Buta Azerbaijan
- 2. This is a sign above a store specializing in Muslim clothing in Sheki.
- 3. This store with the two examples of the buta motif is attached to the Muslim store called Buta
- 4. Buta, Buteh, Paisley Buta is the Hindi word for flower. It has been anglicized as buteh, and the design has become know in the West as paisley, because Paisley, Scotland, was the first European city to copy the Kashmir pattern.
- 6. A designed used in Paisley, Scotland
- 7. Buta History Buta originated during the Safavid Dynasty of Persia (1501-1736). Later, the design was quite popular with Iranian weavers during the Qajar Dynasty (1795-1925).
- 8. The most famous representation of the buta in Azerbaijan is the Giz Galasi, or Maidens Tower, in Baku
- 11. The resemblance of the buta to half of the yin yang symbol is often mentioned, since cultures along the Silk Road from the Orient to Europe not only exchanged goods but also shared art, science and
- 12. Restaurant Window in Sheki
- 13. Window Close Up
- 16. An interesting Variation on the Theme
- 17. The craftsman of this traditional Muslim cap used a continuous , double buta motif.
- 19. Batik on Silk
- 21. Dress in the shop attached to the Buta Store in Sheki
- 25. Another paisley dress design in Sheki
- 26. Is this just a nice gate design or is it representative of the ancient buta motif?
- 27. What about this fence?
- 28. Cell phone pouches made in Sheki with the buta and others with Allah in Arabic.
- 30. Nature is the model for the style.
- 31. You can see Buta shapes in these basswood seed distributors
- 32. And in these leaves
- 33. This design is attached to many metal orchard doors in Sheki
- 35. This paisley design is on corduroy found at quiltersmuse.com
- 36. Some sources say that the buta in Azerbaijan is representative of fire or flames. Azerbaijan is The Land of Fire. The buta is a plant that is used for cooking and heating houses. The flame
- 37. Design in Baku Carpet
- 38. This traditional geometrical buta design was used for planters or fountains in a Shekis Axundov Park.
- 39. Rug Design and Close Up in Inset
- 40. Another one of those containers filled with plants.
- 41. And in another in Fuzuli Park
- 43. Close-up of the Buta pattern worked into the stucco on the side of the building in the previous slide.
- 44. Some sources say the design was taken from the Arabic 6, since they used a base 6 numerical system instead of a base ten.
- 45. Xan Saray Border Design
- 47. Two Butas used at Xan Saray Butas inside butas may represent mother with child or grandchildren. Connected butas may represent marriages.
- 48. Buta design in metal below the gable.
- 51. Buta design worked into metal plov covers.
- 53. Close-up of Same Sculpture
- 54. Buta design stenciled on a wall.
- 56. You can find it on candy wrappers.
- 57. Where Else? Even in the Sheki Saray Hotel
- 58. Another Buta design on a Bulaq or public water source.
- 60. Butas are found everywhere in Azerbaijan culture. Now that you know what to look for, see how many different uses of the buta motif you can discover in the country, in Sheki or in your home.
- 62. The End Produced By Joel Robbins Peace Corps Volunteer Sheki Pedagogical Technicum Sheki, Azerbaijan 2008