In Azerbaijan, there are deep and rich traditions of folk crafts, and the art of coppersmithing is no exception. In Azerbaijan, there were separate cities specializing in copper craftsmanship. However, the main center of coppercraft became Lahij, which was part of the Shamakhi Khanate. The mountain settlement is located on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus at an altitude of 1375 meters and holds the status of a state historical and cultural reserve of the 14th-15th centuries, included in the "Great Silk Road." The international tourist route serves as a kind of monument to ancient urban planning and architectural art.
Lahij is the copper kingdom of Azerbaijan, the center of ancient art. Utensils made by Lahij craftsmen are adorned with intricate and delicate patterns. Traditional methods of copper production in Lahij are preserved to this day.
In Lahij, in the Agali quarter, on both sides of the street, there are many copper workshops and a "copper market." Finished copper products are sold here, and the workshops also serve as a kind of shop.
The "Copper Craftsmanship of Lahij" was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO at the 10th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Namibia from November 30 to December 4, 2015. The inclusion of Lahij's coppersmithing in the UNESCO list contributes to the preservation of ancient cultural traditions of the Azerbaijani people, their transmission to future generations, and the socio-economic development of the ancient settlement.
