Living folk art: carpet weaving

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Published on Saturday, 17 February 2018 18:01

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The decree on the construction of a carpet-making workshop in Nakhchivan will lead to the development of this ancient folk art

On the basis of the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev dated February 15, 2018, “On measures for the construction, supply and infrastructure of the carpet-making workshop in Nakhchivan”, the carpet production workshop will create favorable conditions for Nakhchivan carpet-makers, and this tradition from the past to today will be granted longevity. The launch of such a workshop will contribute to the creation of new jobs as well as the generation of new carpet-makers. Most importantly, our homes will be decorated with the finest, exquisite Nakhchivan carpets.

As a result of archaeological excavations in the ancient settlement called  “Kultapa” a spinning wheel and spindle belonging to the Neolithic and Eneolithic Periods, simple weaving machine belonging to the Bronze Age  prove that the people living in the Nakhchivan region were busy with weaving in ancient times. Carpeting, which turned into an independent field of activity from early medieval times, became one of the main occupations of Azerbaijani women in later periods. Sources belonging to the X-XIII centuries characterize Nakhchivan as the main carpet weaving center along with many regions of Azerbaijan.

The carpet production in Nakhchivan grew to a higher development stage since the XVIII century. The sharp increase in the demand for carpets in foreign markets   led to a wider range of art, especially in the XIX century. From the statistical data of the XIX century it became clear that during this period a large number of piled and unpiled carpet products were produced in Nakhchivan. Thus, the statistics of 1845 show that in the same year, 1050 carpets, 3,000 horse clothes, 2,500 felts, 5,000 sacks and 460holdalls were weaved in Nakhchivan. Numerous carpet products weaved in Nakhchivan in the XVIII-XIX centuries have reached our time. Today, some of these examples, along with the Nakhchivan State Carpet Museum, adorn the exposition of the Nakhchivan State Historical Museum and the local history-ethnography museum in the regions.

During field surveys led by Chairman of the Board of Directors of   “Azərxalça” Open Joint-Stock Company, Professor Vidadi Muradov, wool piled carpets, prayer rugs, wool unpiled zili, salt bags, saddle-bags, holdall cloth, shadda and kilim kept in private collections in Nakhchivan city, Babek, Julfa, Kangarli, Sadarak, Ordubad, Shahbuz and Sharur districts of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic have been discovered and presented to the scientific community. It became clear during the study that the oldest pile carpet belonging to the Nakhchivan group kept in private collections was weaved in 1800 in the village of Makhta in Sharur region. Such facts can be cited enough to show that carpet weaving has historically been a long development way in Nakhchivan.

From the ancient times in Nakhchivan, the dowry of the bride was decorated with thick, national ornamented carpets weaved by our mothers, grandmothers. Today, such carpets are also available in Nakhchivan villages. These valuable art examples, which do not lose their color, conceal their age in this beautiful color shade. These carpets, which weaved by finger sleeking of our grandmothers, the light of their eyes, the warmth of their hearts, have also played the role of guardians of our traditions. Moving from house to house, praised and protected. These carpets, which have turned into an example of the diligence of Azerbaijani women, were usually weaved in the lamp light at night after their housework. Sometimes they did not sleep the whole night for it. Girls are particularly interested in weaving these carpets that are mostly weaved on long winter nights, learned to weave carpets from very early ages. It is for this reason that today there are enough women, girls who know this art in any regions of the autonomous republic.

It must be said with regret that in the hard times of the 90s, as in other areas of craftsmanship, there was stagnation in carpet making. Spinning wheels, weaving combs, hanas, kirkids and other weaving tools in the houses were moved to the basements.

