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From the origins to the materials to the dyes, from the people who make them to the people who buy them, we explore the fascinating and ancient trade of rug weaving.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Shiraz- The City of Poets, Wine and FlowersShiraz is much more than just the namesake of the well-loved grape. Approximately 4,000 years old, this city
in Southwestern Iran has had a rich cultural history. In addition to it's long Islamic history, it is a holy city and
pilgrimage site for the Baha'i faith, and is also home to some of Iran’s few strong Jewish and Christian communities.
Shiraz is famously home to two of Persia’s two master poets, Hafez and Saadi. Their elaborate tombs are visited
by thousands of Iranian and foreign tourists alike each year. With a backdrop of extensive mosques, shrines, and ancient gardens,
the ambiance in Shiraz is palpable.
At the foot of the Zagros Mountains, the climate in and around the city is mild.
It’s sheep produce exceptionally soft and beautiful wool that takes incredibly deep colors when dyed, making it ideal
for rug weaving.
Shiraz rugs are usually geometric, featuring nomadic designs and bright colors. Designs inspired by
the nearby ruins of Persepolis are also commonly seen. Shiraz is a major trading center for rugs woven by surrounding nomadic
tribes, most notably the Qashqai. The tribes and villages around Shiraz are famous for weaving not only their traditional
carpets, but also kilims and jajims, which are great for use as rugs, bed coverings, table coverings, wall hangings, and more.
Covering the tomb of Hafez, this magnificent dome is
a great example of the tiled ceilings in mosques and monuments all over Iran that serve as inspiration in the designs of many
rugs.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Bijar- The Iron Rugs of Persia Bijar is a city in the Kurdistan
province of northwest Iran. With cold and dry winters and a moderate summer climate, the land here is extremely fertile. Bijar
is actually named for it's abundance of willow trees (in the Kurdish language, ‘Bijar’ means an area of willow
trees), and its rugs often feature roses.
Most Bijar carpets are
woven by Kurdish and Afshari weavers around the city of Bijar and it’s surrounding villages. Known as the "Iron
Rugs of Persia," Bijar carpets are famously durable rugs. They are unique from all other Persian rugs in their dense,
double-warp, double-weft (sometimes even three-wefted) weave, which produces extremely tightly woven and dense rugs. Bijars
come in a wide variety of designs from floral to geometric to arabesque. With a traditional color palette of reds, browns,
blues, ivory, and yellows, these are rugs that could find a home in almost any design aesthetic.
A selection of Bijars featuring the sophisticated
color palette and range of design found in rugs from this region.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Tabriz- The City of Firsts
Tabriz is a city shaped throughout history by its location. Set in a valley in the mountainous region
of Northwestern Iran, it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times due to devastating earthquakes. As a gateway city to
both the North and West, it has incurred repeated invasions and attacks by many ruling forces throughout the past 3,000+ years.
Iranians have dubbed the city of Tabriz as “The City of Firsts.” Thanks to its location on the Silk Route,
connecting trade between the East and West, it has often been the first city in the country to encounter and institute modern
Western influences. It is the home to Iran’s first modern schools, first special education schools, first public libraries,
first movie theatre, first telephone system, and much more.
Tabriz is absolutely one of the most important rug-weaving
centers in Iran, producing some of the finest and most sought-after rugs. The designs are classic yet diverse- artists in
Tabriz often interpret designs from other regions into their rugs. The designs are formal, traditionally curvilinear, and
are always intricate and precise, with silk often being used. A Tabriz carpet is truly an investment piece.
A masterpiece wool and silk Tabriz
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