Page 55 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

53
Azerbaijani carpets / TABRIZ GROUP
The name of “Shah Abbas” carpets refers to the fifth Safavid king, Shah Abbas I (1587-1629). He transferred the capital
to the city of Isfahan during his reign. Due to this, the handicraftsmen were obliged to migrate. The handicraftsmen living
in foreign lands created new compositions and protected their own traditional styles. The first geometric vegetal elements
were used in Azerbaijani carpets and this brought them great fame.
“Shah Abbas” carpets have the same artistic structure as “Afshan” carpets, while differing from them in elements known
as “Shah Abbas gulleri” (Shah Abbas flowers). The artistic composition of the carpets consists of a middle field and border
area. The middle field has a dark blue and brick red background.
Along the middle field, spreading vegetal elements are depicted. In the center of the middle field, there is a small medal-
lion resembling the Sun. Near the medallions on the right, left, top, and bottom, flowering branches spread out.
The flower motifs are designed in ivory, light and dark brown, dark blue, dark red, blue, orange, reddish-brown, light
red, white, yellow, and green. The branches are depicted in blue, their edges are dark blue, and their inner area is white.
The cornelian stripe on the top of the middle field’s brick red section can be clearly recognized.
The gaps of the border of the middle field are decorated with “chichekli buta” (flowery buta) motifs.
The element of “buta” is used in various fields and forms in Azerbaijani decorative applied-art. This element is so wide-
spread that it is associated with any event or living condition.
There are types of carpets named after carpet-centers like “Chile buta,” “Shirvan buta,” and “Sarabi buta,” and those
named according to their symbolic meanings like "shabalid buta” (chestnut buta), “badam buta” (almond buta), “hemli
buta” (pregnant buta), “arvad-ushagli buta” (mother and child buta), and others. The pattern on the “Shah Abbas” carpet
is “chichekli-buta.” These kinds of patterns were decorated with flowers inside them or surrounding them.
On the top and bottom corners of the middle field, there are bunches of five- or six -petal flowers.
The flowers are trimmed with dark blue, blue, white, orange, and dark red and the leaves surrounding them with dark
blue, blue, white, ivory, and green.
Among the large bunches of flowers, there are four relatively small dark blue, blue, white, brick red, dark red, and green
bunches of flowers with dark blue, white, blue, and green leaves. On the top and bottom of the middle field, a wreath-like
element with various flowers and leaves is depicted. In the flowers forming the wreath, the colors dark blue, blue, light
brown, dark red, white, orange, and brick red are used and on the leaves the colors light green, brick red, light brown and
dark blue dominate. In addition to the flower motifs, motifs known as “bulud” (cloud) are used to decorate the central
area. The “bulud” motif, which existed in Azerbaijani art in ancient times and developed in the Middle Ages, was used in
faience and metal products and architecture, but later was seen in fabrics, carpets, miniatures, and other fields of art. The
“bulud” elements have various forms such as simple, complex, and “plot.” The complex “bulud” have projections, but the
plot “bulud” show human, dragon, and snake images. The “bulud” elements shown on “Shah Abbas” carpets are complex
and with a dragon image. The main border with its rich colors and composition complements the central field with the
minor borders and “su”.
The main border has a dark blue background. Along the border, the elements known as “shukufe” are arranged in a
chain. These elements are trimmed in dark red, brick red, ivory, white, dark blue, blue, green, reddish-brown, light brown,
orange, and pink. The flower elements decorating the main border consist of four different roses overlapping one another
softly and sequentially. The small five-petal flowers fill the gaps of the main border. The flowers of the main border are
connected to one another via slimwhite branches with red edges. The main border is surrounded by minor borders from all
sides. The minor borders with white and dark blue backgrounds are designed with five- and ten-petal flowers and an ele-
ment called “islimi” (arabesque). “Islimi” is one of the most widespread elements used in Azerbaijani decorative applied-
art, especially carpet making. The base of this pattern consists of the circular spreading branches and leaves surrounding
them. There are several kinds of “islimi,” such as simple, winged, forked, braided, and almond-shaped. Some art critics
relate the beginning of this element to Islam.
The minor borders enclosing the main border on the outside and the dark blue minor borders enclosing the middle field
and outer minor borders are the same pattern despite being relatively larger. The minor borders in turn are surrounded
with dark blue and brick red colors.
The carpet has a rich color design. The dark red, brick red, dark blue and white were used as dominant colors and the blue,
ivory, reddish-brown, light red, green, pink, orange, and light and dark brown colors were used to make the images more
lively. By using these colors, the weaver managed to create a gorgeous and spectacular work of art.
The carpet has an artistic, historic, and scientific importance. It is in excellent condition. The carpet’s pile is woolen and its
wrap and weft are made of cotton.