, there are carpets with 200,000 knots per square me-
ter, as well. These carpets are woven by the gullabi knot tech-
nique.
The knot height, or density, of the carpets of the Na-
khchivan group is 6-10 millimeters. The carpets are
mainly oblong in shape. Though the density of these
carpets is average to low, they are strong, thick, and
durable.
The designs of these carpets are rich and at the
same time intricate.
Like in other regions of Azerbaijan, in Nakhchivan
the compositions of pile weave carpets constitute a
development stage of the art of carpet weaving and
include elements of different forms.
Generally, carpet compositions consist of two sec-
tions: the central field and the border. The patterns of
the central field and the border are artistically inter-
related.
The pile-weave carpets called
“Achma-yumma,” “Aran,”
“Goja,” “Buynuz,” “Daryanur,”
“Balig,” and “Shabali buta”
as well as flat weave carpets
such as shedde, verni, and zili
dominate in Nakhchivan.
Khurjun. Wool. Flat weave. Beginning of 19th century. Nakhchivan Group. Azerbaijan.
Zili, fragment. Wool. Flat weave.
Beginning of 19th century. Nakhchivan Group.
Azerbaijan. Russian Museum of Ethnography.
Azerbaijani carpets / NAKHCHIVAN GROUP