Latif Karimov

Latif Husein oglu Karimov (; 17 November 1906 in Shusha – 8 September 1991 in Baku) was an Azerbaijani carpet designer known for his contributions to a variety of artistic fields, as well as for a number of books classifying and describing various designs of Azerbaijani rugs. He was awarded the honorary titles of Honored Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR, and People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR (1960).

Early life Latif Karimov was born in Shusha (then part of Russian Empire, now in Azerbaijan). His father Mashadi Huseyn was a hatter and his mother Telli was a carpet-weaver. In 1910, the family moved to Mashhad, Iran, and settled in the Karabakhi quarter of the city. After graduating from the local madrasa at age 14, Latif Karimov started working at a carpet shop and learning the art of carpet weaving, following his mother's footsteps. He traveled extensively throughout Iran, excelling in this craft. Alongside, Karimov had a variety of interests, ranging from boxing to literature and performing arts. The Soviet Consulate in Tehran invited him to become a member of the Russian cultural club, where he later directed and acted in plays by Uzeyir Hajibeyov and established an Azeri choir.

Beginning in the late 1920s, Karimov participated in social movements demanding on behalf of weavers of Mashhad an eight-hour working day and improvement of working conditions. In 1929, he was sent on an official mission to Afghanistan to promote theatrical arts. However, Karimov returned to Iran two months later, not being able to endure the harsh living conditions of Afghanistan. In that year, he obtained Soviet citizenship, and the government of Iran, suspicious of his social involvement, offered him an option of moving to the Soviet Union, which Karimov accepted. In 1954, he organized his first personal exhibition which featured carpets, architectural ornaments, wood carvings, china vases, jewelry, graphic items, etc. Between 1961 and 1983 he published a three-volume book on the history, development and structure of over 1300 Azeri carpet pattern elements. His efforts and enthusiasm led to the establishment of the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum in 1967, the first one of this kind in the world.

The Azerbaijan Carpet Museum was named in his honour in 1991.

Criticism According to the peer-reviewed International Journal of Heritage Studies, Karimov's carpet taxonomy and classification was part of a nationalist project.