Page 52 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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The name of the “Pirabadil” carpet is related to the Pirabadil village in the Shabran
region. This carpet was woven in Sumagava village, Shabran region. The carpet has
been woven by hand using wool. It is included in the Guba carpet group.
The carpet may be considered as one of the most successful samples of folk art
with its interesting border strip, color harmony, and compositional structure. The
border strip of the carpet consists of seven parts. Two strips are symmetric and the
other five strips have various patterns. Although their colors contrast, the color cho-
ice makes the border appear lively and bright. Green, bright red, dark blue, white,
yellow, and orange complement each other as a garland. Although the structure of
the patterns is in the form of a plant, they have been geometrically stylized.
The color of the central field of the carpet is dark. To lighten the pale tone of this
color, the weaver has used white, red, and yellow. Five “horn” elements are woven
in the center, four symmetric pairs of scissors (sometimes called “khanjar” or “dag-
ger”) are woven in pairs around them, and bird, three-petal leaf, fire, grape leaf,
and other elements have their own exact sizes, locations, and structures. Patterns
resembling human silhouettes called “elbelinde” (hand on waist) have been woven
inside the four octagonal gols with white backgrounds woven in the center of the
carpet. Each element on this carpet has meaning and history.
One of the topics observed in Azerbaijani folklore is the story of the horn on Iskan-
dar Zulkarnain. This horn is the sign of his power and invincibility. Afterwards, the
horn began to assume protective meaning. The bird and three-petal leaves may be
interpreted as signs of paradise. Each of these patterns is a classic and inseparable
attribute of the “Pirabadil” carpet.
No repair or restoration work has been conducted on the carpet. The carpet is in
excellent condition. The carpet is of artistic, historic, and scientific importance.