Mughan

This piece draws inspiration from the hooked ornaments of Mughan carpets, recognized by carpet-makers as “köhne nakhish” (‘old ornament’). The pattern boasts ancient origins, dating back thousands of years and extending beyond Azerbaijan, appearing in many Central Asian rugs. Carpet artisans from Ganja and Lankaran assert that this pattern symbolizes a damgha (‘brand, seal’) with its 12 hooks representing 12 years. Similar to other Oriental traditions, Turkic peoples, including Azerbaijanis, followed 12-year calendar cycles. At the center of the ‘old ornament’ is either an eight-pointed star (symbolizing completeness or paradise) or a pattern known as dordbuynuz (‘four horns’), believed to represent the four essential elements: earth, water, fire, and air.