Shabaka Art

Among Azerbaijan’s rich craft traditions, shabakaoccupies a particularly distinguished place, regarded as one of the most striking expressions of the country’s architectural and decorative-applied arts heritage. Composed of finely interlocked wooden elements and coloured glass, and distinguished by its intricate stained-glass compositions, this art form is widely seen as a defining feature of Azerbaijani architecture.

Historically, some of the coloured glass used in shabaka panels was imported from the island of Murano near Venice - a detail that reflects the longstanding ties between local craftsmanship and wider networks of international trade and cultural exchange.

Today, shabaka remains one of the rare craft traditions still actively practised, particularly in the city of Shaki. Passed down through generations, it is assembled entirely by hand without nails or adhesive, relying on precisely calculated geometric patterns - a process that calls for exceptional craftsmanship, mathematical precision and years of experience.

In the making of shabaka, craftsmen typically use high-quality woods such as walnut, oak and lime. The timber is first treated and carefully dried, then cut with millimetre precision into small components. These pieces are assembled alongside coloured glass - usually no more than three millimetres thick - to create intricate and finely balanced compositions.