Iranian carpet history

The Safavid period is a brilliant period of art revival in all fields. Valuable examples in most of the world-famous museums such as the famous Ardabil carpet are mostly the result of royal carpet weaving workshops in this period. The support of the Safavid sultans and their expression of interest in this profession caused the carpet weaving industry to rise from a profession and a rural profession to one of the fine arts. Shah Abbas had a big role in this field Because by establishing a carpet weaving workshop next to his royal palaces, he directly supervised the weavers to ensure the quality of their texture and elegance.

Shah Abbas, by gathering the best painters, designers, and weavers from all over the country in his royal workshops, created unique masterpieces of carpet weaving. By extinction of the Safavids, the art of carpet weaving began to decline. The Afghan invasion destroyed everything and revived the painful memory of the Mongol invasion in the public mind.

Nader Shah also could not try to preserve this art until carpet weaving which was still living in secret – gained more prestige during the Zandi period and was considered by the rulers. During the Qajar period, the export market flourished. Tabriz merchants set up numerous carpet weaving workshops not only in Tabriz but also in Kerman, Mashhad, Kashan, and other cities of Iran, and woven carpets found their way to Europe through Istanbul.

The oldest Carpet

If we accept Pazyryk as the oldest Iranian carpet, carpet weaving in Iran dates back to 500 BC, more than 2,000 years ago. Of course, evidence of the first Iranian carpet has been written in Chinese books, which is related to the Sassanid period. This art has undergone many changes in different historical periods. Among the influential factors on this ancient Iranian art can be mentioned in the Mongol invasion and the rise of Islam.

According to the international site of Iranian carpets, the oldest carpet in the world – Pazyryk carpet – is a completely Iranian Achaemenes work that is now kept in the Armitage Museum of Russia.

A sign of Iranian art can be seen in every handmade carpet and this type of carpet is popular in many cities around the world. In the seven divisions of world art, the name of the carpet is not mentioned and carpet has no special place in world art, But Iranian carpet is one of the most original artistic fields of this country.

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