Traditional jewelry in Azerbaijan is passed from generation to generation and is kept as a testimony of the unity of a family, as they generally mark important moments in the lives of people.
Azerbaijan traditional jewelry production includes many artifacts, some of them very elaborate and very unique like anklets and nose rings.
Azerbaijan jewelry dates back to many centuries. Baku, Ganja, Shemakha, Shusha, Shaky, and Nakhchivan were the main centers of jewels production.
Jewelry is a form of art in Azerbaijan, and they convey timeless values both in the urban areas and in the rural areas, where they are mostly regarded as symbols of beauty, and also a wealth of a family. In urban and more developed areas of the country, jewelry still carries some traditional and symbolic value, but they are mostly used as fashion items and instruments of social prestige.
Azerbaijani people are very fond of decorative art.
Decorations are appreciated in all types of artistic expression in the country.
There is a very little concept as minimalism in traditional Azerbaijani art, and this is particularly true when dealing with jewelry. You will find brilliantly crafted decorations in a humble necklace from the mountains area until the richest intricacy of gold and precious stones found in the Golden Woman Belt that can be admired in the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan’s famous jewelers used four different ways of decorating their adornments:
1) The Doyma (forging)
2) Qarasavad, Shabaka (network)
3) Khatamkaliq
4) Minachiliq
The first method (forging) being regarded as the most traditional, while Minachiliq is indisputably the finest level in the Azeri jeweler’s art.
The Qarasavad (network) was mainly employed on silver, creating a pleasing contrast against a black background. The Khatamkarliq was mainly used to decorate traditional weapons and swords.
Jewelry has, in this way, held a significant social bind to the Azeri people. The Azeri ladies were always extremely tasteful to adornments.
As everything that is deeply rooted in people’s traditions, traditional Azeri jewelry will keep representing an important aspect of Azerbaijan and the creativity and resourcefulness of its people.