Familiarity with handwoven carpets of Kerman province
Kerman is a vast province with a historical background located in the southeast of Iran. Carpets, rugs, and rugs have been the main hand-woven fabrics of Kerman province since the distant past. In this article, we are going to investigate the history and characteristics of handwoven carpets in Kerman province. The art and craft of carpet weaving in Kerman province has a rich history and a long history. There is a piece of a carpet woven in the city of Kerman, in the Astan Quds Museum of Mashhad, which dates back to at least five hundred years ago and proves the history of knotted carpets in Kerman. Chardin believes that the largest and best carpets that were used to decorate palaces and courts were mostly woven by Iranian artists. Also, the famous traveler Marco Polo was one of the first people who was fascinated by the beauty of Kerman carpet. U-shaped knots and the use of three wefts in each row of weaving, which are old traditions of Iranian carpet weaving, are still popular in areas of Kerman province, and this itself is a testimony to the antiquity of the art of carpet weaving in Kerman province. Based on the obtained evidence, it should be said that Kerman was one of the most important carpet weaving centers in the world in the 17th century, and in addition to that, in the 19th century, when carpet weaving flourished in Iran, Kerman was also famous as one of the regions for weaving luxurious carpets. Found.
The peak of carpet weaving art in Kerman
The peak of carpet weaving in Kerman province dates back to the Safavid period. The decline stage of this art and craft is related to the time when Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, following the conquest of Kerman, started a terrible massacre of its inhabitants. Currently, handwoven carpet production in Kerman is going through many ups and downs, and this province is now one of the active areas in Iranian carpet weaving. Also, it should be mentioned that in the past, Kerman was one of the most important centers of fabric production known as "shawl", which had its own fans and buyers in Europe. But gradually with the decline of this industry in Kerman, many shawl weavers turned to carpet weaving. Kerman is one of the first cities in Iran where foreign companies such as France, Italy, England and America established carpet weaving companies in it and as a result exported Kerman carpets to Europe and America.
The most important carpet weaving centers in Kerman province
The hand-woven carpets of Kerman province can be divided into two groups: woven urban carpets and nomadic carpets. The city of Kerman is the most important center for the provision of urban woven carpets and the city of Sirjan is the most important center for the supply of nomadic carpets. Except for the two cities of Kerman and Sirjan, other carpet weaving areas in this province include the cities of Rafsanjan, Bardsir, Raver, Mahan, Golbaf, Jopar and Zarand.
Woven urban carpets of Kerman province
Raver city is one of the most important urban carpet weaving areas in Kerman province. In fact, this city and its surrounding villages are among the oldest carpet weaving centers in Kerman province. Foreign companies such as Atie Bors and Dilmaghani have been involved in the production and export of handwoven carpets in Raver region. In addition to Raver, Golbaf, Mahan, Rafsanjan and Bardsir regions are among the most important urban carpet weaving centers in Kerman province. Raver city is one of the most important carpet-weaving areas in Kerman province, whose productions are small in terms of quantity, but in terms of quality, they are at a very high level and have a very high reputation in domestic and foreign markets. In general, the carpets of Kerman region have long piles and naturalistic designs, and in terms of price, they are considered reasonable and appropriate.
Features of city carpets woven in Kerman
The following are among the most important features of urban woven carpets in Kerman province:
Design and color of Kerman carpet
- The most important designs used in urban woven carpets of Kerman province from the past to the present are: Sabzikar design, pictorial designs such as Khayyam, Hafez, Laili and Majnoon, landscape designs and romantic and mystical themes in general, Afshan designs and especially Afshan Shah Abbasi designs. Quranic frame designs, all kinds of tree and vase designs, especially the Farang flower design, as well as tapestry designs derived from non-Iranian decorative arts. In a general view, in terms of design, the Kerman carpet should be considered a naturalistic and richly patterned carpet, which is often decorated with small and elaborate motifs throughout the surface of the carpet. Khand Shahrokhi, Shokrallah Pak Gohar, Reza Khan Zand, Kazem Rad and Mahmoud Arjamand are among the most prominent and oldest carpet designers in Kerman.
