By Vestnik Kavkaza
The history of knotted carpet art in Azerbaijan began several millenniums ago, when a carpet became an integral part of a household. It embodied the artistic ideas, fantastic dreams, clearness of an image, and the whole variety of colors of nature. In the 8-9th centuries Azerbaijani carpets turned into the main category exported from the Caucasus to the West. The Golden Age of the Azerbaijani carpet was the 16th century, when the Azeri ornamental art school developed. Since the middle of the 19th century Azerbaijani carpets were presented at major international exhibitions, and today they decorate the greatest museums of the world and private collections. A unique technology, original ancient designs, near handwork, natural dyes, and even philosophy are distinguished features of Azerbaijani carpets.
Recently the gallery called “Carpets of Azerbaijan. The Knot Legend” was opened in Moscow. This is the first official shop in Russia, where handmade carpets from Azerbaijan are presented. The exposition of the gallery presents collections of ancient and modern handmade works by Azerbaijani craft-women. The project was initiated by a group of Azerbaijani businessmen headed by Vidadi Muradov who devoted his life to studying the carpet art. “I have been dealing with carpets for 40 years. Our Azerbaijani carpets appeared long ago – two thousand years ago or 5 thousand – nobody can say for sure. Today they are made of natural yarn with natural dyes. We in Azerbaijan have marina, pomegranate, and other natural dyes,” Vidadi Muradov says.
“A carpet plays a special role in the history of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijanis knotted carpets in ancient times. There are unique carpets which are presented in the major museums of London, Paris, and other cities,” Pold Byul-Byul Ogly, the Azerbaijani ambassador to Moscow, says.
“There is a proverb: the Azerbaijanis throw their treasure underfoot. This is true. Everybody comes in and says that one feels like they are stepping on a masterpiece,” Rovshan Askerov, a member of “What?Where? When?” Club, says. “I am glad that the Azerbaijani art is presented in the center of Moscow, and any person can come to the gallery. If one doesn’t buy a carpet (I understand that it is expensive), at least he will admire them.”
“I learnt about Azerbaijani carpets when Heydar Aliyev gave me a very beautiful handmade carpet as a gift,” Eduard Rossel, a member of the Council of the Federation, recalls. “It will be my heritage, I have a grandson. I will officially write to him who and when presented it to me, for he would leave it to his grand grandchildren as heritage.”
“The contemporary tendency of interior design coincides with geometric forms and images on carpets in a magic way,” Med Aliyev, an interior designer, says. “It is a miracle, but that’s true. Ancient carpets become a part of modern beauty and design whether it is a classic or modern interior. A carpet will always be modern. It is one of the elements of a person’s success.”
