Page 46 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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The “Garagashli” carpet is woven in the villages of the Shabran region. This carpet
was woven in Hajigaragashli village, Shabran region. It was woven from wool in the
“turkbaf” weaving style. It has manuscript elements and is pile weave.
The carpet consists of a central field and border strip. Six of the seven sections of
the border strip are repeated symmetrically. The major border strip consists of geo-
metrical elements woven in crossing diagonal forms and geometrical elements with
scalloped sides.
The background of the central field of the “Garagashli” carpet is dark blue. Three
geometrical patterns in squares have been woven in the center and flower depictions
have been woven inside. Trees, grape leaves, nazarlik, and small flowers have been
depicted around these gols. Four zoomorphic elements are woven in the upper and
lower sections of gols. Sometimes, these elements woven on “Garagashli” carpet are
likened stylized “islimi” patterns, but in this case the depiction on this carpet repre-
sents a bird. In the upper section of this element, mythological birds with two heads
and one body and other animals have been woven.
The central field of the “Garagashli” carpet contains completely philosophical con-
tent. The square has the meaning of the four poles of north, south, east, and west or
the four elements of air, fire, earth, and water. The bird is considered the power cre-
ating relationships between living time and the world of spirits. It is interpreted as
taking human spirits to the eternal world after death in the form of a bird. From this
point of view, birds are considered sacred beings. The depiction of a tree with three
bodies is a sign of the creating period, the living time, and the place where spirits
go after death. Grape leaves are a symbol of paradise. Generally, grape leaves, trees,
and birds are used on most Guba carpets.
The color hues of the carpet have been chosen in very ideal tones. The color of the
gols in the central field and color tones of the major border are harmonic.
This carpet was used possibly as a “namazlyk” since the information that it carries
morally relates to sacred and pure aims.
Repair and restoration work has been conducted on some parts of the carpet. The
carpet is in average condition. The carpet is of artistic, historic, and scientific impor-
tance.