Page 45 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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Azerbaijani carpets / TABRIZ GROUP
This carpet was devoted to Bahram shah, the king of the Ghaznavids.
The state of the Ghaznavids existed in 962-1187. The state was founded by Alptekin (962-963) in the 960s. He was a no-
table commander of the Sassanid state and served the Sassanid Turkish “ghulam” (slave cavalry forces). For his personal
bravery, Alptekin was added to the list of military nobles. By proclaiming the Sassanid’s authority, he established the
Ghaznavid state and western Iran was added to Ghaznavid lands. The north and northwest of India were occupied in 1026.
The Ghaznavid state reached from India to the Caspian Sea and the king was called “sultan.” After Ghaznavid King Masud
III’s death in 1115, an argument began among his sons and in 1177, Shah Sultan Bahram, one of the sons and a Seljuk vassal,
seized power. He was the last king of the Ghaznavids.
In 1157, after conquering India, Bahram shah died on the way home.
Sanayi Ghaznavid’s “Hadiqat al-haqiqa” and Nasrullah Munshi’s “Kelile ve Dimne” are about Bahram shah.
The scene where the shah meets the shepherd is depicted on the carpet. Bahram shah is depicted on a red horse and his
wife on a grey horse. The crowns on their heads and their clothes are signs of their royalty.
The falcon in the lady’s hand and the greyhound next to the horse show their skill for hunting. On the top of the carpet,
a foothill, a lake, trees and bushes, various wild animals, and swimming ducks are depicted to create a hunting scene. In
front of Bahram shah’s horse, a shepherd is standing and above him there is a dog tied to a tree. Bahram asks the shepherd
why he tied the dog to the tree.
Inside the orange medal-
lion on the middle field,
it is written “Usta Fertas,”
which is the name of the
person illustrating the
carpet.
There is writing in “nastaligh” (Arabic calligraphy) on the
main border. The writing starting from the top continues to
the right border on the bottom and from the left border to the
top, ending at the bottom.
In the upper border, the ketebe on the left say:
“Tied the dog to the branches of tree.”
“Tied its arms and legs
with a rope.”
“Mounted his horse,
left the field and went
to his place.”
On the right of the main
border from top to bot-
tom the ketebe read:
“The shepherd became
honorable.”
“Found courage and
became stronger.”
“He (the shepherd)
made a mistake and
I (Bahram) forgave
him.”
“I saved him (the shep-
herd) from a wolf’s
mouth (figuratively).”
“I stopped him
from making
mistakes.”
On the left main border,
from bottom to top, the
ketebe say: “Shah saved him
from death.”
“Shah Bahram had a
carousal.”
“Made vizier
responsible for the
country.”
“In this way he
chose the right
thing.”
“Became free
and relaxed.”
In the lower border,
the ketebe on the right
describe the following:
“One day Shah
Bahram.”
“Gave a luxurious
feast.”
“As if the people in the
feast were in a different
world.”
The main border of the carpet is encircled with minor borders decorated with vegetal elements. The external minor border
is surrounded by madakhils on the inside and decorated with “mollabashi” (chamomile) motifs on the outside. The internal
minor border is surrounded by stepped madakhils on the outside and decorated with “mollabashi” motifs on the inside. The
edges of the madakhils are completed with dark blue and dark red “su” (water).
The carpet has a great artistic design. The human faces and animals are depicted with special attention. The richness of the
composition and the abundance of depictions help express the plot and create a general vision.
The carpet’s wrap and weft are made of cotton and its pile is woolen. The yarn used in this carpet are spun and dyed with
natural dyes. There are twelve color shades on the carpet.
The carpet has an artistic, historic, and scientific importance. The carpet is in good condition and has never been repaired. It
was woven with a technique called “shirazi-dolama.” Its loom is beige and the fringe is one centimeter. The thickness is 70x70.