Стр. 27 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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Azerbaijani carpets / SHIRVAN GROUP
trasts of color and light. The color palette is a little different
on the pile weave carpets of the Shirvan Group. The analysis
of the “Gabistan,” “Gabala,” “Maraza,” “Shamakhi,” “Erji-
man,” “Hajigabul,” “Kurdamir,” “Gashad,” “Shilyan,” “Shi-
ralibey,” “Salyan,” and “Nabur” carpets from this group
shows that the background of the middle field of all these
carpets is dark blue. Some carpets, especially “Gabistan” car-
pets, always have either a white or dark blue background on
the middle field. Although the main border of “Gabistan”
carpets can be red, white, yellow, and even dark blue as in
the middle field, white, ochre, red, blue, green, dark and
light blue colors are used for the main ornaments and filler
elements in either the middle field or the borders. Dark blue
is certainly used for the background of the middle field on
“Salyan,” “Nabur,” “Shilyan,” “Gashad,” and “Kurdamir”
carpets. White, yellow, and red dominate on the middle bor-
der. The colors of “Gabistan” carpets are employed mainly
for the ornaments and elements of both the middle field as
well as the main and guard stripes and their contours.
Black is used for the middle field background of “Shira-
libey” carpets and yellow is used for the background of the
main border. Ornamental motifs fill the elements of the main
and guard borders of the middle field and can be white,
ochre, red, dark red, green, blue, or black.
“Hajigabul” carpets have a dark blue background on the
middle field, a white background on the middle border, and
a yellow background on the small border. Main and filler el-
ements and their “gazmas” are represented in white, ochre,
red, green, umbra, light and dark blue.
The “Erjiman” carpets’ middle field background is dark
blue and the middle border background is yellow. Shirvan
carpets have a dark blue or black middle field background in
harmony with the white background of the middle and small
border background of the same color. For the ornamental
motifs of the filler elements and their “gazmas” white, ochre,
red, blue, dark green, black, and purple are used.
“Mereze” carpets have an original color harmony. Here we
encounter yellow and multi-colored (blue, red, light blue)
middle field background samples along with dark blue mid-
dle field backgrounds in harmony with the red background
of the middle border that is traditional for Shirvan carpets.
“Shamakhi” and “Gabala” carpets are represented in a
wider color range. The middle field background of “Shamak-
hi” carpets can be red or blue in addition to being dark blue
by tradition. The middle field background and border back-
ground are contrasting; for instance, dark blue-white, red-
yellow or ivory; or they can be soft like dark blue-blue. Blue
and white were used for the background of “so on” orna-
ments; although no color is given priority on the background
of their “gazma,” including small elements and “gazmas,”
it is possible to encounter very different colors here (in very
strict order). When the backgrounds of ornaments and ele-
ments are bright, it seems like the colors of their “gazmas”
lessen the brightness of the background, and by contrast, if
the background is represented in dark colors, those colors
brighten it.
In addition to dark blue, the background of the middle
field of “Gabala” carpets can be yellow, red, and even black.
The coordination and harmony principles of the middle field
with the middle border are the same as observed on “Sha-
makhi” carpets.
The color correlation of backgrounds and the “gazmas” of
main ornamental motifs and filler elements with the colors
of the middle field and middle border backgrounds are de-
signed on analogical principles.
In generalizing the color specifics of Shirvan carpets, it is
possible to come to the following conclusions. Most of the
middle field backgrounds of these carpets are dark blue al-
though it is possible to encounter middle field backgrounds
that are white, light blue, red, yellow, black, and even very
rarely other colors. Yellow, white, and red dominate the
main middle border background. Dark blue, blue, light blue,
ochre, and similar colors are encountered less often. When
dark blue is used for the middle field background, the mid-
dle border is most often yellow or red. The juxtaposition of
any other colors with the dark blue of the middle field back-
ground is encountered very infrequently. In general, contrast
color harmony dominates here.
Although seldom, the uniformity of the middle field and
the middle border background can be observed on Shirvan
carpets.
The contrast is preserved in the harmonization of the mid-
dle field background with the background of its main mo-
tifs. These motifs are mostly yellow, white, and/or red on a
dark blue background. Light blue, blue, and green are used
less frequently. Other colors are seen less often. The middle
field elements are generally white. Black and red dominate
on “gazmas.” Most of the time, the elements of the middle
border are red. However, often they can be seen in ochre,
light blue, white, and dark blue. Other colors are used very
infrequently here. The widest color ranges are used for small
border, madakhil, and zenjire elements of Shirvan carpets.
Thus, the creation of color harmony is
presented in a unique way for each carpet
of the Shirvan Group. This case appears on
a majority of carpets of other production
centers and their locations.
Carpet fragment. Wool. Pile-weave. 19th century.
Shirvan group. Azerbaijan.