The document discusses the Buta motif, an ornamental floral pattern that originated in Persia during the Safavid Dynasty and was popularized by weavers in Azerbaijan. Known as paisley in the West, the Buta motif spread along the Silk Road and was incorporated into many aspects of Azerbaijani culture, appearing frequently in carpets, clothing, metalwork, architecture and other crafts. It is considered a symbol of Azerbaijani national identity and cultural heritage.

1. that the
people of
Azerbaijan
love.
The
Buta
Motif

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.

5. Paisley designs
from
quiltmuse.com

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
Maiden’s Tower, in Baku

9. A
Doorway
up
the
valley
in
Sheki

10. Close-up
of
stone
work
on
the
doorway

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

14. Public
water
faucet
and
shrine

15. Close-up of stonework

16. An interesting Variation
on the Theme

17. The
craftsman
of this
traditional
Muslim
cap used a
continuous
, double
buta
motif.

18. O
t
h
e
r
C
a
p
s

19. Batik
on Silk

21. Dress in the
shop attached
to the Buta
Store
in Sheki

22. Close-up
of the
pattern
of the
dress

23. Another
Dress
In
The
Same
Sheki
Shop

24. Another
buta
design
in
a
Sheki
Dress

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.

29. The
buta
design
on a
larger
handma
de bag.

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

34. Orchard
gate
close-up

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 Sheki’s 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

42. A
n
y
B
u
t
a
s
?

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

46. Multiple
butas
at
Xan
Saray

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.

49. Close-up
of
metal
work.

50. Metal
Wall
Plaque

51. Buta design worked into
metal plov covers.

52. Bronze
Sculptures
at a
roundabout
on a
Sheki
Street

53. Close-up of Same Sculpture

54. Buta design stenciled on a wall.

55. In
The
National
Seal

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.

59. Close-up
of
same
bulaq.

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