Carpet weaving, our national treasure is also preserved in the autonomous republic

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Published on Saturday, 05 May 2018 12:54

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According to the Decree of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev dated 25 November 2016, every year May 5 is celebrated as the "Day of carpet-weaver" in our country.

The history of weaving in Azerbaijan dates back 5-7 thousand years ago. The salt production in Nakhchivan, the use of bags and sacks in the circulation and transportation of salt, indicates the ancient history of weaving art. The development of weaving opened wide opportunities for the creation of carpet weaving. In the works of Herodotus, Klavdi Elian, Ksenofont and other ancient world historians, in the "Kitabi-Dada Gorgud" epic, Nizami Ganjavi's works was given information about Azerbaijani carpets, and this valuable cultural heritage was praised. Our carpets, depicted in the paintings of Azerbaijani and world artists, are one of the most valuable exhibits of world-known museums today.

"The cultural heritage of every nation is its national wealth, history and this day," said our national leader Heydar Aliyev. Since the 70s of the last century, national leader Heydar Aliyev took care of the preservation of our national values and historical and cultural heritage, and purposeful measures were taken in this field. Our folk applied art also entered the new stage of development, especially increased focus on the development of carpet weaving art. The carpet-weaving art, closely connected with the living conditions and life of our people, grew in the years of independence as a result of the care of great leader Heydar Aliyev.

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, pays special attention to the development of carpet weaving, ancient craft. It is not accidental that the Azerbaijani carpets have been included in the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The adoption of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the protection and development of carpet art of Azerbaijan" is also an expression of state attention to this art. Today, in addition to the historical and cultural value of carpet weaving in our country, its economic value is also highly valued, carpet production workshops are opened in our towns and districts. This also stimulates the development of new jobs and development of raw materials industry related to carpet weaving. The Decree of President Mr. Ilham Aliyev dated 15 February 2018 "On measures for the construction, supply and infrastructure construction of a carpet production workshop in Nakhchivan city" will also contribute to the development of carpet weaving art in Nakhchivan by industrial method.

Nakhchivan carpet-weaving school has its own place and role in the history of Azerbaijani carpet weaving. The Nakhchivan carpets, which are rich in color, unique patterns and original compositions, have enriched the Azerbaijani carpet art with traditional patterns and elements, with its unique color shades. Historically, Nakhchivan has created valuable carpet patterns that reflect the ancient culture, occupation and lifestyle of our people, and this art has been transmitted from generation to generation. Especially the development of livestock and sheep breeding was an important factor in the carpet weaving industry. The development of carpet weaving necessitated the formation of dye-houses, the dyers got the natural color of our carpets, which have been preserved for thousands of years by using the flowers and tree barks of this land.

Mr. Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, said: "Carpet-making is one of the fields of our applied art which our rich spiritual world, as well as the philosophical characteristics of our people are reflected here. The carpet weaving art has historically been one of the leading professions in Azerbaijan, including Nakhchivan. Nature, social and cultural development, living and living conditions, turned the carpet weaving one of the most important branches of art in the distant past in Nakhchivan. Large-sized, piled and unpiled rugs produced in this area were widely used. Primary clay spinning wheels and spindle tips made from bone found during archeological excavations confirm that Nakhchivan is one of the oldest weaving centers". Special attention is paid to the development of carpet weaving in the autonomous republic. Carpeting, widely spread in the Sharur, Shahbuz, Ordubad and Julfa districts of the autonomous republic, is being promoted and preserved as one of the types of folk creativity.  With the attention and care of the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of   Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, systematic work is underway to restore and study the carpet weaving art in Nakhchivan. The establishment of the Nakhchivan State Carpet Museum in 1998, the provision of a new building in 2010 and the creation of the website are the continuation of the work done in this field. More than 3,000 of the most valuable examples of Nakhchivan carpet weaving school are preserved and displayed at the museum, as well as carpet weaving is organized.

The Order of the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of  Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic dated February 7, 2009 "On holding folk days in Nakhchivan  Autonomous Republic" created all conditions for the protection and development of carpet weaving art and encouraged new scientific studies. As a continuation of the work done in this field, the book "Nakhchivan carpet-weavers" and the "Azerbaijani Carpets: Nakhchivan Group" magazine have been published and a documentary film "Nakhchivan carpets" has been prepared. The book "Nakhchivan carpet-weavers" contains information on 254 Nakhchivan weavers. “The State Program for the Protection and Development of Carpet Art in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for 2018-2022” has been approved by the Order of the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of  Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic dated 9 April 2018 for a more thorough study of the Nakhchivan carpet-weaving school. Thus, wide opportunities for comprehensive research and promotion of ancient crafts have been opened. The state program will lay the foundation for a new stage in the development of Nakhchivan carpet-weaving school.

The preservation of carpet weaving art in the autonomous republic, the preparation of young carpet weavers is also in the center of attention. As a result of the work done in this field, Nakhchivan Regional Vocational Training Center has opened vocational training courses, circle of “Sewing, weaving and carpet weaving” has begun its work in Nakhchivan Girls' Lyceum, carpets were produced at the folk art workshop of Nakhchivan Business Center Limited Liability Company, as well as at Sadarak Carpet-weaving Facility. Also, since 2014, the social project “Let’s protect our tradition, wave a carpet at home" is being implemented in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Due to the project implementation, contracts were signed with housewives and women with limited health care, carpet weaving is organized in houses by providing them with hana (weaving machine), rope and other necessary equipment and materials. The traditions of Nakhchivan carpet-weaving school are taught to the students of Nakhchivan State University and Nakhchivan Teachers’ Institute studying art profession.

The work done in the development of the carpet weaving art and the created conditions in the autonomous republic makes it possible this kind of folk applied art will be further enriched and hand down the future generations. 

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