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Origin and history of Iranian Persian carpets
A little history of Iranian Persian carpets
Who hasn't heard of Persian carpets? In Europe, Persian carpets have been the collective term for all oriental carpets for many years. Although oriental carpets have been imported into Europe since the Middle Ages, the study and scientific research of oriental carpets is a relatively recent phenomenon. Before the middle of the 19th century, not a single publication dealt with the history, origin, patterns or weaving techniques of oriental carpets. The vast majority of books on oriental carpets are general in nature; relatively few books deal specifically with Persian carpets.
The history of Persian carpets has many gaps, and there is still a lack of historical documents or old paintings of oriental carpets that could help fill these gaps. As carpets are utilitarian objects, their life span is much shorter than that of many other artefacts made of metal, stone or ceramics. To compensate for this, scholars have turned to early literary sources.
It is instructive to consider the etymology of the main word for carpet in European languages, the German "Teppich" and the French "tapis", from the Persian "baft" meaning "to weave". The later European term carpet also comes from this old Persian word. The terms found in early sources are thought to refer to textiles rather than knotted carpets.
The earliest surviving knotted carpets are found in the Altai Republic and the Tarim Basin. Unfortunately, the patterns cannot be reconstructed from the surviving pieces. The surviving pieces have been subjected to a thorough technical analysis, which has shown that the wool comes from a breed of sheep that is now found only in the Caucasus.
Persia was visited by a number of Arab travellers who described what they saw. However, these sources tell little more than the earlier ones, as the travellers had no expertise in carpets and regarded them as everyday utensils or ornaments.
As A. C. Edwards has pointed out in his book The Persian Carpet, there are few references to Persian carpets from the time of the Seljuk Sultans or the early Mongol period. Only from the late 14th century onwards do we find carpets depicted in miniature. The literature reports large and valuable carpets from the time of the later Mongol rulers. It is said that at the end of the 13th century Ghazån Khan had his new residence near Tabriz covered with carpets from Fars. This suggests that similar carpets were not available in Tabriz
Evolution of Persian carpets
We know that Persian carpets underwent a major stylistic change in the 15th century. Floral motifs replaced geometric motifs and continuous patterns were replaced by centred motifs. Despite the change in style, the tradition of geometric carpet designs continued, mainly in rural areas. A number of carpets from the 16th century survive, some with dates and some with signatures. Inscriptions indicating the date and place of weaving and the name of the master weaver are evidence of the high social status and pride in their work that master weavers enjoyed. Of course, only a few of the best weavers have left their names in the history of Persian carpets.
The economic strength of the countries united under Safavid rule and the importance given to the art of carpet weaving is reflected in some carpets of 50 square metres and in the fineness of weaving, which reached 500-800 knots/m2. A brief overview of the geography of Iran is essential to understand the historical development of carpet production and the distribution of the main carpet production centres. In the north-west lies Tabriz, which until recently was thought to be the centre of the modern carpet weaving industry. As mentioned above, the capital residence of Khan Ghazan in Tabriz was furnished with carpets from Fars in the far south. Furthermore, there is no record of carpet weavers among the craftsmen who were transported to Istanbul in 1514 after the Ottoman Sultan Selim I captured Tabriz. Together, these facts strongly suggest that Tabriz was an important trading centre for a particular carpet group rather than a major carpet weaving city. In central Persia, the main centre of carpet weaving was Kashan and later Isfahan. In the south of Persia, Kerman was the main weaving centre, while in the east this position was occupied by Herat (present-day Afghanistan). The development of Persian carpets over the last four hundred years has taken place within these four large areas.
Persian prayer carpets
One particular category of Persian carpet that deserves mention is the prayer carpet. It is not yet clear when prayer carpets were first made. Some prayer mats woven after 1500 AD are known, with a pattern of parallel niches, and were probably used in mosques, where their function may have been to indicate the order precedence of the user.
An interesting group of prayer mats should be mentioned, which were considered to be early Persian prayer mats. They are among the many in public and private collections, and the Top Kapi Saray Museum in Istanbul has a collection of thirty-seven pieces that belonged to Ottoman sultans. There is little written about Persian prayer carpets in most books on Oriental carpets, and it is true that the prayer mat did not play as important a role in Persia as it did in other Islamic countries. Nevertheless, the small number of surviving examples show that good quality prayer carpets were made at least from the 16th century onwards.
Western conquest of Persian carpets
Many well-known Persian carpets were undoubtedly captured in the West after the defeat of the Turks, and, significantly, almost all of them were of Persian origin. The 'Coronation' carpet at Rosenborg Castle near Copenhagen is probably an example of this.
Given that Venice has been an important trading centre for trade with the Orient since the Middle Ages, it is not surprising that it has such a place in the history of oriental carpets. Many Persian carpets may have been owned by wealthy families in the city. Undoubtedly many Persian carpets made their way to Venice when the Venetian government sought close ties with Persia in order to act as one against the Turks. An example is a silk carpet decorated with gold and silver threads, sent by the Shah in 1603, specifically to display the famous San Marco treasure. The heyday of Persian carpets ended with the fall of the Safavid dynasty. The end of the Safavid era coincided with a change in European interior design fashions, which did not favour oriental carpets.
So the history of this characteristic object goes back a long way. Iranian carpet making is documented in carpets made between the late 15th and early 16th centuries, but the high technical standard of the carpets is a testament to a much earlier tradition, before written history. The art of weaving Iranian carpets is rooted in the culture, customs and instinctive feelings of the people. Depending on where the carpet is woven, the pattern and design may vary. Some types, such as gabbeh and Kelim, have different textures and number of knots per square metre.
Interesting facts about Persian carpets
An original and beautiful Persian carpet, not only can it be the most beautiful object in a room, making it shine, but it also reminds us of the ancient culture. As well as being charming, delicate to the touch and warm, it can be a good long-term choice, as a carpet like this can last us for decades.
Iranian hand-knotted carpets, which rank high among Oriental carpets, conjure up a magically stunning ambience in any interior. Made from pure wool, these precious pieces are characterised by sophisticated knotting and tasteful, intricate designs, the result of extremely precise craftsmanship.
Many of the wonderful designs are inspired by nature; animals and flowers. These motifs also appear in architecture. Arthur Pope said that "Persian carpets are more like gardens than carpets." The search for gardens and paradise has been fundamental to Iranian thought since ancient times. Gardens have been a constant in poetry, literature and the arts.
The colours used in Persian carpets are also of great importance. Different colours symbolise wealth, luck, power, loyalty or even loneliness. The colours are made by highly skilled craftsmen using natural dyes. They are usually made from wild plants and are very rich, such as shades of crimson, dark blue and ivory white.
The texture of Iranian carpets
Wool is a natural textile and is one of the most sought-after materials in carpet making. Wool carpets are extremely durable and perfectly resistant to wear and tear from everyday use. Wool has a natural dirt repellent effect and is easy to clean. It is also flame-resistant and retains its characteristic shape, as the carpet pile does not flatten but always regains its original shape. As can be seen from the above, Iranian carpets are not just decorative objects, but works of art similar to paintings. If you want a truly durable piece for your home, this is the perfect choice!