The Saga Of Persian Rugs

By Author: Sallie Beard
Total Articles: 10
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Persian rugs are hand woven rugs from Iran or the former Persian Empire. They are an integral part of Iranian life and culture. They are commonly found in Iranian homes and these handmade rugs are one of their most precious belongings. This art is being practiced in Iran since the past 2,500 years now. The Persians are among the first carpet weavers of the early civilizations. They have mastered this art form through centuries of innovation and creativity.

Chronicles Of Hand Knitted Rugs

The history of Persian rugs is as magnificent as is the story of Iran, one of the greatest civilizations of the world. These rugs have come a long way. The adage, "Necessity is the mother of invention" aptly applies to these carpets as they were simple items of daily need. They were used for pure and casual floor entrance and also to shield the nomadic tribesmen from harsh weather conditions. Soon, the carpets became popular with kings and noblemen, who associated these carpets with wealth and as exclusive pieces of decoration.

One of the first hand-knitted rugs dating back to the fifth century B.C. was found in the Pazyryk ...
... valley. It was protected by a thick sheet of ice for twenty five centuries. A Russian ethnographic mission led by Rudenko and Griaznov started excavating the five tumuli in 1929. A splendid carpet was discovered in 1949 while excavating the fifth tumulus. It is the only rug from the Achaemenid period which has been preserved even today.

The Achaemenian culture was still rising when the Sardis (546 BC) and Babylonians (539 BC) conquered Persia. The modern rugs are an attribute of the ancient art of carpet-making introduced in Persia by Cyrus. Word has it that the tomb of Cyrus, who died in 529 BC, was covered with valuable carpets. The first known signs of the origin of Persian carpets come from Chinese texts dating back to the Sassanid period (224 - 641 AD).

The Sassanids were followed by the Caliph of Baghdad. However, there are not enough historic records which point out that wool rugs were made at that time in Persia. After this, Persia was subjugated by the Seljuks who were very sensitive to all forms of arts. Their womenfolk were dexterous carpet makers. They used Turkish knots to weave the carpets. The Turkish knot is still used to make Persian rugs.

In the latter part of the twelfth century, Persia came under the influence of the Shah of Khiva. In 1219, Persia was severely destroyed by the invasion of Genghis Khan. The Mongols knew nothing about Persian arts. Gradually, after the Safavid dynasty, the Afghan invasion, and the Pahlavi dynasty, in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, the merchants of Tabriz gained importance. They began exporting these exclusive carpets to Europe through Istanbul.

In the late nineteenth century, a few European and American companies set up their businesses in Persia and planned craft production intended for western markets. Reza Shah encouraged the craft of carpet making. These area rugs still considered museum pieces, adorned his palace in Tehran. His son Mohammed Reza Pahlavi also promoted this art by opening the Tehran Museum and aiding export and trade.

The present government in Iran is trying to keep this tradition alive by conducting annual seminars on carpets and inviting curators from the world over to take part in the seminars. Persian rugs have been celebrated for their creative brilliance. They now grace many palaces, popular buildings, rich households, and museums throughout the world.

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