(#236) approx. 390x84cm Hand-knotted Persian carpet Tabriz 500.000/sqm Mahi fish pattern

Persian carpet Tabriz

Different types of carpets were made here, including knotted carpets and flat-woven carpets with simple and complex composition. The art of carpet making was passed down from generation to generation and was considered the most prized heirloom. The traditional themes of Tabriz rugs are ornamental patterns with the following dominant background colors: cream, red or navy blue. The most typical of this school are the carpets, which are grouped under the common name “Lachak turanj”. In the center of the central field and in the corners of the carpet (“lachak”) (Persian: لچک triangle) are “turanj” (Persian: ترنج lemon). The turanj in the center of the carpet is a symbol of the moon, and the diamond pattern with jagged leaves at the edges symbolizes the scales of the fish that rise to the water's surface at midnight to admire the moon's mirror. The origin of this composition dates back to the 9th to 10th centuries. The themes of the Tabriz carpets often come from the works of the great oriental poets. The carpets often depict scenes of falconry or images of a wild lion. Tabriz carpets depicting fragments of palaces and mosques, battle scenes are also famous. When creating this or that ornamental pattern, carpet weavers were often inspired by the hand-painted covers of old books.

heris

The name of these carpets is associated with the village of Heris or Herez in northeastern Tabriz. The stylistic decoration of the “Heris” carpets is rather unusual. The composition and the common forms of the details were created on the basis of the composition “lachak turanj” formed by leafy, curved and linear patterns. Over time, however, the patterns in this composition became dotted, forming a carpet pattern in its own right. Usually the carpet was woven from memory, without a sketch. This is not surprising, since from the beginning of the 16th century until today, the craftsmen in Heris have traditionally only made this type of carpet and they know their design and pattern well. Incidentally, the inhabitants of Heris are also known for the production of flat-woven carpets – palases and kilims.

Four Seasons

The “Dord fasil” (“Four Seasons” in Azerbaijani) is in Azerbaijan and other parts of the Iran famous. The carpets of this type combine ancient elements of decorative art, traditional symbolism that goes back to the spiritual ideas of the early peasant age, and religious scenes. Each of the four parts of the carpet field is independent in its composition. They show scenes from the individual seasons and represent images of the rural way of life. Autumn pictures: harvesting, tillage and sowing. Winter images: peasants are sweeping the snow from the roofs, whipping the loaded donkeys to the village, in the foreground is a laborer with a spade offering his services, while in the background is the masterpiece of 15th-century Azerbaijani architecture – the “ Blue Mosque” in Tabriz. The spring landscape is rendered in vivid colors: blossoming trees, a shepherd with a flock of sheep, a girl listening to the sounds of his reed flute, and an old man with a tobacco pipe talking to a farmer. The summer picture: Harvest, women and children tie sheaves and carry them from the field. A camel carriage can be seen in the background. Despite the independence of the individual scenes, they are consistent in terms of composition and style. The illusion of space is achieved through the three-dimensional rendering of the theme motifs. The dominant colors are gold and red tones that provide a common rhythm.

Trees or Tree of Life

These rugs are named after their composition and not where they were made. In other parts of Iran these carpets are known under the name “Derakhti”, in Afghanistan. Known as “Bagghi” and in Azerbaijan “Agajly”. The composition of the central field of the "Agajly" carpet consists largely of one or more trees and shrubs, in rare cases a group of trees. The trees are of different appearance. In ancient times, such compositions were based on legendary events, love scenes, mythological, and sometimes even religious and fanatical plots. The weeping willow was a symbol of love, the oak represented strength and courage, and the pomegranate embodied wealth and good luck. This type of pattern is found in Qum, Tabriz, Isfahan and Kashan used.

Thematic carpets

While the rugs with abstract patterns obviously predominate, there were also themed rugs. The oldest of them is mentioned by Nizami, the outstanding Iranian poet of the 12th century, whose work was an inexhaustible source of inspiration not only for numerous miniaturists but also for carpet art. One of the oldest themed carpets was the Sasanian carpet called “Zimistan” (Winter), which the Arabs took with them as a trophy after the destruction of the Sasanian Empire. Contrary to its name, this rug is meant to depict spring landscapes. It was called “Winter” because it was laid around the palace during the winter and its lively patterns brightened the wintry interiors with the lush colors of the gardens and fields in bloom. Perhaps the Sasanian king Khosrov Parviz thought of spring when he saw this carpet in winter. The seasons are the most popular motifs for carpets. They usually form the background for the famous oriental buildings, including fortresses, palaces, mosques and temples - nature blooms and withers, but the stones remain intact... Khosrau, Farhad, Shirin, Bahrām Gōr, Iskander, Layla and Majnun - those of Ferdosi , Nizami and Fizuli, as well as scenes from their poems, are often depicted on the carpets, whose style is reminiscent of the miniatures of the painters of the famous Tabriz school, which flourished in the Safavid period. The themes of the carpets are diverse, with the most popular being depictions of hunting and animals, literary plots and religious themes.

One of the traditional subjects is the image of Omar Khayam with his beloved. Through the specific language of miniature painting, the carpet composition conveys the spirit and essence of Khayam's poetry, and does so with great realism. The carpet bears the distichs and quatrains - verses and paragraphs from the poems of Ferdosi, Saadi, Hafez, Sheikh Attar, with some wise sayings and proverbs about love.