Articles

 
1-Vase

The pattern of "Vase" was probably created in the second half of the 16th century corresponding with the reign of Shah Abbas. In the pattern the field of the carpet is usually divided from side to side by rows of floral lozenges or some other geometrical frames, arranged In lattice forms.
Each individual design contains a Vase or a bunch of flowers. In the same pattern, either a row of animals or hunters on horse back can be found.
The group of "Vase" rugs is generally subdivided into Arabesque Design, Serrated Leaf, Mehrabi Goldani, repeated Panels and multiple Medallions.
Unlike the Medallion carpets this pattern has a design which is woven in one direction. Viewed from the opposite direction, the design appears inverted. Experts believe that this pattern was woven in Kerman, Kashan, Esfahan, Tabriz, Yazd and even in Harat.
Arthur Pope believes that the pattern was created in Josheqhan (Central Iran).
Several samples of the "Vase" are now kept in museums of New York, Hamburg, Paris, Milan, Vienna and Tehran. That is the BIG RUG ART of iran.

 2-Tree and Shrub design

 The 16th century  by a combination of the "Medallion" pattern with shapes of animals and trees, the Iranian artist introduced a new design called "Tree and Shrub".
The finest carpet of this design is found in the Metropolitan Museum of New York. The Medallion of this carpet is in the form of a pool of fish, which is surrounded by trees and branches having beautiful flowers. Experts are of the opinion that all carpets of this category, which were woven in 16th, 17th and 18th century, originated in Kordestan and from parts of North - Western Iran. Lovely and exquisite samples of this design are kept in the Museum of Philadelphia and the Metropolitan Museum of New York. And it is the BIG RUG ART of iran too.

3- Harati

The Harati design derives its name from the city oh Harat (part of Persia
but now in Afghanistan). The design is generally composed of a single floral head, within a diamond framework flanked by four outwardly curling leaves. One of this carpets is now in the Metropolitan Museum of New York and the other one is in the Museum at Vienna.
"Harati! design rugs are closely associated with those from Khorasan, Kordestan, Harnedan ,Azarbaijan.

 4-Stripped (Moharramat)

 This name  is applied to designs which are repeat in narrow strips along the length of a carpet.
Each strip has its own specific colour and design in some areas of Iran this pattern is also known as Ghalamdani. Botteh Moharrarnat is one of the sub - patterns of this design.

5-Portrait and pictorial

In this kind of designs, political personages, portraits, landscapes and painting are depicted and constitute the main subjects of this category, which are common in the high level workshops of Tehran, Tabriz and Kerman.

6-Garden

  The design is based on the formal gardens of ancient Persia with their abundance of flora separated by pathways and ornamental ponds.
They sometimes take the form of a palace garden seen from above but more often a garden is simply implied by the juxtaposition of vegetal and foliate forms.
In the classical Persian design of gardens the field of the carpet is divided equally by channels of water into four sections; named "Chahar bagh" meaning four gardens. Usually, the centre medallion has the form of a pool containing fishes and ducks. The water in the pool and channels are woven in pale blue and beige and on the background of each square are woven birds and shrubs and a cluster of flowers incarnating the lively world of animals.
Some of these carpets are woven in the shape of a Mehrab (a special place in the mosque where the Imam prays) in the others the background has been divided into six sections.
Garden designs are most closely associated with the Kerman weavers of southern Persia and date back to the 1yth and early ie" century. Iran is situated in a dry arid region, where in many parts there is an endless expanse of desert or naked mountains.
The people naturally sought the beauty of nature. All the lovely designs such as streams, pools, gardens with trees and birds which are seen in the Persian carpets are an attempt to bring the lush beauty of nature into their lives.