The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum is home to a mesmerizing world of patterns and colors woven into Karabakh carpets. These loops hold the memory of history and defy the passage of time.
The unique beauty of Karabakh carpets creates a special ambiance, and the museum’s exhibition offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the mysterious art of carpet weaving. The intricate and captivating patterns of Azerbaijani carpets are filled with profound meanings and evoke images of heroes from ancient epics and tales, such as “Rustam and Zohrab” and Molla Nasreddin.
The finesse, elegance, and grandeur of Karabakh carpets set them apart from others. Their intricate designs and use of colors tell stories and reflect the rich cultural identity and national memory of Azerbaijan.
Renowned artist and professor Memmedhuseyn Huseynov spoke about the vibrant and unique nature of Azerbaijani carpets. He highlighted the diversity of Azerbaijani carpet weaving, with the oldest samples and tools discovered in regions that align with the country’s geography. The Karabakh school is one of the four main schools of carpet weaving tradition, with three primary styles: Shusha, Jabrayil, and Karabakh. Karabakh carpets not only showcase artistic expression but also serve as carriers of history and cultural identity.
The defining feature of the Karabakh carpet-weaving school is the use of large knotting, dense weaving techniques, and a unique sense of color harmony.
Memmedhuseyn Huseynov also emphasized the artistic and technical features of Karabakh carpets, particularly their color compositions dominated by red, blue, green, and yellow shades. The themes of Karabakh carpets are diverse, often depicting motifs from fairy tales and epics. These carpets can be found in museums worldwide, with the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum holding the most extensive collection. Tourists and art enthusiasts visit the museum to admire Karabakh carpets and learn about their significance.
The state of Azerbaijan places significant importance on preserving its carpet weaving art, with the efforts of the First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva leading to its inscription on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. This has greatly contributed to the international recognition and protection of Azerbaijan’s carpet art.
The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum plays a vital role in preserving and studying the art of carpet weaving. It houses rare carpet samples from different regions of Azerbaijan and showcases them to the public.
Efforts are continuously being made to promote Karabakh carpets globally, preserve ancient traditions, and pass them down to future generations. In the liberated territories of Karabakh, artisans are reviving carpet weaving traditions, creating new designs while preserving the unique patterns of Karabakh carpets.
Each Karabakh carpet is a valuable heritage that embodies Azerbaijan’s culture and national identity, a legacy left for generations to come.
Gulay Nazarova,
Correspondent at Azerbaijan State News Agency,
UzA