DIVERSE BUTA
Buta is one of the most widespread decorative elements in the folk art of Azerbaijan . This symbol is also popular in the art of Iran , Central Asia , India , and other countries . According to researchers , butais the embodiment of sunlight and fire , as well as a living symbol of light – a peacock . The ancient Turkic peoples considered the peacock to be a sacred creature . Thus , Byzantine ambassadors , guests of Istami Khan , the ruler of the Great Turkic Khaganate , reported to their countries about a golden statue of a peacock , installed in front of the khan ’ s tent . This element of ornament in ancient times was associated with religious ideas , then lost its religious character and acquired only symbolic meaning , later became one of the ornaments used in arts and crafts . In Azerbaijani art , buta was widely used in ornaments of carpets , ceramics , manuscripts , artistic metal , jewelry , textiles and embroidery , stone and wood products , etc . And yet , one can observe its diversity and richness in carpet weaving . Buta in different versions and interpretations is typical for products of all carpet weaving centers in Azerbaijan . In some compositions , it decorates the border , while in others , the central field .
Buta has a huge number of forms , and each has its own name . But all of them can be divided into four main groups :
1 ) named after the carpet weaving centers of Azerbaijan : Mugan-Buta , Khila-Buta , Baku-Buta , Ganja-Buta , Shirvan-Buta , etc .; 2 ) denoting a person and his family ties : Bala-Buta ( Child Buta ), Hamli-Buta ( Pregnant Buta ), Gosharvadli-Buta ( Buta with two wives ), Arvad-Ushagli-Buta ( Buta with wife and children ), Baba-Buta ( Grandfather Buta ), etc .; 3 ) named after object or phenomenon : Jigga-Buta ( Buta with a crown ), Kusulu-Buta ( Offended Buta ), Yazili-Buta ( Calligraphic Buta ), Gulabdan-Buta ( signifying vessel for rose water ), etc .; 4 ) describing its shape : Saya-Buta ( Plain Buta ), Eyri-Buta ( Curved Buta ), Dilikli-Buta ( Notched Buta ), Givrim-Buta ( Buta with a curl ), Garmagli-Buta ( Buta with hooks ), Badamli-Buta ( Almond-Shaped Buta ), gotazli-buta ( Buta with a pompon ), Chichekli-Buta ( Floral Buta ), Yanar-Buta ( Flaming Buta ), etc .
SYMBOL OF FERTILITY
The Tree of Life is one of the most ancient symbols of Azerbaijani art . Its early samples can be seen on the black polished ceramics of the Bronze Age ( 2 nd – 1 st millennium BCE ) and red ceramics found in Shahtakhti ( 2 nd millennium BCE ) in Nakhchivan . Even today , in many villages of Azerbaijan there are tree shrines : belief in their miraculous power is imprinted in the minds of Azerbaijanis .
In Azerbaijani carpet weaving , there are various types of this symbol universal for world art . Images of animals , birds , or people adorn both sides of this extremely conventionally depicted tree of life . The double image of people was interpreted as masculine and feminine , while the location of various living beings in different parts of the tree was described as a reflection of the idea of a model of the world .
The appearance of the tree of life itself can be either quite realistic ( pomegranate , cypress , palm ), or completely generalized . On Azerbaijani carpets , it was sometimes depicted as a mythological plant with the heads of animals and people instead of flowers and fruits . Such unusual images , widespread in the Middle Ages , were also known as the vag-vagi ornament . The tree of life symbolizes a bright future , immortality , fertility , reproduction , abundance , and happiness .
Carpet Khila-Buta . Baku , Azerbaijan . 19th century . Wool . Pile , handmade . Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum collection .
© Photo : Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum
Kilim . Shirvan , Azerbaijan . Early 20th century . Wool . Flat-woven , handmade . Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum collection .
© Photo : Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum
19 A R T / C A R P E T