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Persian Oriental Carpet
History
By: Abbas Mohammadzad
Persian Oriental rugs are identified by weave, design, material, texture, and colors. The identification of rugs is by the city they were woven in Iran. Each city has there own style of weave from fine weave knots, which were made in major cities to coarse weave, which were made in smaller villages. Each rug is unique, it is very hard to say which city weaves the best rug. I have seen rugs from Kerman that are to die for in quality and beauty, I have seen rugs from Heriz that are coarse weave and gorgeous. So each rugs beauty and value lies in the hands of the master weaver and the admirers
Tabriz is situated in north-western Iran, in the province of Azerbaijan, and is the capital of a very important carpet weaving region. The town is over 1000 years old and even centuries ago it was famous as a cultural center.
The Tabriz carpets are of very good quality, finely knotted and made of strong lustrous wool. There are old carpets in private homes, used for years, which are still in excellent condition, and the colors have kept their brightness.
At the beginning of the century, the finest carpets had a silk pile. These are rare pieces and are among the most beautiful examples of Persian carpets.
The usual Tabriz design is a medallion surrounded by flowers and tendrils; however, some carpets have a design with repeating patterns.
The warp and weft of Tabriz carpets are of cotton, and there are between 80 and 200 knots to every square inch.
The carpets vary in size from 6 ft by 4 ft to 16 ft by 10 ft. |
This mid-nineteenth century Tabriz carpet is decorated with motifs typical of the area. However, the green color in the borders and the central medallion would not normally be used.
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The town of Kerman is in Eastern Iran, and has always been one the carpet weaving centres. Kerman carpets are highly prized because of the quality of their design and colours. They are made of fine, lustrous wool, coloured soft red, green, blue, yellow and ivory. The village of Ravar situated twenty-five miles from Kerman, also produces very beautiful carpets of high quality and design. These carpets are known as "Kerman Ravar".
Kerman carpets are mostly in floral designs. Many have rich central medallions, the motifs of which are also used in the borders and in the corners. On the larger Kerman carpets there are animal designs or repeating patterns, the smaller ones are often decorated with vase patterns or pictorial subjects.
The success of the Kerman carpets is mainly due to the skill of the pattern designers, called "ustad". The result is that while all Kerman carpets have something in common, which distinguishes them from those of other areas, they are also made in a wide variety of designs.
Both the warp and weft of the carpets are made of cotton, and there are 130 to 320 knots to every square inch. |
A magnificent nineteenth century Kerman Ravar carpet with rich colours and decoration.
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Kashan Zobeida, the favourite wife of the famous Caliph Haroun-al-Rasheed, established the town of Kashan, which is situated between Tehran and Isfahan.
The Kashan district is possibly one of the best producers of Persian carpets. These carpets have taken the name of the region, and are simply referred to as the "Kashan". Due to the very high quality of the wool, the very fine weaving and the beautiful colours and designs, Kashans have come to be classified among the finest Persian carpets.
The knotting is very fine. The woollen Kashan has between 120 and 240 knots to each square inch, and there are 240 to 550 knots to each square inch in a silk one.
The warp and weft are made of cotton or silk. The designs vary from medallions with tendrils to vases, and from all-over patterns to very fine floral designs. However, the most common designs are those with a central medallion.
The usual kind of background colours for Kashan carpets are brick red and dark blue, and alongside these are a series of very rich colours that give these carpets a unique appearance.
The Kashan varies in size, from "6 ft by 4ft" to "10 ft by 15 ft".
Nain is a small town in the province of Isfahan, and it is situated on the edge of the desert uplands of central Iran.
Until the beginning of this century, the main craft in Nain was the weaving of costly woollen cloth. The import of textiles from the west lead to the decline of this craft, and the Nain craftsmen switched to carpet making. They were soon to gain a place among the quality carpet producers of Iran.
The decoration of Nain carpets is similar to that used for Isfahans, and many of the carpets have backgrounds decorated with an interlaced pattern of flowers and branches. There are however, fewer carpets with central medallions as in the Isfahan carpets.
