Classification of Motifs Used in Hand-Woven Persian Carpets

What is the carpet pattern?

A collection of all factors which constitute the carpet as a whole, including the design, coloration, the weaving style, measurement and the relationship between these factors in the field and in the border is called the carpet pattern. This pattern in fact lays the foundation for the weaving of this invaluable handicraft.
The pattern for the Persian carpet, either being prepared systematically or by rural and nomadic weavers of this country without any pre- arrangement, is a combination of Iranian art and industry, inspired by the beliefs, heartfelt feelings, traditions and rites customary in the living surroundings of the carpet designers and weavers. These beliefs have taken shape through countries, manifested, completed, reached perfection, animated by weaver artists and presented to the world like a graceful painting as a manifestation of the talent and taste of the people of this country.
The artful pens of the designers, being inspired by the eternal resources of the nature have created an unlimited number of diversified designs and patterns for this hand-made craft to the extent that researchers consider this variety of designs as one of the specific characteristics of the hand-woven Persian carpet.
They also believe that the numbers of these motifs are equal to the number of their designers and weavers.

Process of proposed classification:

In the classification of designs used in the Persian carpet, it should be noted that in addition to colors, designers will take the following factors into consideration:
a) – Surrounding nature and its ingredients, including meadow, flowers, plants, and colors.
b) Animals, objects and scenery
c) – Lines, surfaces, dimensions and figures
d) Beliefs, desires and innovations
e) Adaptation and imitation of other designs therefore, any classification of designs on the basis of the factors mentioned in the above, will be closer to reality and the aim of the designer, this will be better accepted and stay longer.

Classification of designs in hand- woven Persian carpet

Designs in hand-woven Persian carpet are classified in two sections and eight groups as follows.

First section

Designs that are exclusively created by inspiration from the nature. These designs are included in the following three groups:
First group: Persian carpet design with the main pattern consisting of lines, surfaces, dimensions and objects.
Second group: Persian carpet design with the main pattern consisting of real or imaginary profile of living creatures.
Third group: Persian carpet design with the main pattern consisting of the green nature (real or imaginary).

Second section

Designs classified according to man-made specifications, including pattern, place of designing and weaving, name of tribal people, as well as historical monuments or religious places.
Many of the said specifications form the main pattern for the designs which are classified in five following groups:
Fourth group: Persian carpet design named after historical monuments and religious places.
Fifth group: Persian carpet design named after tribes and nomadic people.
Sixth group: Persian carpet design named after cities and places.
Seventh group: Persian carpet design named after specific motif and its pattern.
Eighth group: Persian carpet design made by combining, adapting other patterns.
Further clarification on the proposed classification comes below:

First group: Persian carpet design with the main pattern consisting of lines, surfaces, dimensions and objects.

Line, surface and dimension play a significant role in preparing carpet design either for the field or for the border, being used in carpet weaving for a longer period than other motifs. The designs, are divided into two categories: category one: carpet designs in which lines and faces are the main constituent parts.
Since a long time age, designs with broken lines or angled geometric objects have been commonly used by tribal and nomadic weavers due to their simplicity and convenience in weaving. Even today, when large workshops in urban areas produce carpets with arabesque and revolving designs, still imaginary, geometric motifs play a great share in the total bulk of carpets woven in this county. Lines used in carpet designs, either broken and arabesque or revolving have difference positions against themselves and against the horizon, each of which having a special meaning.
Generally, Persian carpets, are divided into the following two groups in terms of designs:
a) Persian carpet designs with broken lines and geometric shapes which are called imaginary and geometric.
b) Persian carpet designs with revolving lines which are called arabesque.
Category second: Designs which demonstrate objects.
Objects are among common factors in the Persian carpet and are the same materials that can be found around the designer or weaver and are touched and used by them.
Some of the designs with broken lines and geometric shapes are as follows:

1. Geometric shapes such as square, lozenge, triangle, etc.
2. The armlet geometric design
3. The cord geometric design
4. The Jowshaqan geometric design
5. The broken cord geometric design
6. The framed geometric design
7. The shell geometric design
8. The stripped geometric design
9. The triangular citron geometric design

Some of the Persian carpet designs with revolving (arabesque) lines are as follows:

1. The spiral arabesque design.
2. The trunk- like arabesque design.
3. The jaws of dragon arabesque design.
4. The voluted arabesque design.
5. The snake arabesque design.

