Стр. 34 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

32
The name of the carpet is connected with the name of Arjiman village located 25
kilometers from Shamakhi. Arjiman carpets have been woven not only in Shamakhi,
but also in Shahnazarli and Gonagkand villages of Guba and in Langabiz and other
villages of the Aghsu region. Some weavers and art critics call carpets of this type
“shahnazarli.”
Three whole and one incomplete “gyol” (medallion) arranged one after another
and vertically embroidered have been depicted on the central field of this dark blue
background carpet. There are medallions with hooked edges within the “gyol.”
Complex-shaped and hooked elements found on other Shamakhi carpets have been
placed in the center of the medallions. The edges of the “gyol” are surrounded with
square and small diamond-shaped elements. The “gyol” on the upper and lower
parts of the central field have been supplemented by “gubba” motifs. The edges of
the “gubba” motifs are scalloped with hooked motifs.
Quadrangular, hexagonal, octagonal, rhomboidal, hook­ed, and
stepped-edge medallions have been vertically depicted on the right
and left of the central field of the carpet. The gaps of the central field
have been filled with different-sized and -shaped classical elements.
An ivory-field-trimmed “zanjira” with s-shaped motifs surrounds the
central field.
The central border of the carpet has been trimmed with arrow-like motifs typical
of Shirvan carpets. The central border on both sides has been surrounded by min-
or borders trimmed with four-petal flowers. The “zanjira” trimmed with s-shaped
motifs surrounding the central border of the carpet is also repeated on the selvages
(self-finished edges) of the carpet. On the kilims belonging to the Shirvan group,
classical and hooked elements are often depicted on the carpet. Different-sized and
-shaped hooked elements were also found on ceramics belonging to the Bronze Age
from a barrow in Ganja Valley, Ganjachay. The carpet differs from other carpets in
its particular color design. The color of the motifs embroidered on the carpet con-
trasts with the dark blue padding. The color balance typical for Shirvan carpets has
been professionally maintained on this carpet. The traditional harmony of the color
sequence highlights the concord of geometric ornaments by observing color princi-
ples peculiar to the carpets of this group.
The pile and warp of the carpet is made of wool while the weft is cotton. The stor-
age condition of this carpet is excellent. The carpet is of artistic, historic, and scien-
tific importance.