The Sublime Persian Carpet

By Saybhan Samat

(March 06, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) When one thinks of Persia or Iran, the Persian carpet is the first thing that comes to one’s mind. For centuries the Persian carpet has become famous and exceedingly popular world-wide. The words of carpet and Iran are synonymous in any language. Carpets are the foremost symbol of Iranian culture and art. Indeed it can be affirmed that the finest and the most sumptuous carpet of the world are woven in Iran.The art of carpet weaving in Iran is deeply connected with the culture and the customs of the people of this unique land and it is sourced from their instinctive feelings. Iranian skilful carpet weavers mix wonderful patterns with admirable colours. Art experts in the world compare the Iranian carpet to multi-coloured pleasant gardens, full of flowers, vegetables, birds and beasts and terrestrial and legendary creatures. Everyone can possess this little garden in one’s own house. The Iranian carpet spread in the most magnificent places of the world or in rustic rooms, ravishes the eye and pleases the soul of those who look at it.

The different place of perfection of the Persian carpet up to today in this industry shows the life and culture of the people. The Iranian carpet is an image of the time spirit of this country’s various arts. It is not clearly known, where they were first woven. Archaeologists and chronologists of the history of art believe that carpet weaving was invented by the people who’s main occupation was cattle raising. Agriculture and cattle raising were among the first occupations of the Iranian plateau. The people, who were in contact with domestic animals, gradually became familiar with the utilization of wool and its properties for making garments. Garment making was the first step and gradually a sort of weaving was established for covering the floor. These primitive rugs replaced the hides of animals, formerly used as floor coverings. Considering this process, it is acceptable that those inhabitants of the Iranian plateau, whose occupation was cattle raising and agriculture, are the first weavers of carpets and the inventors of this sublime art.

From the blooming period of the art of carpet weaving in Iran, relatively numerous samples are being preserved in the world’s greatest museums and private collections. 200 pieces are among the indisputable masterpieces of the art of carpet weaving of Iran. These carpets are the reminiscences of the golden age of carpet weaving in Iran.

The art of carpet weaving is common almost in all cities and villages of Iran. Cities villages and rustic regions are major centers of carpet production. The cities of Kashan, Isfahan, Tabriz, Mashad, Kerman, Qum, Nain, Sananday, Arak and Hamedan are the main centres where costly and beautiful carpets are woven, rustic people use agreeable styles in weaving carpets. From old times it is the rustic men, women, youth, boys and girls who were the best known weavers of carpets. The intricate designing of carpets has always instinctively existed in their hearts. Through the passage of time these rustics graduated to be great master designers. Today outstanding designers have set forth innovations in carpet weaving that have made carpets a sublime work of outstanding art. Iran is indeed the birth place for wonderful designs of carpets.

-Sri Lanka Guardian