Persian Rugs: Timeless Masterpieces
Persian rugs are exquisite traditional pieces of art from oriental artisan delicacy. The Persian rug weavers have centuries old tradition of creating masterpieces that have won hearts in every part of the world. The trade of oriental Persian rugs dates back to 2500 years ago.
The geometric designs and floral patterns of Persian rugs have been an all time favorite. These timeless designs can accentuate any area they are used in, be it a traditional oriental ambiance or a modern western atmosphere. The unblemished proportions of these rugs is the reason that they are rated as the best in line.
Since long Persian rugs have been a symbol of prestige and elegance and depict the sophisticated taste of the owner.
Rugs are an essential part of Persian culture and art. They range from simple rugs for day to day use to more intricate and sophisticated masterpieces used in royal courts and even laid in the tombs of the rich.
Gabbeh
“Gabbeh” are the most famous rugs, made by nomadic weavers. The rugs made by small villagers and nomads are treated as a speciality; although their designs are artistically less perfect. They are not pre-designed and usually have bold colors and coarse designs. These rugs are renowned as being the authentic and original Persian rugs. They are distinguished from the other commercially made rugs on the basis of their traditional value and crude, spontaneous designs. The nomads reared their own sheep and goats, which were a reliable source of the supreme quality wool for weaving. The homemade raw material used to be exclusive and durable.
Seljok Knots
Seljoks conquered Persia after the Arabs during the eleventh century. The skillful Seljok women incorporated Seljok knots with the local Persian weaving expertise. This tradition was lost because of Mongol brutality later on. However, weaving was revived by Mongol ruler, Shah Rokh. The artistic heritage started anew with simple motifs and progressed on to more complicated designs later on.
16th Century Carpets
The Safavid Dynasty witnessed the pinnacle of carpet weaving. Workshops were set up with highly skilled craftsmen and expert designers who produced splendid pieces of art. The amalgamation of gold and silver threads, in addition to silk threads started in this era, crossing yet another milestone, piling up elegance in the Persian rugs industry. The traditional designs from this era were followed for the coming years as customary inheritance among the weavers. The museums all over the world have Persian carpets from the 16th century as a valuable artifact. These rugs carry the cultural designs and their rich colors and patterns are matchless.
Symbolic Significance
The motifs, designs and geometric figures on the rugs have held symbolic importance since long. It was believed that these patterns kept misfortune and evil eye away from the owner. The rugs carried all the different objects from real life, ranging from people to animals to everyday objects. All these items, floral patterns and geometric designs have been a source of inspiration for the designers and artists around the world.
These rugs have been a brilliant imitation of the nomadic life of the weavers in ancient Persia. These designs and traditions amalgamated with each local influence in the region and gave birth to the vast weaving heritage of Persians, which later on spread to the Mughal Empire in South Asia too. The trade of these Persian rugs has also played an important role in the exchange of artistry and promotion of cultural heritage among the different regions on the globe.
The rules and standards have been passed on for generations and still stand as the gold standard in the rug industry. The delicate proportions and principles are followed and cherished among the weavers to create the best of the rugs. The rugs are also classified on the basis of the pile of the product. The thick pile rugs are the supreme products with combination of cotton and silk threads along with embellishments of gold and silver threads. Nevertheless, there are intricate rugs in the flat woven category, like Soumak and Kilim with tissue like Suzani superfluities.
Persian rugs have withstood the test of time. Carpets as old as 5th century BC are a proud part of museums around the globe. The tastefully designed carpets, made with supreme and durable materials, make the elegant centerpieces in all elegant decor plans.
