Page 16 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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“Sheikh Safi” carpet kept in the USA was woven in the year
1530 and the other one kept in Iran was woven in the early 16th
century, in the year 1505.
The most popular one of these carpets is the carpet is exhibit-
ing in a London museum. Although this work of art is demon-
strated at the Victoria and Albert Museum under the name “Ard-
abil carpet”, in Azerbaijan art it is mainly known as the “Sheikh
Safi.” It is related to presentation of the carpet woven in Tabriz to
mosque-tomb of Ardabil by the leader of the Safavid state Sheikh
Safi Ad-din Ishag (movable or immovable property presented as
a if by the state or separate persons for religious or humanity
purposes). The carpet, which had been exhibited there for a long
period of time, was put up for auction in London in 1893 and
was purchased for the Victoria and Albert Museum through an
English donation (at that time, the Museum did not have enough
money to purchase the 25,000 sterling carpet).
The artistic basis of the carpet, whose total size is 56.12 square
meters (10.51 m x 5.34 m), consists of a “Lechekturunj” composi-
tion. The sixteen-cornered gyol-turunj in the center of the carpet
is reminiscent of the Sun while the cupolas signify sunlight. As
the direction of triangular turunj placed in the corners of the in-
termediate area is towards the central area, wholly they perfectly
complete the composition.
The connection between the center and these corners is pro-
vided by “flood” of pleasant nabat patterns of different colors
(white, red and shakari) spread in rhythmic form on the bark-
blue field. This marvelous appearance is surrounded by cloud
and “khatai” elements consisting of cloud descriptions, ketebe
range and narrow margins. The carpets of its size and relatively
small carpets were woven in different periods and spread all
over the world.
Tabriz carpets with the same name and similar to specimens
relating to the Tabriz group of carpets had a positive effect and
played a significant role in carpet weaving in the Middle East
Carpet fragment. Wool, pile weave. 17th century.
Tabriz Group. Azerbaijan.
From a private collection.
People weaving carpets in Tabriz.
A “Tabriz” carpet with the same
name and belonging to the group,
which had such apositive effect
on carpet weaving in the Middle
East and the Caucases played a
significant role as well. As a rule,
the center of the composition
consisted of a large medallion.