Dragon

The design of these earrings is inspired by motifs from the historic Azerbaijani rugs known as “Ajdahaly” or “Khatai.” These rugs were primarily woven in Karabagh and potentially in Shirvan and Kuba as well, between the 16th and 18th centuries. Some textile fragments with dragon motifs have survived from the Ilkhanid Period (13th-14th centuries). The renowned “Dragon & Phoenix Carpet” from the Meiser Collection, currently housed in the Berlin Museum, symbolizes the divine’s immortality and life’s triumph over time. The phoenix, soaring above the “S”-shaped ‘divine’ dragon, represents potent and auspicious powers. It is believed the rug was crafted by the Karakoyunlu or Akkoyunlu tribes in Nakhchivan or Kazak in the 15th century.

In Azerbaijani decorative arts, the dragon motif alone symbolizes positive energy and may also represent water sources in Azerbaijani folk literature. In ancient Turkic mythology, the dragon, known as “Büke” or “Evren,” symbolizes might and power. Particularly in mountainous Central Asia, it is believed dragons still reside in the mountains of Tian Shan/Tengri Tagh and Altay. Some historical sources mention the “Dragon City” of ancient Huns. Several pile and flatwoven carpets from the Safavid Period also feature dragon motifs.