� THE ART OF CARPET
Antique Carpets
ORNAMENTS
OF AZERBAIJANI CARPETS
Azerbaijani carpets have a deep semantics of ornaments that bears the hidden meaning in each work of carpet weaving art – a meaning that is sometimes more important than the carpet ’ s functional purpose .
ORIGINS OF CARPET MEDALLIONS
It is worth starting a conversation about the semantics of carpet weaving with medallions , which create the most important part of the composition of the majority of traditional Azerbaijani carpets . In Azerbaijan , the carpet medallion is popularly called gol , that is , lake . This name is used throughout much of modern Azerbaijan ( as well as in Central Asia ), but there are exceptions . In the northwest of Azerbaijan and in Karabakh , carpet medallions are known as khoncha , which means tray . In Shirvan , they are called tabag ( pan ).
In historical South Azerbaijan ( now the northern territories of Iran ), carpet medallions are usually called turunj or turush : this word means Citrus aurantium , a fragrant subtropical fruit that was traditionally kept in houses on trays . In other regions of Iran , carpet medallions are known as torenj , and in Turkey as turenje . The name of the classic Tabriz carpet composition Lechek-Turunj for South Azerbaijan formed from this word . It consists of a gol ( medallion ) called turunj and four lecheks ( petals ), representing one-fourth of the medallion , located in the four borders of the central field .
In the Russian tradition , a carpet medallion was called a rosette . The word medallion , denoting the most important element of the carpet composition , came from Western Europe .
According to modern scientists , the word gol as the name of a carpet medallion does not mean a water basin . It is a distorted form of the words gol ( kin ), nasil ( generation ), soy ( roots / origin ). Thus , the image of the gol in ancient times expressed the emblem , the symbolic meaning of a clan or tribe . Tamgas ( stamps of clans or tribes ) were placed inside of these gols . Perhaps , the migration of tribes in the course of history was the reason that carpets with such images were woven in various carpet weaving centers of Azerbaijan .
Hence , it seems very logical to name one of the most widespread types of medallions in Azerbaijani carpets , characteristic of the Mugan region of Azerbaijan Kohna Nakhish ( Old Pattern ). This medallion is decorated with hook-shaped elements , which are called garmag ( hook ).
The Kohna Nakhish ornament is widely used in carpets of the Turkic-speaking peoples . The first examples of this image are found on ceramics of the Bronze Age , then on flat-woven carpets , and finally , are widely used on pile carpets . According to scientists , this pattern signifies the guardian of Earth and Water , as well as the concept of evolution and growth . Over time , this element , widespread in works of art , has lost its symbolic and mythological meaning , turning into a common ornamental form .
Hans Memling , the famous Flemish artist of the Renaissance depicted Kohna Nakhish medallions on his paintings . Therefore , in Western scientific literature , this element of ornament is popularly called Memling ’ s Medallion .
@ carpetmuseumbaku
Carpet Mughan . Karabakh , Azerbaijan . Early 20th century . Wool . Pile , handmade . Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum collection .
© Photo : Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum
There are many varieties of gols ( medallions ) in Azerbaijani carpet weaving : round , oblong , and square . Golbendlik composition , entirely consisting of medallions bordering each other , occupies a special place among them .
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