Page 38 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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This Pirabadil carpet was woven in Takiya village, Shabran region. It is included
in the Guba carpet group. The carpet was woven from wool and it has manuscript
elements. The carpet consists of a central field and border strip. The border strips
consist of eight lines and are trimmed with very warm and complex patterns. Some
border strips have been woven in parallel and the major border is larger and freer.
The first border strip consists of “mollabashi.” The border strip consisting of eight-
pointed stars has been woven among the madakhil strip consisting of two braided
geometric patterns. This composition has been repeated on both sides of the major
border. The major border has an obscured structure.
The carpet has been filled with “kufi” elements, one of the calligraphic types ac-
cepted in Islam. The history of creating these border elements is connected to the
periods when Islam was first spread. Ornaments such as curved plant patterns and
stylized geometric patterns are preferred in this art style. Furthermore, it became tra-
dition to engrave sura from the Koran in Arabic script on stone, tree, fabric, carpet,
or gold. This script became widespread, lost its initial style, and became more deco-
rative. Today the “kufi” border strips are well known all over the world as traces of
Islamic culture on carpets.
Several elements decorating the light ivory background of the central field are
very old and their meaning as fire symbols is interpreted according to the ancient
outlook of Azerbaijani people. These elements include horns, scissors, grape leaves,
birds, wheels of fate, s-shapes, small flowers, squares, and hash marks.
The five blue horns on the “Pirabadil” carpet are created from the belief of Azer-
baijanis related to horned animals. Scissors are one of the main tools used in carpet
weaving. Birds are considered sacred creatures that take the spirits of people to eter-
nal life after death. Grape leaves may be observed in some Guba carpets (“Ugah”)
as a symbol of paradise. Charkhi-falak (wheel of fate), a round element trimmed
with colored slices, is a sign of life and the three stages of existence. The square is
considered seen as four poles, a sign of the four elements and s-shapes are a symbol
of purity.
Elements with bad qualities are never woven on carpets. The “Pirabadil” carpet
is woven for protection. All elements woven on this carpet are carriers of positive
energy.
Some repair and restoration work has been conducted on the different parts of the
carpet. At present the carpet is in excellent condition. The carpet is of artistic, histo-
ric, and scientific importance.