Page 10 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

8
ment enriched the general meaning and content of elements
through synthesis.
The widest stripe of the border, the “yelan,” plays a sig-
nificant role in the ornament field of the Tabriz group, al-
though “yelan” can be expressed in different ways. It did not
carry meaning in the composition, but was used merely as
a decorative element covering the field with colors. Though
minor features prevailed in Tabriz carpets, modern masters
have observed the unique elements and meaningful content
of “yelan.” It is possible to see flower fields, cloud motives,
the image of wavy branch covered with flowers and leaves,
small ketebe and spirals, as well as epigraphic ornaments in
the yelan of the Tabriz group of carpets.
Epigraphic ornaments are used in the Tabriz group of
Azerbaijani carpet weaving as an element. Mainly, these
epigraphic ornaments consist of ayahs taken from Koran,
aphorisms praising Islamic prophets and rulers, and hemis-
tiches of famous poets written in Arabic script with “nas-
taligh” and “naskh” handwriting. The spread of Islam in
Azerbaijan established “namazlyk” (prayer) carpets in Ta-
briz carpet weaving and it is impossible to imagine their
ketebe without writing.
The value of each carpet is determined by its artistic-tech-
nical features, marvelous ornament cover, and pleasant and
attractive colors. Analyzing all types and genres of the fine
and decorative – applied arts shows that Azerbaijani carpets
mainly portray reality in a generalized artistic manner, with
an optimistic spirit and touching colors. Furthermore, there
are other colors in Azerbaijani art expressing a range of vi-
sion. This variation is undoubtedly related to the chosen
topic depicted by the masters and their desire to give the
carpets a more touching mood through color. Eventually,
this led to the symbolic meaning of colors in Azerbaijani
art, as well as in carpet weaving. The tradition of reflecting
through color certain symbolic ideas in works of art led to
fruitful results. Many natural colors are seen in the world of
carpets. Historically the Azerbaijani masters depicted their
carpet designs through natural colors and created a range
of colors that were unknown in reality, although they were
all generated from plants existing in nature. The exact com-
position of some colors still remains secret. For this reason
a number of different colors were created and used in the
carpets. The presentation of white as light, blue as a sky and
stars, green as the beatification of nature, abundance, and
harvest, and yellow as the embodiment of the Sun and stars
is found in famous specimens of the Tabriz group. Blue also
was the source symbolizing water and providing calmness,
while red was a fire, also providing the visitors with moral
energy. The masters believed in the impact of these colors
on the human state and tried to use their important features.
The use of golden threads in the carpets of the Safavid
period to represent sunlight shows that the Azerbaijani
masters wanted to give multicolor and
richness to the carpets.
The masters expanded the effect of
colors, ornaments, and plots from sim-
ply an attractive decorative notion to
a philosophical meaning. The unity of
the high artistic value of colors with
the technical features ensured the
achievement of world famous status
for the Tabriz group of carpets.
The main character of carpets’ ar-
tistic features is the contrast of their
colors. Light colors are used in dark
fields and dark colors are used in light
fields. This method in the Tabriz group
provides the carpet with an optimistic
and marvelous appearance. This does
not mean that there was not color har-
mony in the carpets. The basis of dye-
ing was established from ancient times
with natural dyeing substances. From
the end of the nineteenth century, even
use of synthetic dyes by request of for-
eign traders and receiving orders that were contrary to na-
tional color harmony could not fully destroy this tradition.
Producing color harmony by combining dyes was one of the
artistic features of Tabriz carpet weaving.
These marvelous ornaments are the result of human imag-
ination and the colors allow the description of the masters'
spirits to weave attractive carpets.
In terms of the artistic features of the carpets, the Ardabil
group of carpets mainly developed in two directions. Their
artistic solution is characterized as carpets with plot and or-
naments.
There are many artistic-technical features enriching the
century-old traditions of Azerbaijani carpet weaving in the
plot compositions of the carpets belonging to Tabriz group.
The “ovchulug” composition is one such weaving speci-
mens expressing content figuratively. The ornament of this
A view of Lake Urmia.