Page 40 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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The “Alpan” carpet is woven in different compositions in the Guba carpet gro-
up. This carpet has been woven from wool, it has manuscript elements, and is pile
weave. This carpet belongs to the weavers of Alpan village. It was produced at the
beginning of the nineteenth century. According to its small size, this type of carpet
was called “pushtu.” They are used for praying, hung on the wall, or set on the back
of a couch.
The “Alpan” carpet consists of a central field and border strip. The border strip
contains three parts: “alamunjug” and “sichandishi” strips, madakhil with winding
descriptions inside them, and geometrical s-shaped elements.
The central field of the carpet is trimmed with small trees woven with umbrella-
shaped colorful petals.
Though the carpet is not rich from the standpoint of pattern, it is valuable for lear-
ning about the material and moral values of people and for its overall concept. Each
woven carpet may be seen as a piece of the history of people and a trace of culture.
The oldest beliefs, faith, and scripts have been protected on carpets and the “Alpan”
carpet is one. In the former times, the center of the carpet was a pure, clear space and
the border strip surrounding it was considered a fence protecting this space. In this
sacred space, people conducted their namaz and prayers. The border strip preven-
ted bad spirits and negative energy entering this sacred place.
The s-shaped element decorating the major border strip of the “Alpan” carpet is
interpreted as a dragon. In this carpet, the dragon is good image and protects purity
and holiness. “Sichandishi” elements surround the border from the first to the last
line. These patterns assume protective importance as “nazarlik” (against evil eye) on
the carpet.
Small trees decorating the inside of the central field glorify immortality and eter-
nity. The philosophical moments of human importance are discussed in the artistic
structure of the carpet.
Some repair and restoration work has been conducted on the fringe of the carpet.
The carpet is in excellent condition. The carpet is of artistic, historic, and scientific
importance.