Plants and animals feature in a number of the Nain carpets, and the colour scheme for both background and decoration is normally, beige, ivory and white, alongside light green and azure.
The Persian Knot is used at a very high density of 300 to 600 knots to the square inch, and the carpets come in many different sizes, the most common being, 5 ft by 7 ft 6in.
Shiraz has been known for centuries as the city of roses, which is reflected in the motifs of many of the carpets. However, the most common motif, and one by which the carpets may be identified, is the diamond-shaped lozenge by itself in the centre of the carpet or repeated along the length twice or three times according to the size.
The diamond motif of the Shiraz carpets is usually in light or dark blue and the background is normally red with decorations of stylised plants and flowers. The border consists of a number of narrow bands framing a wider band, which is often decorated with motifs resembling pine, or palm leaves.
The Shiraz carpets are very soft and it is advisable that only the best are used on the floor, to protect them against wear and tear.
Among the better-known individual tribal carpets are those made by the Qashqai, living in the uplands of the Fars area. In contrast to other Shiraz carpets these are harder wearing, and have a compact pile. Their colours are also faster and more varied.
The warp and weft threads of the Shiraz carpets are either wool or goat's hair, and they come in all sizes; 4 ft by 2 ft 6ins, 5 ft by 4 ft, 7 ft by 5 ft, and 10 ft by 7 ft. Square Shiraz carpets can also be found.
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Traditional Kashan carpet. The decoration and colours used are typical of the Kashan
Classic example of a Nain carpet of more recent manufacture
Traditional Shiraz carpet, made by the nomads of the
Fars area
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Isfahan was the capital of Persia during the reign of Shah Abbas (1571 - 1629), and had the most beautiful palaces, mosques and libraries. Architecture as well as carpet weaving flourished at this time.
Rare and precious carpets from this period are now kept in museums all over the world. Very fine well-knotted carpets are still being made in Isfahan today.
The fascinating designs using lines and arabesques that appear on Islamic architecture also appear on the modern Isfahan carpets. Medallions are the most usual motif; however, animals and flowers are also used.
Both warp and weft are of cotton, and there are between 130 and 360 knots to every square inch.
Carpets vary in size. Smaller ones are approximately 6 ft by 4 ft, while the larger carpets at 12 ft by 10 ft are quite rare. |
Late nineteenth century Isfahan carpet, decorated with a floral motif and a central medallion.
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CARPET WEAVING IN PRE-ISLAMIC ERA
For several consecutive centuries the art of carpet weaving made progress to an extent that the famous Arch Palace of Sassanid King, Khosrow Parviz in Ctesiphone was covered by a carpet woven of golden threats which was known as `Four Seasons of Baharestan'.
According to historians, the famous Taqdis throne was covered with 30 special carpets representing 30 days of a month and four other carpets representing the four seasons of a year.
The fifth Omayyad caliph Hesham ibn Abd al-Malek (120 lunar hejira) had a 90 by 32 meter carpet made of silk and gold threads which could rank with the Baharestan carpet.
There also used to be another superb Iranian-made carpet dubbed as `Bahar of Khosrow' (spring of Khosrow), at the Palace of Ctesiphone which is referred to in Persian scripts as the `Arch Palace of Ctesiphone'. The carpet was 450 feet long and 90 feet wide, made for Sassanid king Khosrow and for this reason it was named `Bahar of Khosrow'.
CARPET WEAVING DURING ISLAMIC ERA
In the 8th century A.D. Azarbaijan Province was among the largest centers of carpet and rough Rug (ziloo) weaving in the country. The Province of Tabarestan, besides paying taxes, sent 600 carpets to the courts of caliphs in Baghdad every year. At that time, the main items exported from that region were carpets, rugs and small rugs for saying prayers. Furthermore, the carpets of Khorassan, Sistan and Bokhara, because of their prominent designs and motifs were on high demands among purchasers.
