Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, Baku

Nestled in the heart of Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum is a unique cultural institution dedicated to the art of carpet weaving, one of the most ancient crafts and a cornerstone of Azerbaijani culture. This museum, with its distinctive architecture that mimics a rolled carpet, serves not only as a repository of some of the finest examples of Azerbaijani carpets but also as a testament to the country's deep historical and artistic heritage.

Established in 1967, the museum initially operated at the Juma Mosque in the Old City of Baku. However, as the collection grew, a new building was commissioned to house the vast array of carpets and related artifacts. The current building, designed by acclaimed Austrian architect Franz Janz, opened its doors in 2014 and has since become a landmark on Baku's skyline.

The Azerbaijan Carpet Museum boasts an extensive collection of over 10,000 items, including traditional carpets from various regions of Azerbaijan, carpet products, and embroideries. The carpets are meticulously organized, demonstrating the different weaving techniques, patterns, and colors that characterize the work from various schools, such as Tabriz, Baku, Shirvan, Ganja, Gazakh, and Guba.

Visitors to the museum can explore three floors of exhibition space that showcase the evolution of Azerbaijani carpet making from the Bronze Age to the present. The displays are augmented with multimedia presentations and interactive exhibits that offer insights into the symbolism in carpet motifs and the dyeing and weaving processes. The museum also conducts research, conservation, and restoration of carpets, ensuring that this age-old art form is preserved for future generations.

Aside from its permanent collection, the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum actively participates in the cultural life of Baku by hosting temporary exhibits, international symposia, and conferences dedicated to carpets and textile art. It also offers educational programs and workshops for those interested in learning the craft of carpet weaving.