Exploring Azerbaijan: The Ultimate Souvenir Guide

Azerbaijan is a shopper's paradise, with everything from international brands in large malls to street markets and small boutiques. The country has a rich cultural heritage, and its crafts are a testament to this. The perfect memento of a trip to Azerbaijan could be a silk scarf, a piece of jewellery, a traditional dagger, or a handmade teacup. The most famous souvenir, however, is a carpet, which has become a symbol of the nation.

The most expensive souvenirs from Azerbaijan are carpets

Azerbaijan is a shopper's paradise, with a wide range of souvenirs to choose from. The most expensive souvenirs from Azerbaijan are its famous carpets. Carpet weaving is a symbol of national pride in Azerbaijan and has been recognised by UNESCO for its intangible cultural heritage value. The art of weaving is passed down from generation to generation, with girls learning the craft from a young age by helping their mothers, grandmothers, and other female relatives.

Azerbaijan has seven distinct carpet-weaving regions: Baku, Shirvan, Quba (or Guba), Tabriz, Qarabagh (or Karabakh), Ganja (or Genca), and Qazakh (or Gazakh). Each region has its own unique colours, patterns, and technology, with the original colour schemes and patterns being passed down from one generation to the next, remaining unchanged to this day. The colours red, blue, green, yellow, and cream are commonly found in Azerbaijani carpets, with each region also having its own distinctive colour palettes.

The two main types of Azerbaijani carpets are flat-weave and pile weave. The most popular types of flat-weave rugs are "Soumak" and "Kilim", which are made from sheep wool but differ in production process and patterns. "Soumak" rugs from the north of the country are more expensive than those from the south due to their higher density. High-density carpets, with 45x45 knots per square decimeter or more, were historically made for sultans' palaces and are now very rare and expensive.

Carpet prices also depend on the materials used. Most Azerbaijani carpets are made from wool, with only one region, Sheki, producing silk. As silk production is very limited in the country, the prices for real silk carpets are extremely high. When buying a carpet, it is important to look at the density of the weave, as this affects the strength and price of the carpet.

The Carpet Museum in Baku is a great place to learn about the history of Azerbaijani carpets and even offers tours of carpet weavers at work. The Old City is another interesting place to stroll and find the best shops for buying carpets.

Jewellery is a beautiful and memorable gift from Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a treasure trove of beautiful and memorable gifts, and jewellery is certainly one of them. Baku, the country's capital, is famous not only for its weavers but also for its jewellers. The rich cultural heritage of goldsmiths' work has resulted in two independent jewellery schools: Shekebe and Hatamkarlig.

The technology and techniques used in these jewellery schools are complex and require years of constant practice and dedication. The result, however, is well worth the effort. The products created using the Shekebe technique resemble the finest lace, woven from precious gold or silver threads. These ornaments are airy, graceful, and shine brightly in the sun.

On the other hand, Hatamkarlig is a kind of mosaic art form using precious metals. A silver or gold "carnation" is laid out to create a picture or ornament. It takes dozens of hours to create just one of these exquisite masterpieces.

If you're looking for something truly unique and special, consider exploring the world of Azerbaijani jewellery. The country's talented artisans have mastered the art of transforming precious metals into wearable works of art.

Etsy is a great place to start your search for Azerbaijani jewellery. You'll find a wide range of options, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings. Many of these pieces feature intricate designs and symbols that are unique to Azerbaijan, such as the pomegranate, which is considered one of the most powerful ancient symbols.

So, if you're looking for a memorable gift from Azerbaijan, jewellery is an excellent choice. These intricate and carefully crafted pieces will not only adorn the body but will also serve as a lasting reminder of the rich cultural heritage of this fascinating country.

Traditional Papaq hats are round, flat-topped hats worn by men in mountainous regions

Traditional Papaq hats are round, flat-topped hats worn by men in the mountainous regions of Azerbaijan. Sheki is known for this craft, and artisans there wash Qaragul lamb's wool in salty water before stitching the hats by hand. In Sheki, Aqil Karimov, a milliner with a workshop called Papaqci on Akhondzadeh Avenue, is one of a handful of artisans left in the city who practices this craft. Karimov is keen to pass on his knowledge and offers classes to those who are interested.

