Page 21 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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From the Middle Ages on, Guba carpets gained wide-scale popularity due to their fine and lus-
trous wool, high knot density, multi-colored artistic arrangement, magnificent patterns, and com-
pact sizes. For the researcher of the technological and artistic classifications of Azerbaijani carpets
in Transcaucasia, Guba carpets are highly appreciated for their fine wool, soft yarn, and quality.
In the nineteenth century, the increase of carpet production in Azerbaijan stimulated higher
demands for yarn. Through this connection, the majority of the population of Guba was engaged
in spinning. There were spinning wheels in every house. In Guba, the spinning wheel was a reli-
able companion for peasant women and accompanied her throughout her whole life. The attitude
of people in Guba towards spinning yarn is different and their thoughts about carpet weaving
were uncommon. According to local views, the process of spinning wool by a spindle or spinning
wheel meant that the human spun her own fate and future. That is to say, a woman weaving a
carpet must have good intentions and good wishes in her heart while spinning wool. The weav-
ing process also is evaluated such that the weaver engraves her living story and life on the carpet
through knots and weaving.
In Guba, as a rule the first spinning wheel was given to a girl at the age of nine or ten and the
second one when she had reached adulthood. Thus the spinning wheel became the witness of
happy and sad moments of her life and became her friend.
In 1905-1906, I.M. Kara-Murza distributed design drawings among Guba’s weavers to help
them make carpet patterns; the first time this had been done in Azerbaijan. In 1913, a carpet with
these designs received great recognition at a carpet exhibition held in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In 1912, purchase and distribution agencies were established in Imamgulu village for the car-
pets of Guba, which encouraged them to use quality wool and natural colors and to protect them
from profiteers. As a result of organized work, the carpets belonging to the Guba group were the
basis of export in this period. V.M. Zummer wrote in his research “Modern Guba Carpets” that
in the beginning of the twentieth century, the demand increased for Azerbaijan carpets all over
the world.
The Italians say that Azerbaijani carpets will soon replace paintings and wall patterns in their
apartments and Americans order carpets to fit the size of their apartments and widely use carpets
for warming and adorning rooms. Thus the interest in carpets with geometric compositions and
abstract patterns increasingly grows, becoming an integral part of European life. Of course, the
weavers of Guba who lived as nomadic cattle-breeders were engaged in carpet weaving to satisfy
their daily needs, which led to the development of this handicraft.
The Azerbaijani branch of the Caucasian State Trading Organization held an exhibition March
23-24, 1926 entitled “Festival of Folk Art” and devoted to the art of carpets in Guba where weav-
ing was widespread. The aim of this event was to stimulate further development of weaving tra-
ditions in the carpet arts. Ten of the more than 200 fine carpets made by weavers from the villages
Azerbaijani carpets / GUBA GROUP
Guba carpets in daily life.