Dragon

This exquisite piece features dragon motifs inspired by various carpets. Dragon carpets are renowned as beautiful examples of Garabagh craftsmanship. They have a distinctive structure typically depicting mystical animals. These rugs were primarily woven in Garabagh and likely in Shirvan and Guba from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Some textile fragments with dragon motifs have survived from the Ilkhanid Period (13th-14th centuries). The dragon motif on its own represents positive energy in Azerbaijani decorative arts and symbolizes water sources in Azerbaijani Folk Literature. In ancient Turkic mythology, the dragon “Büke” or “Evren” represents might and power. Historical records even mention the “Dragon City” of the ancient Huns. In Kipchak culture, the Begsha Dragon symbolized the family hearth. Numerous pile and flatwoven carpets from the Safavid Period also showcase dragon motifs.