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The history
of carpet weaving in Shiraz goes back ten centuries ago. But
during the reign of the Safavid dynasty this art gained
considerable fame.
Although
during the Zandieh dynasty (1750-1779) the art of carpet
weaving was not equal to that of the Safavid dynasty, the
art continued to progress.
Some rugs,
which have remained from the era of Karim-Khan Zand in
Shiraz, are proof of the importance of this art during that
period. However, it should be remembered that Shiraz
production has never had a top rank among the other fine and
exquisite ones produced in Iran. In fact, there are very few
carpet workshops in Shiraz and this city is only the centre
of marketing the rugs woven by the tribesmen and those made
in the villages.
The rugs
produced in some of the villages surrounding Shiraz are
woven on horizontal looms. They are of low quality, and are
not to be compared with those made by the tribesmen who
settled in this area.
The dyes
are natural and the predominant colours are red, brown,
yellow and blue.
Shiraz
carpets have a large design repertoire that includes a
variety of floral repeat patterns as well as medallion
compositions.
A famous
design, which is attributed by some to weavers of the
Ghashgha'i and by others to the old and skilful artists of
Shariz, is cypress and lily of the Valley design.
Many
experts recognise that as "mitlefleurs" design. The field of
this rug is designed as a Mehrab (Altar).
From the
pillars of this Mehrab two half-length cypress trees are
included in the inner part of the border (the cypress tree
being the symbol of Shiraz). At the tip of these trees or in
the other words at the top of the pillars there is a
turreted bow. From a big vase placed in the lower part of
the rug covering the whole field some flowers emerge
together with lily of the valley twigs and narcissus (there
are plenty of these in the fields of the Shiraz area).
Another turret or bow, which is situated under the vase,
connects the pillars to each other. Depending on the
locality of its production, the border of the rug is
decorated with Harati motifs or repeated designs of birds
facing each other on both sides of the Harati flowers.
Most Shiraz
carpets are coarsely knotted and may be either in the Senneh
or Ghiordes knot. Warps and wefts are mainly of sheep's
wool.
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