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The Baku carpet weaving hub comprises the following settlements at the Absheron
Peninsula: Novkhany, Nardaran, Bulbula, Fatmai, Mardakan, Gala, Amirjan (Khila),
as well as the administrative district of Khyzy with villages like Gaady, Khil, Keshi,
Fyndyghan. Hence most of the carpets crafted in this area are named after the places
of their manufacture, like
Khile-Buta, Khile-Afshan, Novkhany, Surakhany, Gala,
Baku, Goradil, Fatmai, Fyndyghan, Gaadi
,
etc. The region of Baku was also known
for cut-pile rugs, such as
palas, kilim, zili
,
and cut-pile carpet works like
heyba, chanta,
khurjun
.
The Baku school of carpets features soft texture, bright colors and elaborate patterns.
Geometric and vegetal motifs dominate the patterns. For instance,
Khile-Buta
composition outlines
buta
,
the most popular element in Azerbaijan’s decorative art.
The origin of
buta
dates back to the Zoroastrian traditions when it was used as a
symbol of the fire cult.
By artistic style and technical features, the Baku carpets may be divided into two
categories.
The first one, including
Khile-Buta
and
Khile-Afshan
compositions, is close to the
Tebriz school, but interpreted in a very local and site-specific manner.
The second category has greater semblance with the Shirvan carpet school. This holds
true with compositions like
Surakhany, Novkhany, Fatmai, Goradil, Gala,
and
Baku
.
These compositions feature large rectangular medallions with projecting angles
along the central axis. Ridges of medallions are often decorated with hook-shaped
elements. Inner part of medallions is adorned with various motifs and stylized vegetal
portrayals. Despite geometric shapes, the fringes retain their vegetal elements.
The overall color gamut of this group of carpets is typical of the nature of Northern
Absheron. The area was traditionally famous for pomegranate, saffron, almond, figs
and grapes, so the weavers used pomegranate peel, fig and grape leaves together with
onion skin to dye the wool. This explains prevalence of red, purple, dark and sky blue
and green colors.
The Baku carpets feature very high technical qualities, such as high density of knots,
soft texture, high quality wool, thorough workmanship and elaborate manufacture.
Density of knots varies from 40x40 to 55x55 per square decimeter which makes 160-
300
thousand knots per square meter. Some carpets have almost 350 thousand knots
per square meter.