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Khol-Garabujag 'Akstafa' Salyan rug

CODE: SHRAKS17

Size (metric): 129x240cm

Size (ft): 4'2"x7'10"

Area: 3.09 m2

Density: 170 000 knots per square meter, totally ~600 000 knots

Weaving period: four months

Colors (17):
midnight blue, red, variegated green, medium blue, yellow, light brown, cinnamon, medium brown, maroon, dark brown, ivory, olive, hazelnut

Dyes:
madder, weld (Reseda Luteola), onion skins, indigo, pomegranate skins, walnut husks, natural dark brown sheep wool, natural ivory sheep wool, natural medium brown sheep wool.

Materials: Handcarded and handspun wool for pile, wool warps (natural ivory and brown twist) and ivory wefts (two shots)

Weaver: Rahima

Pile height: 0.6cm

Ends: thin plaited fringes

Knots: Gördes  (Turkish, symmetrical)

Inscriptions: 1439 (weaving date), illegible letters

Handwoven in Azerbaijan

Design:
Inspired by a rare mid 19th century antique Salyan Akstafa rug design.
Click here to read the story


The field contains various motifs such as peacocks, camels, small houses, swastika motifs; men, women, children - all in their traditional dress; a soldier or a king with his sword; domestic animals, birds, goats, deers, wheels, crosses, weaving combs, tree of life symbols, fertility motif etc. The main border carries a ‘kochanak’ (meaning ram's horn) motif. This is an ancient motif, found on many historical rugs and textiles. Petroglyphs carved into the Gobustan rocks by the Stone Age and Bronze Age inhabitants of the region reveal that the motif was known by them at that time. Leather cutouts and felts from the Pazyryk burials of the Iron Age Scythian Horsemen (500-400 BC) contain ram’s horn motifs. The motif is related to a form of Prehistoric art which is called ‘animal style’. This style is connected with the early nomadic people described by the Greeks as Scythians and the Persians as Sakas. The distinct characteristics of the animal style were applied in various media, like wood or metal objects (especially gold), as well as in rock art. The zoomorphic representation of rams horns as a motif was widespread amongst many Central Asian people and rendered in recent weavings in the same archaic style as the rams horns of the Scythians. Ram’s horn, which is known with different names such as Kochak, Koch Buynuzu, Kochkar, Kochkor, Koshkar Muiz, Kochanak, Kuchkorak etc. in Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Anatolia, symbolizes the power and fertility.

 


A family in their traditional dress


a baby and his cradle

 

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Peacock motif


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For more information about the above rug or to place an order please email vd@azerbaijanrugs.com (Baku, Azerbaijan)