Tekye Rugs
Tekye (also, Tekyə, Taka, Tekie) is a village in the Shabran (Davachi) district of the Azerbaijan Republic. Shabran is a district of Azerbaijan. It is located in the north-east of the country and belongs to the Quba-Khachmaz Economic Region. Tekye village forms part of the municipality of Charag (Çaraq). The municipality has been named so after Charag Gala (The Torch Fortress) which is an ancient fortress on the top of a mount facing the Caspian Sea.
Tekye is near Perpedil (also Romanized as Perepedil and Pirabadil) which is a source for densely woven rugs made during the 19th century. Like Perpedil weaves, antique Tekye rugs may be categorized as Quba’s. However, being roughly categorized, they could also be seen categorized as Baku and Shirvan.
Technical aspects and the structure of Tekye Rugs
Tekye rug are dense. Knots are symmetric (Turkish). Wool is the main raw material. Warp and pile are woolen. Wefts may be either cotton or wool. Rug and runner sizes are common. Rare sizes such square rugs could also be found.
Dyeing and painting of Tekye Rugs
Generally, Tekye rugs painted earthy shades. Ivory and midnight blue/or black fields are common. Madder red and even
mustard fields could also be found. Tendency to natural shades of undyed wool is high here. These may include ivory, milky, charcoal, beige, camel, khaki, black etc. Secondary palette may include light blue, madder rosy, cinnamon, green, etc. Borders are usually ivory whether the field is ivory or black.
Designs and patterns of the Tekye Rugs
Most of Tekye rugs have been designed with various sorts of lattice designs such as honeycomb. These are all-over designs
consisting of diamond cells filled with motifs such as geometrized herbal motifs or completely abstract ones.
Other types of designs may be found amongst pieces attributed to Tekye, like those named usually after Perpedil, and also mina-khani designs common in all
Charag district. These are all-over patterns consisting of two or more geometrized rosettes making a lattice with their alternation.
