A brief history or Oriental rugs from Persian
Iran or Persia is known as the original center for Oriental rugs. Once the most powerful empire in the middle east. Persia stood at the crossroads of eastern and western civilizations.
Iran, during the Safavid dynasty (1502-1736) flourished in calligraphy, miniature painting, and tile work. This brilliant era witnessed the development of highly qualified carpet factories in cities including Kerman, Isfahan, Kashan, Saruk, Tabriz, Bijar. Most motifs, patterns, designs, were produced in Iran and then replicated throughout the world. Although the very best are Persian rugs and Oriental carpets. The Persian carpets, in particular Bijar rugs, because of their durability have become heirlooms passed on from generation to generation.
Export of Persian rugs began in the the 16th century. Around 1850, American, British, and German firms established new factories in Meshed, Tabriz, Kerman, Isfahan, and Sultanabad to try to keep up with the extensive demand of these fine Oriental rugs. Under the rule of Shah Pahlavi, royal factories were established to use only the finest materials and methods of manufacturing.
Persian rugs have always been and are still an intrinsic part of the Iranian culture and its peoples daily lives. In fact Oriental rugs are in many cases their most valued possession, providing art, history, and furnishing all at once. Even today Persian rugs continue to boast very high quality standards and command a very brisk interest in domestic and international markets. Although the production levels have come down recently, much of todays productions is from the cottage industry and is made in smaller villages and towns and from tribes.
Oriental carpets are traditionally known for their tremendous variety in design, colors, and weave and the for the uniqueness of each rugs produced. The uniqueness is also due to the diversity in methods from one village to the next. Many oriental rugs are named after the village or town that they are made from, or the named, weaving tribe, in the case of nomadic pieces. Each rug pattern, pallelle and weave are uniquely linked with the indigenous culture, weaving techniques are specific to identify the geographic area of the nomadic tribe.
For example, richly colored Bakhtiari rugs, often are characterized by ellipse- shaped medallion with floral patterning, woven by the Bakhtiari nomads and villages of southern Iran.
We hope to help you learn more about Oriental rugs from naine rugs to Bidjar rugs in the coming months and we hope you enjoy the information and your experience at http://www.persianbijar.com
Tags: bijar rugs, history, oriental rugs, persian rugs, Persian rugs history