Page 23 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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Azerbaijani carpets / GUBA GROUP
metrical elements frequently met in the border stripes such as
x-shaped elements that express the “D” sound in the old Turk-
ish alphabet are found on “Gimil,” “Gonagkand,” “Sirt Chichi,”
and other pile weave carpets. These patterns came to the present
day by developing through history and have become a symbol
of self-expression.
Geometrical patterns such as triangles, rhombs, fylfots, zig-
zags, and eight-pointed stars have been widespread as symbols
transferring traditionally from generation to generation on Guba
carpets.
Though geometrical ornaments passed through certain peri-
ods of history and have changed form since they were created,
they are represented in main motifs and sometimes in small fill-
ing motifs. The oldest motif woven in Guba carpets today are
carpet-like elements with equally-sized projections. There is no
doubt that this element laid the base of creating the fylfot motif.
Since this pattern was cross-like in its initial period, its chang-
ing to “fylfot” in different forms represented an optical descrip-
tion of a solar disk or a symbol of a light source. Ancient humans
imagined the sun in the center with unique cross lines and ex-
pressed rays disseminating from it in the form of a cross. Some-
times this pattern was accepted as a symbol of eternal life. The
four projections constituting a “fylfot” are related to the four ele-
ments of air, fire, earth, and water.
Today the description of “fylfot” in the Guba carpets is woven
according to tradition in the border stripes, on the background of
the carpet, and in the center of gols placed in the middle part of
the carpet. This element was described in a special style in each
carpet, including in the Guba carpet group. It is represented as a
finishing motif when a gol is the main decorative element of the
Fragment of “Ajdahali” carpet. Wool. Pile weave.
17th-18th centuries. Guba group. Azerbaijan.
“Victoria and Albert” museum. London.
Weaver. Beginning of 20 th century. Guba.