Azerbaijani carpets to be displayed in U.S., Germany
By Aygul Salmanova
Azerbaijani carpets, famous worldwide for their beautiful designs, durability and vivid colors, will be displayed at exhibitions in the U.S. and Germany.
Carpets woven in the Shamkir and Horadiz branches of "Azerkhalcha" OJSC will be presented to buyers at international sales exhibitions in the U.S. and Germany. Vidadi Muradov, Chairman of the Board of Azerkhalca OJSC told local media that the sales exhibitions will be held in January 2018.
Muradov noted that the carpets woven at the Guba branch of the OJSC, opened on December 7 with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva can be sold at these exhibitions. The first product of the Guba branch will be ready in January-February of the next year.
“Since the establishment of "Azerkhalcha" OJSC, we have been working on introducing and selling our carpets. Our products are exhibited in sales lounges and exhibitions. The Azerbaijani carpets, which have already become brands, are in demand in foreign countries,” he said.
Seven more branches of Azerkhalcha OJSC are planned to be opened by the end of this year. Thus, the number of carpet production enterprises will reach ten. In 2018, according to the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev, ten more branches will be created. With the launch of the carpet production enterprises, some 3,000 people will be employed, Muradov said.
By the end of this year, construction of a spinning mill plant will be started at Sumgayit Chemical Industry Park. After the construction of the plant, the wool produced at sheep breeding farms in some regions of the country will be purchased through regional supply points. These stations will be set up in Barda, Shabran, Shamakhi, Sabirabad and Nakhchivan.
"Establishment of such an enterprise will eliminate the dependence of Azerbaijani wool and natural dyes on foreign imports and will ensure its development on the basis of local raw materials. For this, there are favorable conditions in the country. Azerbaijan has rich natural resources for the preparation of both wool and natural dyestuffs,” Muradov noted.
The state-run Azerkhalcha Company was established under the presidential decree in May 2016 to achieve these goals and also organize export of valuable Azerbaijani carpets to the world markets. Overall, the company plans to open up 10 plants throughout the country in 2017 and 20 more until 2019. Over 5,000 people will be permanently employed at the plants and absolute majority of them will be women.
Carpet weaving is one of the oldest arts and crafts of the country. The data of archaeological research conducted on the territory of Azerbaijan and the monuments of literature testify that the art of carpet weaving originated in Azerbaijan in ancient times.
A feature of the Azerbaijani carpet ornament is the use of images of plant, zoomorphic, anthropomorphic and abstract geometric forms. Its distinct color palette and design allows to easily recognize Azerbaijani carpet. An unusual scheme of cherry red, yellow-green and sky blue adds color distinction to masterful draftsmanship of the Azerbaijani carpets. Its patterns differ depending on the region in which and the layout and material from which it is woven.
By geographical position, peculiarities of patterns, composition, color solution and technical features, Azerbaijani carpets are conditionally divided into 7 carpet-making schools: Guba, Baku or Absheron, Shirvan, Ganja, Gazakh, Karabakh, and Kabriz.
In 2010, the Azerbaijani carpet was proclaimed a Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage by UNESCO.
Ancient Azerbaijani carpets are stored at the White House, the U.S. State Department, and many other museums across the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Museum of Art in Philadelphia, as well as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and Hermitage in St. Petersburg.