“Afshangulu” is one of the ornaments widely used as early as the 16th century by carpet
artists in the “Shahabbasi” and “Afshan” compositions. Influenced by these carpets, highly
skilled weavers in Karabakh — particularly those active in Shusha from the 19th century
onward — modified the forms of the vegetal motifs within this composition, enlarging and
further refining the curvilinear elements to create a new carpet composition known as
“Qoja” (“Qoca”).
“Qoca” carpets are characterized by a complex composition, and Afshangulu is one of
the principal ornaments used in the central field of these carpets.