Each developed a distinctive artistic character. Quba carpets are known for their refined weaving, intricate geometric compositions and stylised floral and animal motifs. Baku, or Absheron, combines clear symmetry with bright colours and elegant geometric forms, while Shirvan is recognised for dense compositions and rhythmic, often highly detailed ornament.

The western schools of Ganja and Gazakh tend toward stronger, larger geometric forms and bold visual structures. Gazakh carpets in particular are celebrated for their vivid colours and monumental motifs. Karabakh developed an especially diverse tradition, ranging from powerful abstract compositions to elaborate floral designs.

The Tabriz school is distinguished by sophisticated craftsmanship, complex botanical ornament and highly developed medallion compositions, often displaying exceptionally subtle relationships between colour and detail.

Together, these seven schools form not a single decorative style, but a vast visual archive. Their motifs preserve local identities, beliefs, landscapes and ways of seeing, transforming the carpet into both a functional object and a cultural document woven across generations.