Arjiman

This piece is inspired by the border patterns of Arjiman carpets, celebrated as prime examples of the Shirvan carpet tradition, which has been admired since the Middle Ages. Western travelers who visited the region praised the artistic excellence of Shirvans, and Renaissance painters included these carpets in their artworks.

Carpet borders were believed to safeguard the images and ornaments at the core of the carpet. The four sides of the Arjiman border symbolize the four corners of the world, while the four arcs represent ram horns. Rams and sheep (Ovis aries) were central to the livelihood of Eurasian nomads, symbolizing fertility and wealth.