Hand-woven carpet completed after three years

In 2018, carpet weavers started working on a carpet in Qabala, Azerbaijan. This was one of the region’s largest hand woven carpets, measuring four-by-six square metres and weighing 57.2 kilograms. These types of carpets usually take months to complete, but this one wasn’t finished until July 2021.

The main reason why the Pirabadil-style carpet took so long was because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant that no one could work on the carpet for about a year. The carpet had to be protected during this period to stop visits from the local moth population, and it was only resumed in April 2021.

The carpets made in Qabala are flat weave with traditional patterns featuring shapes that resemble the number five and the letter “S”. These are said to represent dragons that, according to ancient lore, protect the home from extreme weather. Other geometric forms in the design are symbols of birds, animals and humans.

When people order carpets for Chester and North Wales rooms, they don’t have to wait three years for them to be made, nor do they have to pay thousands for a carpet that takes many weavers a long time to produce. Modern carpets are made using machinery that quickly makes carpets without sacrificing quality.

Most carpet manufacturers are in full production following the easing of the virus lockdown.

If you like the historic patterns found in hand-woven carpets, there are many attractive traditional designs available, or alongside more contemporary designs.