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Although there are several
references in the holy books and ancient manuscripts to the
first efforts of mankind at weaving, there is no evidence
that such references apply to the pile rug.
What little is known of the
origins of the pile rug is based on suppositions,
nevertheless according to scientific and historical studies,
we can assume that pile weaving had a nomadic origin.
Early European researchers
believed that the ancient civilisations of Egypt and Assyria
were the cradles of carpet weaving in the ancient world.
Evidence to support this conclusion was found in the Torah
in the chapter of Higira (Emigration of Israel). In a
description of tent decoration there is mention of a carpet,
and also in the stone columns remaining from Shina Nazares
the second, in which the patterns of two carpets are
engraved.
These theories are disputed by
the discoveries of the well-known Russian archaeologist
Professor S.J Rudenko. In 1949, Professor Rudenko began an
excavation in Pazyryk (in the Altai Mountains of Siberia).
Amidst the frozen tombs, he discovered a piece of pile
carpet. This rug, which was thought to be the oldest
pile-knotted rug was woven probably at least five centuries
BC. the size of the rug is cm. 200 x 183. In the centre
there are a few rows of stars with four points, which
relates it to various objects excavated in Lorestan (east of
Iran).
According to historical
references and similarities of design woven into this rug,
which resemble those seen in Persepolis, one can relate the
weaving to the Achaeminian dynasty. At present this rug is
kept in the Leningrad Museum. There are several different
suppositions about the origin of this rug.
Professor Rudenko himself
believed that the rug was made by the Medes (170 BC-226
AC.)or possibly ancient Parthians. Schurmann, a respected
researcher of carpet art, believes that the Pazyryk rug was
woven in Azarbäijan (in north west of Iran).
Another researcher, Dimond,
believes that the Pazyryk contains figures of Assyrian and
Achaeminian (330-553 BC.)culture, and that its origin is
Iran. Other respected experts have different opinions on the
Pazyiyk’s origin.
Ian Bennet believes that with
more than 3500 kilometres distance between the Altai
Mountain and the borders of Iran, the probability that this
carpet was the work of Iranian weavers is very remote. Ian
Bennet, in his book entitled Rugs and Carpets of the World,
stresses that the art and technique of carpet weaving
originated in East Asia among the Mongol tribes. He believes
that from there it migrated to Eastern Asia and Iran.
An important period in the
history of carpet weaving came during the reign of the
Sassanian dynasty in Iran (224-641 AD). Magnificent Persian
carpets won international acclaim and were exported to
distant lands. One such splendour, was a large sized carpet
in the audience hall of the palace of King Khosrow of the
Sassanian dynasty at Ctesiphon, depicting a formal garden.
The brocaded rug with silver and gold threads with jewels
was named ‘Bah (spring of Khosrow).
In 641 AD, the Sassanian dynasty
was overthrow by the Arabs and the country conquered for
Islam.
During the campaign against the
Arabs for restoration of Iranian independence, fine arts
especially rug weaving, revived. Azarbaijãn, Fars and
Khoràsãn developed as main centres for carpet weaving.
The Seljuk Turks invaded Persia
in 1037 and took possession of a large area in the north
west of Iran. They brought their own culture into this area,
adding it to that already existing in Iran. The mixture of
Turkish and Persian cultures had a great impact on the
carpet weaving of that era. No carpets of this area are
known to have survived.
There is believed to be some
similarity between the carpets woven in Iran in that era and
those woven in south Asia and Turkey.
Some samples of these have been
discovered in the Ala-ed-din mosque in Konya (Turkey) which
at the time was the capital of the Seljuk empire.
The Mongol armies of Ghengis
Khan occupied in Iran in 1220. According to some historical
evidences the summer residence of Ghengis Khan was decorated
with valuable carpets made in Fars.
Timur (Tamerlaine) occupied Iran
in 1380; Timur was himself a Mongol and descendent of
Ghenghis Khan.
Timur and his son Shah-Rokh
(1408-1446).Chinese art influenced Iran’s fine arts and many
basic changes occurred in that period.
Many different motifs such as
leaves, ivy blossom, different kinds of mushrooms, mythical
birds, and palm trees were introduced. Dragons and animals
such as deer, wild cats, and other mythical creatures were
inserted into the Iranian designs.
This period was the beginning of
the classic arts in Iran. This transformation in Iran carpet
design can be seen and classified. Luckily, miniature
drawings of those carpets exist in the poetry books, which
remain from that period. The miniatures confirm these
changes in pattern and design.
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