Page 27 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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The Buta motifs of various regions of Azerbaijan were used in different forms on Karabakh carpets.
The Shabalyt Buta (chestnut buta) design of Karabakh differs in its artistic decoration from the Buta
contained on carpets of other regions.
b) The Ketebe (cartouche). It plays the role of a filler element in carpet composition. Usually, the
oblong Ketebes enclose various inscriptions, thematic compositions, or independently designed
ornaments woven by carpet makers.
c) The Ana Gul (main flower). These elements, which are specific to carpet design, play an important
role in defining the names of carpets. Plenty of Ana Guls are repeated on the Goja (old) carpets of
Karabakh.
d) The Gyol (lake) and the Khoncha (bouquet of flowers). Often seen on Karabakh carpets, motifs of
the Gyol (lake), the Khoncha (bouquet of flowers), and the Padnos (salver or tray) mean medallion. The
Gyols (lakes) found on carpets made in all regions of Azerbaijan, including Karabakh, can be different
in form.
e) The Gubbas. The Gubbas are related to the group of main elements, and they are usually placed
on the top (the end) of large gyols (lakes) in carpet design. Carpet makers call these elements bashlyk
(hood) or monument head.
The elements of border decoration are divided into two groups:
1) elements of the main (central) border
2) stripes of the minor (flanking) borders
The design of the central border is created with motifs of various geometric flowers, leaves, vines,
and so on. The elements that form the garyshes (a measurement unit equal to the distance from the
thumb to the little finger) of the border represent the composition of the main border and the guard
stripes by dividing them into garyshes. These elements play the role of corner, complete, or middle
details.
Elements forming the frame of the entire border include such figures as su (water), sychandishi
(mouse tooth), zanjir (chain), guard stripes, the border, and the arch.
The color palette of Karabakh carpets is very rich. The colors of these carpets are vivid and bright.
These colors emerged because of the natural geographical conditions, picturesque nature, gardens,
forests and green lowlands of Karabakh. This region had the following schemes of producing colors:
red and pink were generated from the madder plant; occasionally, red color could also be taken from
the cochineal insect (Dactylopius cacti) called “ghyrmyz”; yellow and yellowish colors were extracted
from straw and yellow flowers; pea-green or creamy colors were generated from onion and apple peels,
respectively; oak colors was taken from nut shells; and navy-blue and blue colors were generated from
the indigo plant.
In order to increase the dying capability of natural colors in Karabakh, carpet makers used alum,
salt, cattle urine, and other fortifying substances. Beginning at the end of the 19th century, carpets dyed
with artificial dyes (unstable dye) were occasionally made in Karabakh, particularly in Shusha, just as in
many other regions of Azerbaijan. Apparently, this dyeing method, not specific for Azerbaijani carpets,
reduced the artistic features of these carpets.
Another quality of color specifications of the carpet making art in Karabakh is explained by the fact
that masters felt the warmth and cold of tones, their contrast and color consistency closely, and in the
end created beautiful color combinations that attracted everyone.
The rich ornamental design and color harmony on the carpets in the Karabakh collection of the
«Magic Knots» Gallery exhibits these qualities. The Gallery has a rich collection of carpets, and the
compositions created by the ancient masters of the carpet weaving art of Azerbaijan are applied to the
carpets made today. Almost all the compositions of carpets woven in Karabakh are woven with pure
professionalism and the secrets of this art are maintained today and transmitted to future generations
by our carpet masters.
Throughout the centuries, the carpets of Karabakh with their ancient history, rich ornamental
designs and coherent color palettes attracted the attention of travelers and scholars visiting this land.
Adding comfort and beauty to our daily lives, the carpets of Azerbaijan pleased foreigners in various
periods of time and caught their attention tempting them to purchase carpets.
The carpets and products woven on the basis of different designs spread through the lifestyles of
foreigners, mainly Americans and Europeans. These carpets are preserved and exhibited as some of
the most valuable and rare masterpieces of art in private collections and museums in various countries
across the world.
Azerbaijani carpets / KARABAKH GROUP