In the early years of independence, a number of important measures were taken to protect carpet weaving art, carpet making products, and generally the Nakhchivan carpets, to keep them alive and to transfer to future generations. One of them was the establishment of the Nakhchivan State Carpet Museum. Thanks to the attention and care of the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the Nakhchivan State Carpet Museum, established in 1998 and increasing its number of exhibits, was transferred to the new building in 2010. The website of the museum in three languages was put into operation. It has enabled virtual tour of the museum all over the world, visitors' access to exhibits, and learning about our past. Everyone visiting the museum today gets acquainted with the graceful carpets of Nakhchivan carpet school. Carpet weaving products such as the felt, the simple form of carpet, kilim, palaz, jejim, varni, shadda, zili and other piled and unpiled carpet samples, saddle-bags, holdalls, sacks, heybas widely used in the past, weaving tools such as kirkid, hava, spinning wheel, weaving comb, scissors, hana tell the rich history of carpet weaving in Nakhchivan. At present there are 3429 exhibits in the museum.

During the years of independence, the measures carried out for the protection and survival of carpet weaving in the autonomous republic did not limited with the commission of the Carpet Museum, a number of organizational work has been done to study Nakhchivan carpet weaving school. Thus, carpet-weaving courses at vocational schools and the circles of sewing, knitting and carpet weaving in Nakhchivan Girls High School were opened, at folk art workshop of “Nakhchivan Business Center” Limited Liability Company carpet weaving was organized. Carpets weaved in folk art workshops and circles adorn the festivals, celebrations dedicated to our national holidays for many years.

During these years many carpet-weavers have grown up who love this art. The students studying at fine art profession at Nakhchivan State University and Nakhchivan Teachers’ Institution are taught the traditions of Nakhchivan carpeting school. In the cities and districts of the autonomous republic, carpet weaving work is carried out under the motto "Protect the tradition, weave a carpet". This is one of the most important steps taken to ensure the employment of women, as well as preserving the carpet weaving art.

During the past period, the Nakhchivan carpet-weaving school, the production of documentary films and preparation of new editions have been in the focus of attention. The publication of the book "Nakhchivan Carpets" by “Azərxalça” Open Joint-Stock Company, "Azerbaijan Carpets - Nakhchivan Group" magazine, preparation of the documentary film "Nakhchivan carpets" are valuable publications and information sources in the study of weaving methods of carpets, delivery of carpet school traditions to future generations. On January 26, 2018, on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Nakhchivan State Carpet Museum,   the presentation of the book "Nakhchivan Carpets: Tradition and Modernity"  published jointly by the vice-president of ANAS, academician Isa Habibbeyli and the Chairman of the Board of “Azərxalça” Open Joint-Stock Company professor Vidadi Muradov was held. This book is one of the most valuable publications in the Nakhchivan carpet weaving school. Providing information in English, Russian and Arabic, along with the Azerbaijani language, serves the purpose of delivering scientific and historical facts about the Nakhchivan carpet-weaving school to a wider audience. The book explores the history of Nakhchivan from the early civilization to modern times, the history of political and socio-economic development, the development of carpet weaving school, carpet weaving and dyeing in this ancient land. The book "Nakhchivan Carpets: Tradition and Modernity" is a valuable contribution not only to the autonomous republic, but also to the history and culture of Azerbaijan. One of the noteworthy points in the book is the photograph of 254 carpets and information about them. Here is a valuable source of information about Nakhchivan carpet weaving: "The carpet products produced in different parts of the Nakhchivan region were weaved by Azerbaijani women, the perfect master of their art. The names of Ismayilova Faraj Darchin gizi (daughter) who lived in Jahri in the second half of the XIX century, at the beginning of the XX century, Piriyeva Kumru Jafar gizi Mammadova Goncha Heydar gizi who lived in Kuku village, Asmar Huseyali gizi who lived in Kolani village,  Ramazanova Khanpari Musa gizi who lived in the Nusnus village of Ordubad have reached our time. The carpet weavers who have been mentioned in the book have been able to convey this ancient craftsmanship to the present day with their work and dedication to our national values.

 Finally, all the work done on the development of carpet weaving in the autonomous republic, in particular the decree of the head of the state "On measures for the construction, supply and construction of a carpet-making workshop in the city of Nakhchivan" dated February 15, 2018, will guarantee a new development phase of carpet weaving in the ancient Noah land.

                                                                          Ruhiyya RASULOVA

                                                 Editor-in-chief of Nakhchivan Television

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