Azerbaijani carpet masters make copy of the majestic carpet of Safavid times - PHOTO

"Did you know that the history of carpet art in Azerbaijan dates back to the Bronze Age?" Director of "Azer-Ilme" carpet factory in Baku Vidadi Muradov said in his interview with Russia-based "Echo" newspaper reporter in Baku.

It is in that distant age that the carpet became an essential household item of ancient inhabitants, embodying all the colors of nature, he said.

Vidadi Muradov is expert for a unique 500-page album "Azerbaijani carpets" published in three languages, including Russian. The book contains over a thousand illustrations of carpet masterpieces of Azerbaijan, tells about the best masters of carpet production and unique ornaments. He can talk for hours on each of these works of art.

"Azerbaijan has always had its local school of carpet weaving and they mutually influenced and enriched each other,” said the director.

"Some of them are amazing for subtlety of manufacturing and small floral pattern, brightest colors while others are more inclined to old songs with a strong idea of rhythm and a calm, monumental flair."

We walked through the "Azer-Ilme" shops, talked with artists, engineers and carpet weavers to learn that just like hundreds of years ago, carpets in Azerbaijan are made manually. Therefore it is very difficult to find two carpets with identical patterns. Miracle carpets are made with just three instruments - a special knife, hammer and scissors. Along with preserving the traditions, rugs made of wool and silk in accordance with contemporary style and technological parameters meet international standards.

We also learned carpet weaving makes use of only vegetable ink. They are made from walnut shell, mulberry tree leaves and sea salt.
 
"These paints increases emotional impact of carpets, enhances brightness and completeness of the paint solution giving the carpet an enchanting beauty,” Muradov said proudly.

Azerbaijani carpets that adorn thousands of houses and apartments were included in many private collections. "Azer-Ilme" Factory tries to use modern technology to recreate and old masterpieces. Its masters have made a copy of the majestic Azerbaijani carpet "Sheikh Safi", a masterpiece of Safavid culture and the most exquisite carpet of this time. It original is kept in Victoria and Albert Museum in London.


Gennadi Charodeev
"Echo Planeti"

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