Second group: Persian carpet design with the main pattern consisting of real or imaginary profile of living creatures.

Demonstration of the profile, body and head of animals such as horse, lion, camel, leopard, etc. either real or imaginary in various lranian handicrafts such as tile- work, carving, painting and carpet weaving has been a common practice since a long time age. Some of these designs used in the Persian carpet are:
1. Toy- man or Mulla Nasreddin design
2. Animal design
3. Profile design
4. Leili and Majnoon design
5. Fish design

Third group: Persian carpet design with the main pattern consisting of the green nature (real or imaginary):

The green nature has always been a source inspiration for designers in an effort to create fascinating designs.
To the same amount that flowers and plants exist in the nature, there are patterns to set the framework for designs. This is the same variety of designs which make the hard- woven carpet so colorful.
Designs in this category are as follows, with each having a variety of sub-divisions:

1) The floral design 2) The forest design
3) The tree-vase design 4) The European flower design
5) The mixed floral-plant design 6) The scenary and four seasons design

Fourth group: Iranian carpet design named after historical monuments and religious places:

The basis for these designs are historical monuments, religious places or their decorations such as lantern, tile-work and images on mina rates and domes.
Some of these more famous designs are:
1) Avicenna tomb in Hamedan 2) Taq-e Bostan in Kermanshah
3) Dome of Ali-Qapu's corridor 4) Kavoos Dome
5) Kabood Mosque in Tabriz 6) Dome of Sheikh .safieddin Ardebili' s tom

Fifth group: Persian carpet design named after trities and nomadic people:

Carpet can be considered as an essence of art and industry of tribal and nomadic
people and a manifestation of their patience and tolerance.
Some of the designs used by the weavers which are mainly conceptual and are aften
woven with broken and geometrical lines are as follows:
1) Afshar 2) Bakhtiari
3) Turkmen 4) Turkmen
5) Qashqaei 6) Shah Abbasi

Sixth group: Persian carpet design named after cities and places:

Due to the facilitated contact between carpet designers and weavers, presently famous
designs belonging to certain localities, are often used in most carpet-weaving
centers. Therefore, the venue of waving can hardly be specified. Some of the designs
are:

1) Ardebil 2) Isfahan
3) Bijar 4) Birjand
5) Zanjan 6) Sarough
7) Saveh 8) Kashan
9) Kerman 10) Hamedan

Seventh group: Persian carpet design named after a specific motif and its pattern:

These designs have been transferred from generation to generation through those involved in the carpet industry, including designers, weavers, craftsmen and traders during various periods. Same of the designs are as follows:
1) Plain field design 2) Scattered design
3) Triangular citron design 4) Cord design
5) Stripped design 6) Chained design
7) Margined design 8) Altar design
9) Overall design

Eighth group: Persian carpet design made by combining or adapting other designs:

These designs are created by the combination of two or more designs or are adapted from other Iranian or non-Iranian patterns. Some of the designs are:

1) The underground design 2) The altar underground design
3) The Afghan design 4) The Anato.1ia design
5) The Caucasian design

Technical Analysis

The technical analyses appearing after desciptions of tribal, village and nomadic pile rugs are provided exclusively as a service for those interested in the structure of pile weavings.

The following abbreviations are employed:
H- Horizontal
V- Vertical
S- Clockwise direction of spin
Z- Counter- clockwise direction of spin

Z2S- The spin of the individual strands is clockwise, 2 of these strands are then plied together counter- clockwise to form the yarn.