Page 42 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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The carpet is included in the Guba group. The carpet is called “Zeykhur.” It was
woven in the Upper Tahirjal village, Gusar . It contains manuscript elements. The
warp, weft, and pile are wool. It resembles oblong carpets (yolluk) in size.
The carpet consists of two wide border strips and a central field. There is a har-
mony between the background of the external border strip and the color design of
the central field. The color tone brings out the patterns clearly and attractively.
The “qarmaq” (hook-like) patterns typical of flat weave “sumakh” carpets of Guba
are woven by alternating dark blue, red, and white in consecutive order on the ex-
ternal border strip. Among these “qarmaq” patterns on the sides of the carpet, small
three-petal plant elements have been precisely placed. The rhomb elements were
woven at equal distances in the upper and lower area of the carpet among the “qar-
maq” patterns.
The second border strip is trimmed with stylized geometrical plant patterns. All
these elements give the carpet dynamism and action by repeating the motifs.
All patterns woven through the border strips of the carpet relate to the beliefs of
ancient Turks. Each ancient Turkish-Oghuz tribe had 24 sagas with signs of different
bird images. These signs are depicted in various forms on modern carpets as well.
The “qarmaq” element is also a symbolic reminder of ancient Oghuz tribes. In addi-
tion, three-petal leaves are seen on the earthenware found in the territory of Azerba-
ijan belonging to the antique period. These patterns are interpreted as a symbol of
the tree of life or the tree of knowledge and glorify eternal life.
The gols placed in successive order in the central field of the carpet are distinguis-
hed in their originality. Every element in these gols relates to the four elements and
is symmetric. All elements were densely woven starting from the center of the gols
and are repeated four times. The gols of “Zeykhur” carpets represent the movement
of the sun and the four main elements: earth, water, fire, and air.
The branch and plant patterns decorating the background of the central field
exemplify the symbolic meaning of purity and eternity of a sacred place.
Repair and restoration work has been conducted on the border winding. The car-
pet is in excellent condition. The carpet is of artistic, historic, and scientific impor-
tance.