During the reigns of the Siljuk and Il-Khanid dynasties, carpet weaving was still a booming business so much so that a mosque built by Ghazan Khan in Tabriz, northwestern Iran, was covered with superb Persian carpets. Carpet designs depicted by miniature paintings belonging to the Timurid era lend proof to the development of this industry at that time. There is also another miniature painting of that time available which depicts the process of carpet weaving.
During that era dyeing centers were set up next to carpet weaving looms. The industry began to thrive until the attack on Iran by the Mongol army.
IMPACT OF MONGOL ATTACK ON CARPET WEAVING IN IRAN
The attacks of the Mongol army and then of Timur the Lane on Iran brought a halt for some time to all artistic and industrial activities such as carpet weaving and dyeing in the country. Various books on the history of that time indicate that the subtlety and delicacy seen in the art of carpet weaving in later eras did not exist at that time. Geometrical designs consisted of direct or broken lines without any curves and therefore we cannot say that circular and floral designs or plant-shaped motifs had been imported to Iran after the Mongol attack on the country.
Unfortunately, there are no more evidences available of the pre-Mongol eras in the country. During the last years of the reigns of the Timurid and Il-Khanid dynasties, carpet weaving regained its past glory but only a few rugs, silk cloths and some superb samples of fabrics knitted at the time of the Siljuk and Sassanid dynasties have remained from that era.
In these samples, the designs of carpets are more like those of Turkmen rugs with direct ad broken lines, made of wool. Some carpets and rugs woven at the early years of the Safavid period have been made of gold and silver threads, with the color of the margins being in contrast with the that of the central parts.
In many carpets with medallion motifs, pictures of animals have also been woven. These designs have become known as animal designs. These carpets usually bear the pictures of plants and flowers among which pictures of various animals, either in group or at war, can also be seen. Some fabulous animals like dragon or birds like phoenix inspired by Chinese sources are among these animal designs.
One of the famous carpets with animal designs, which is now kept at the Metropolitan Museum of New York, had covered the tomb of Sheikh Safi ad-Din Ardabili. Silk rugs, too, belong to the Safavid era. The carpets belong to that era are characterized by Eslimi designs which resemble strips with varying width. From the beginning of the Safavid dynasty to the end of the reign of King Abbas the First, carpets with images of animals, flowers and curled hair were designed.
With the passage of time the design of Shah Abbasi flower (named after Shah Abbas) became bigger and bigger. It is to be noted that the carpets woven in Harat greatly influenced the designs of Indian rugs. During the Safavid era, silk rugs with gold and silver threads bearing designs of dark colored flowers and leaves, were sent as presents to some European monarches.
Some of these rugs found in Poland were referred to as Polish rugs until it became known recently that they had been made in Iran when compared with their similar rugs. Some rugs woven like klims with gold and silver threads have remained from that era.
Carpet weaving enjoyed great importance at the time of the Qajar dynasty. During this period, Arak and its suburbs in Central Province were the largest carpet weaving center. Production of carpet was common in the town of Soltanabad and its nearby villages. The carpets woven in this region have been divided into four categories by carpet traders. The best of these carpets was called Sarouq. The second degree carpet was called Mahal and the third degree Moshirabad which was rough. The last kind of these carpets was known as Leilahan which had long pile and were mostly woven in small villages inhabited by Armenia people for purpose of trade.
VARIOUS TYPES OF PERSIAN CARPETS
Azarbaijan This region has been famous for its carpet weaving industry for centuries. In Tabriz, the capital of Azarbaijan, carpets with various motifs and qualities are produced. There are carpets with varying qualities in Tabriz. The warp of all of them is made of cotton. The old carpets of Tabriz are mostly red-colored with medallion motif. However, carpets produced in Tabriz have no exclusive designs. Silk carpets have long been woven in Tabriz but they are of the same quality as silk carpets woven in Kashan.
