Carpet-weaving is a very old and highly developed craft. Archaeological finds bear evidence that it was already in existence back in the 9 century B.C. Written sources of later periods, for instance, writings by antique Greek, Roman and Arab authors (Herodotus, Xenophon, Al- Mugaddasi), also indicate that carpet-weaving is indeed a very old craft in Azerbaijan. It has developed over centuries to reach its perfection. Azerbaijan craftsmen have produced magnificent specimens - from simple pileless carpets to the exquisite khalcha variety.
It is accepted to divide Azerbaijan carpets into four types:
1.Guba-Shirvan (with manufacturing centres in Guba, Shirvan and Baku);
2.Gyandja-Kazak (with manufacturing centers in Gyandja and Kazak);
3.Karabakh (with manufacturing centers in Karabakh, Shusha and Jabrail),
4.Tebriz (with manufacturing centers in Tebriz and Ardebil)
They are distinguished mainly by 3 following features: ornament, manufacturing technique and the kind of article in question.
Azerbaijan carpets are manufactured in various techniques. Basically, they are divided into piled and pileless.
Pileless ones include palas, kilim, sumakh, zili, shadde and vemi. Palas and kilim are simply woven, while sumakh, zili, shadde and vemi have an intricate weave.
Azerbaijan carpet makers use yarn dyes of basic seven colors of varying shades. Over centuries they have developed compositions of dyes obtained from local plants. Unlike chemical dyestuffs, natural colorants do not erode the structure of wool fibbers, but lend them sheen and succulence. Having mastered manufacturing techniques to perfection, Azerbaijan carpet makers began producing sets (dast) consisting of a large central carpet, two-sided rugs and one-headed piece, all united in a single composition; prayer rugs (namazlyg); pictorial and other types of carpets.
Carpets were to meet both aesthetic and utilitarian requirements. As an object of household use, which was its main purpose, the carpet served to keep the house warm. Carpet bags and coverlets of different types were widely spread. These included pileless mafrash, khurdjun and kheiba (travelling bags); chuval (sacks for holding loose products); chul (all kinds of coverlets); yakhar ustu (saddle cover) and other objects.