The Papaq hat was once seen as a symbol of dignity, and it was considered insulting to touch another man's hat and shameful to lose one's own. The hats are just one of several traditional crafts in Azerbaijan, which was once a key stop on the Silk Road. Other crafts include silk headscarves, copperware, and carpet weaving.

Carpet weaving has become a symbol of the nation, with each of the seven carpet-producing regions—Baku, Shirvan, Guba, Tabriz, Karabakh, Ganja, and Gazakh—boasting its own technology, patterns, and colours. The Carpet Museum in Baku was built to resemble a rolled-up rug, and visitors can learn about the history of each carpet and the secrets of carpet weaving.

Another traditional craft in Azerbaijan is copperware. Since the 4th century BC, coppersmiths in the mountain village of Lahij have been smelting copper into plates, which are then polished and inscribed with flower designs. This craft can be seen in the Lahij Museum of Local History or the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan in Baku. In Lahij, it is possible to visit the workshop of Kebleyi Aliyev, which has been producing copperware since 1725, and make copper with him.

Silk headscarves, or kelaghayi, are seen everywhere in Azerbaijan, but the artisans of the mountain village of Basgal are particularly renowned for their scarves. Locals weave silk into squares, dye the fabric with vegetable juice, and decorate it with woodblocks or batik. The colours and patterns of the scarves vary depending on their purpose and the family that made them. Visitors can learn more about this craft at Basgal's Silk Centre, or watch scarves being made or attend a workshop at the Seki Ipek, a silk factory showroom in Sheki.

Azerbaijan's copperware is recognised by UNESCO

Azerbaijan has a rich cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO, including its copper craftsmanship of Lahij, which was incorporated into UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.

Lahij is a village nestled in the mountains, home to a community of copperware artisans. The village boasts several artisanal lineages, with one of the oldest workshops, Kebleyi Aliyev's, tracing its beginnings to 1725. Experienced coppersmiths work alongside apprentices, passing down their craft through generations. The copper is smelted into plates, polished, and inscribed with intricate flower designs. The decorative artistry applied to the finished pieces is highly valued, with patterns often chiselled onto the surface of tableware.

Azerbaijanis use the copperware from Lahij not only as souvenirs but also in their daily lives, believing that the copper enhances the flavour of food. The copper craftsmanship is exhibited in the Lahij Museum of Local History and the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan in Baku.

In addition to copperware, Azerbaijan has several other traditional crafts recognised by UNESCO, including carpet weaving, silk headscarf making, and jewellery. The country's carpet weaving tradition is deeply rooted in its culture, with seven carpet-producing regions, each with its own unique technology, patterns, and colours. The silk headscarves, known as kelaghayi, are crafted in the mountain village of Basgal, where artisans weave silk into squares, dye it with vegetable juice, and decorate it with woodblock prints or batik. The jewellery-making tradition in Azerbaijan has resulted in two independent jewellery schools: shekebe and hatamkarlig. The former produces ornaments resembling fine lace woven from precious metals, while the latter creates a mosaic of precious metals, laying out a picture or ornament with a silver or gold "carnation".

Baku is famous for its weavers and jewellers

Baku, Azerbaijan, is a shopper's paradise, offering everything from international brands at large malls to street shopping. But it is famous, in particular, for its weavers and jewellers.

Carpet weaving is a symbol of Azerbaijan, and Baku is one of the country's seven carpet-producing regions, each with its own technology, patterns, and colours. The art of carpet weaving is so important that it is recognised by UNESCO for its intangible cultural heritage. The Carpet Museum in Baku was built to resemble a rolled-up rug, and here, staff can tell the history of each carpet and explain the secrets of their creation.

Baku is also known for its jewellers. The rich cultural heritage of goldsmiths' work has resulted in two independent jewellery schools: Shekebe and Hatamkarlig. The former technique involves creating ornaments that resemble the finest lace woven from gold or silver. This method is extremely complex and requires the master craftsman to have many years of constant practice. The second technique, Hatamkarlig, is a kind of mosaic of precious metals, where a silver or gold "carnation" is laid out in a picture or ornament.

Azerbaijan's capital also has a thriving contemporary jewellery scene, with brands such as Baku Jewellery offering engagement and wedding rings.

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