Carpet Nelbekigul

Nelbekigul carpets are pile carpets belonging to the Shusha group of the Karabakh type.

Although these carpets are popularly called Nelbekigul, Shusha carpet weavers call them Minakhanim or Minakhani. It is known that this carpet was woven by Mina khanim, who moved from Barda to Shusha in the second half of the 18th century. Carpets with vegetative ornaments woven by her soon spread to all carpet weaving centers in the Caucasus, Iran, and Turkmenistan.

The composition of the central field of these carpets is adorned with small and big circular vegetative elements placed on the branches. Despite their symmetrical, sometimes asymmetrical placement and simple design, these elements embody the beauty and simplicity of Karabakh carpets.

 

Carpet Nelbekigul. Karabakh, Azerbaijan. Early 20th century. Wool. Pile, handmade. Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum collection