Balouchi rugs are woven by nomadic tribesmen. Like Turkmen rugs, these carpets have dark red-colored background but are woven more loosely than the former. There are various motifs on these rugs with dark blue and dark red colors being used in them. These rugs are ordinary and inexpensive.
Farahan The carpets of Farahan have short pile and dark blue background. These carpets have two types of motifs. One is the picture of a large fish which look like intertwined leaves and the other is the picture of a greenhouse with bunches of flowers.
Joshagan: This kind of carpets was very famous during the era of the Qajar dynasty because of their special medallion and rectangular designs.
Guravan: The carpets of Guravan are produced in a village with the same name and other villages near Heriz. The designs of these rugs are geometrical shapes just like Heriz carpets.
Hamedan: The older carpets of this region had their own features. The margins of these carpets were made of camel wool. These kinds of rugs are very scare nowadays. Other small rugs used to be woven in the region which were known as Musel.
Heriz: The carpets of Heriz are among the best ones produced around Tabriz. These rugs are heavy and thick and are known for their durability. The color of their background is usually red or madder obtained from root of herbs grown in nearby regions. Herbal dyes are used in these carpets whose designs are mostly geometrical shapes. The designs sometimes include medallions. The carpet weavers in Heriz do not have ready made designs but they weave carpets according to the designs they know by heart. Like other important carpet weaving regions, Heriz has good water suitable for washing the wool.
Kordestan: In Garrus and Bijar, both in Kordestan province, special carpets are woven whose warp and weft are both made of wool. These rugs are so rigid that they may be torn apart when they are folded. The design of the carpets consists of a medallion at the center and corner medallions with the same shape. The background has a fish-shaped picture and other pictures whose colors are in contrast with the color of the medallion.
Other coarse rugs with high pile are woven in the mountains of Kordestan and Kermanshah provinces. The nomadic tribes of Khorassan Province weave some carpets known as Turkman or Bokhara carpets. The background of these rugs is red in color and their designs are made up of a series of polygonal shapes which are called `Pafili' designs. Some of these rugs have been divided into four categories which are referred to as `Four Season' carpets.
Mahallat: The carpets usually called Mahal do not have tightly woven knots but have orderly knitting. The motif of these rugs are generally flowers and leaves, with mostly dark colors being used in them. Light colored Mahals are very expensive and rare.
Malayer: In Malayer region, carpets are woven which are similar to the carpets of Hamedan and Arak. Darjazin village is known for the color of carpets woven there. The good color of these carpets is attributed to the good water used for washing the wool which helps reveal its color.
Karajeh: The Qarajeh rug is woven in Qaredagh region, north of Tabriz. These rugs are small in size and used to cover the borders of rooms. The color of their backgrounds is red or dark blue and their design is a star-shaped or octagonal medallion.
Sarab: The carpets of this region are usually called Sarabi. They are thick and their warps are knitted with sheep or camel wool. Octagonal medallion designs are repeatedly used at the center of these rugs. Narrow rectangular rugs woven in Ardabil, northwestern Iran, had different motifs and were known for their coloring. Their backgrounds were mostly light or dark brown in color. This type of rug is no longer knitted in the region. Small rugs were also woven in Zanjan during the Qajar period in which chemical dyes were used. These dyes were imported and their price was cheaper than the original herbal dyes made in Iran. The application of synthetic and chemical dyes which began in the Qajar period dealt a great blow to the fame of Persian carpets throughout the world.
Sarband: The higher quality and older carpets woven in this region are called Mir. The background of the rug is filled with almond or pear-shaped designs and it has striped margins with pictures of curled hair.
Sarough The carpets woven in this region in the past were considered as among the most durable rugs in the country. Its design include a medallion at the center, and an open background bearing a few pictures. Dark blue and red wools are mostly used in this type of carpets.
Seneh: The region which is now called Sanandaj is the center of best klims woven in Iran. Both sides of these klims are the same. The pictures of fish are used most often in these klims. Carpets and rugs are also woven in Sanandaj some of which are very subtle and superb with special knots.
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