Carpet Weaving (Razavi Khorasan)

Carpet Weaving (Razavi Khorasan)

Carpet Weaving (Razavi Khorasan)

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Based upon the existing documents, the carpet weaving began in Mashhad during Safavid Dynasty with unique established traditions of waving methods, designing and dying which have been lasted to the present. Expanding the capital city and other cities under the reign of Safavid increased demand for carpets and handmade carpet weaving become one significant factor in the economic development of the time. In addition to Tabriz, the most important centers of carpet weaving in Safavid period are Hamedan, Shushtar, Kashan and Herat. The reputation of Khorasan carpets was in so far as out of the total 21 caravanserais in Isfahan one was exclusively devoted to Khorasan and Herat carpets.  After the end of Safavid dynasty, the date of restarting carpet weaving in Mashhad is not exactly clear; some sources have stated that since Mashhad was the capital city of Iran during Afsharid reign, the carpet industry was probably revived by Nader Shah. According to the little existing evidence on carpet weaving in the early Qajar period, Khorasan has still kept its place as a principal center for carpet weaving. The oldest Khorasan carpet was a piece kept in Astan Quds Razavi Complex related to Safavid period. This glorious piece of art in 34 meters includes flower’s stems, leaves and spiral motifs some of which has been woven by silver braids. The field color is red and margins were woven in blue. Its history backs to 160 years ago which is the same date as the estimated history of carpet weaving in Mashhad. A specific motif which can be named “the central motif” dominated the carpets weaved in the late 18th and the early 19th century. The most effective decorative elements were focused in the center of the carpet and the field, which was left empty, become a contrasted colored element. However, in a time between the late 19th century and the early 20th century, other kinds of carpets also appeared in which the repeated motifs covered the whole field harmonically. Typically, there is an upward or downward flower vase in these carpets. All pigments are herbal including: pink, red, light chestnut, blue, green, yellow and white. 


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