Garabagh Mughan

This piece draws inspiration from the hooked ornaments featured in Mughan carpets, known among artisans as “köhne nakhish” (‘old ornament’). This ancient pattern dates back thousands of years, appearing in numerous Central Asian rugs beyond Azerbaijan. Carpet masters from Ganja and Lankaran assert that this design symbolizes a damgha (‘brand, seal’), with its 12 hooks representing 12 years. Many Oriental traditions, including those of Turkic peoples, such as Azerbaijanis, utilized 12-year calendar cycles. At the center of the ‘old ornament,’ one might find an eight-pointed star—symbolizing completeness or paradise—or a pattern called dordbuynuz (‘four horns’), believed to embody the four vital elements: earth, water, fire, and air.