The House of the Shekihanovs

Nestled in a quiet alleyway near the gates of Sheki, the modest 18th-century House of the Shekihanovs stands as a testament to the legacy of the Sheki Khans. This small palace, serving as the residence for relatives of the khans, is a scaled-down version of the grand Khan’s Palace, featuring a rectangular structure with two floors and six rooms.

The House of the Shekihanovs was built around the same time as the Khan’s Palace, with some sources suggesting it served as a winter residence, while others argue it was simply a home for the khan’s family. It is even possible that this house predates the fortress palace and functioned as the khan’s residence in Nukh when ancient Sheki was still the capital.

In 1806, the last khan, Selim, fled to Persia to escape Russian protectorate rule, leaving behind his brother Fatali, who briefly occupied the throne. The Shekihan family, descendants of Fatali, retained ownership of the house well into the Soviet era. Unlike other noble families, such as the Bakikhanovs, Talishins, and Khan-Nakhichevans, the Shekihanovs did not produce a prominent figure for the Land of Fire. The exterior of this palace appears somewhat unfinished, as if it were a template awaiting decorative embellishments; only the cornice is adorned.

While the facade of the House of the Shekihanovs is considerably more modest compared to that of the Khan’s Palace, the interiors are a different story. From top to bottom, the rooms are embellished with lavish frescoes and shabaka windows made from Venetian glass. The wall and ceiling paintings depict scenes from the poems of Nizami and various mythological figures, while the first floor boasts an opulent fireplace.

The layout of the house mirrors that of the Khan’s Palace, featuring the same six rooms, not including the staircases and corridors. However, unlike the reception pavilion of the palace, this residence was truly a living space. The first floor housed the servants, while the second floor was reserved for the family, divided vertically into male and female quarters. The first floor remains unadorned.

A couple of years ago, parquet flooring was installed on the second floor, but one room still retains a fragment of the original earthen floor, which was covered with mats made from hesir (woven marsh plants) topped with carpets.

The second floor features rooms designated for men and women, which were transformed into sleeping quarters at night and prayer rooms during the day. The decor is limited to shabaka and intricately carved elements, possibly mimbar (prayer niches) or fireplaces, as frescoes were not created in the living areas to avoid distracting individuals during prayers. What is most surprising here is the diminutive size of the living spaces—actually, the khan’s family had less living space than some modern apartments today.

The main hall, which served as the living room, is beautifully adorned, primarily with motifs inspired by Nizami’s poems, making it worthy of a khan’s palace in its own right.

One of the most exquisite elements of the House of the Shekihanovs is the fireplace, which is arguably even more elegantly designed than that found in the Khan’s Palace.