Pazyryk carpet is the oldest and most well-known carpet globally, having a long history in the art of carpet weaving. This carpet is more than two thousand years old and belongs to the Achaemenid artist. The history of Persian carpets dates back to the writings left by people before Christ.
In this passage, we want to mention the history of Iranian carpets in different periods.
Looking at the remains of the Sassanid period, Baharestan carpets called Bahar Kasra, Mahestan and Bahar Khosrow were popular in that period. Unfortunately, this carpet was torn and destroyed during the Arab attack on Iran. It is worth mentioning that Sassanid’s handmade carpet was decorated with gold and silver, silk threads, and precious stones.
After the arrival of Islam to Iran, luxurious Persian carpets, especially silk fabrics, were introduced and welcomed by historians and writers worldwide in different periods. Islam was opposed to human patterns on carpets, so geometric motifs and floral patterns replaced human motifs. This was the beginning of a new era of Iranian carpets
Many changes influenced Iranian designs and motifs in different periods. In each period, Iranian weavers combined new ideas and styles or replaced them with old styles. The miniatures remained after the Timurid period; the design of the carpets mostly included geometric shapes and Kufic calligraphic motifs.
During the Safavid period, due to the rise of the Islamic empire in Iran, most of the carpet designs were affected by Islam. During this period, large workshops and factories were established, and the art of carpet weaving reached a peak of fame. Also, in the Safavid period, Iranian carpets were presented as gifts to European countries. For gifts, silk carpets woven with yarn of gold and silver were usually considered. One of the old Persian carpets belongs to the Safavid dynasty, which is attributed to Kerman.
Mashhad was considered the carpet capital of Iran in the Afshari period. The carpets of this period are mostly known for their warm colors and their long-lasting durability.
During this period, Tabriz was known as the center of the modern Iranian carpet. Over the Qajar dynasty, carpets were also taken from European styles due to the greater connection of Persian rulers with Europe. There was a dramatic change in the dimensions, patterns, and texture of the carpets.
Iranian carpet has a varies in designs, the most famous of which we want to mention here.
This group includes designs inspired by Islamic buildings, structures, and tiles.
The designs taken from the structures are woven with minor modifications, but this modification is not in a way that is far from the original.
The main basis of this design is Islamic slogans based on the regular arrangement. Islamic designs have a wide variety, so that Arabic motifs can be categorized according to their shape and type.
All Palmette flower designs are based on the use of the Palmette flower in this design. The palmette flower design is one of the common designs of Isfahan that existed in Iran during the Safavid and Shah Abbasi empires. This design is also popular in Mashhad and Tabriz and is included among the most beautiful Iranian designs.
Most of the designs used in this group are related to the border areas carpet design, neighboring countries, and even other countries.
The designs used in this carpet are in a way that all the patterns and designs of the carpet are interconnected, and it seems that the designer didn’t take their eyes of it from the beginning to the end. The intertwined motifs of this design fascinate any viewer.
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