Let's learn more about a heyba (a small valise) from our Carpet Products collection.

 

Heyba is a carpet item woven with the flat-woven technique that was used for everyday life in the villages and mountainous regions. It looks like a khurjun that was carried on the shoulder or loaded on a horse. However, it is almost half the size of a khurjun. Some types of heyba were woven using the jejim technique, and more rarely woven using the pile woven technique. The mouth of a heyba was decorated with embroidery and galloon. It was used to transport small objects or foodstuffs. Heyba was designed with small-scale motifs that can nevertheless be interpreted from a distance. Besides heyba decorated with S-shaped, hooked, and geometric patterns, there were also those with floral ornaments.

Our collection houses a heyba dating from the early 20th century with a stylized colorful image of a flower, which was woven in Baku.

 

Heyba. Baku, Azerbaijan. Early 20th century. Warp, weft - cotton, patterning thread - wool, cotton. Interweaving, wrapping. Inv. No. 3807