Azerbaijan Carpet Museum: A Woven Legacy

The Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, established in 1967, is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Azerbaijan's rich carpet-weaving traditions. Originally located in the Juma Mosque in Baku's Old City, the museum moved to its current iconic building on the Baku Boulevard in 2014. Designed by Austrian architect Franz Janz, the building itself is shaped like a rolled carpet, symbolizing the central role carpets play in Azerbaijani culture. The museum's collection includes over 10,000 items, showcasing Azerbaijani carpets and rugs with historical and modern weaving techniques and materials. Visitors can explore a variety of exhibits, including ancient and modern Azerbaijani carpets, textiles, embroidery, national clothing, and metalwork. The exhibits are arranged chronologically and regionally, highlighting the unique patterns, colors, and techniques of different areas of Azerbaijan, such as Guba, Shirvan, Tabriz and Karabakh. The museum also organizes public lectures and study courses on carpets and applied arts. It has a bookstore selling books on Azerbaijani crafts and carpet art. The Azerbaijan Carpet Museum is one of the most visited cultural institutions in Azerbaijan, offering workshops, temporary exhibitions, and guided tours in multiple languages.