- In terms of coloring, Kerman hand-woven carpet is considered one of the happiest and most diverse carpets in Iran. A variety of dark and light lacquer colors, beige, burgundy, copper, navy, dark and light blue, dark and light green, and pink are harmoniously placed next to each other in the texture of the carpets of this area. What has given Kerman carpet world fame more than anything else is its unique design and coloring. There are usually 15 to 30 colors in each Kerman carpet. The dyeing of the fibers used in Kerman carpets is done using natural dyes in the past, and now also using stable natural and synthetic dyes. In general, it can be said that Kerman is famous for weaving carpets with red, ivory, blue and golden saffron designs in Iran. Kermani master craftsmen dye wool fibers when the so-called wool is not yet ripe. In this way, the obtained color is more uniform and it is possible to obtain many shades and shades of one color, which is one of the distinctive features of the carpet in this area.
Kerman carpet dimensions
- In terms of dimensions, urban carpets woven in Kerman do not have a lot of variety, and the desire to weave small carpets such as two-armed, half-armed, and one-sided carpets is less in this province. Common dimensions for carpets in this area are often 2x3, 2.5x3.5 and 3x4 square meters and larger. Also, in recent years, the weaving of small-sized carpets has become common in this province in order to produce the backs and covers of chairs and sofas.
Rajshmar and type of knot in Kerman carpet
- The index of woven urban carpets in Kerman province is usually between 35 and 80 rows.
- The type of knot in this region is Persian, and in fact, Persian knot is the only common type of knot in authentic urban carpets in Kerman province. The method of weaving carpets is also Persian. Kermani weavers use wool yarn for pile and cotton yarn as warp and weft in their carpet weaving, and silk fibers are rarely used in the weaving of carpets in this region.
Shirazehbandi and the type of carpet weaving in Kerman carpet
- Shirazehbandi in Kerman carpets is always done during weaving.
- Carpet weaving looms for weaving urban carpets in Kerman are "vertical" and rotating.
- Carpets are currently paid after finishing weaving and using electric scissors.
Weaving in Kerman carpet
- All non-nomadic carpets in Kerman province are three-weave type. In this way, three wefts are used between the lines of the fabric, the first and third wefts are thick, and the middle weft is thin. Carpet weave using two wefts (one thick and one thin weft) is also sometimes seen among the hand weavers of this province. The old carpets of Kerman were usually woven in a half-loop style; But nowadays they are often all level.
Nomadic weavings of Kerman province
Afshar clan, Pichagchi clan, Mahni clan, Lerha and Arabs are among the most important clans and nomads of Kerman province. In the meantime, there are Il Afshar carpets that have a very high reputation inside and outside the country. On the other hand, the largest number of nomadic carpets woven in Kerman province are presented under the name of Afshar carpets. The Afshar tribe is originally one of the Turkmen who first lived in the Caucasus region and around Lake Urmia. This clan was moved to Kerman during the Safavid era and during the reign of Shah Tahmasab and after that by the order of Nader Shah Afshar and settled in a large area around the southwest of Rafsanjan, and their main trade center is the city of Baft. Therefore, taking into account that the majority of the nomadic hand weavings of Kerman province belong to the Afshar tribe, we will continue to examine their hand weavings.
Afshar carpet weaving centers
Areas such as Shahrbabak, Baft, Sirjan, Rabor and areas west of Jiroft are among the most important weaving centers of Afshar nomadic carpets. A group of nomads of the Afshar tribe, who still lead a nomadic life, live in the plains between Sirjan and Baft, and have taken over another part of the nomadic productions of Kerman province, and the handwovens of these nomadic tribes are offered in the market of Sirjan city.
Appearance and technical characteristics of Afshar carpets
In the following, we will mention the most significant visual and technical features of Il Afshar's handwoven carpets, which are the nomadic carpets of Kerman province:
Design and color in Afshar carpets
- In terms of design and role, eleven designs can be considered among the most important designs of Afshar rugs due to their multiplicity of uses. These eleven designs in Sirjan city market, where Afshar rugs are presented, are called by these names: Abri design, Heshmat flower, Three head design, Parisi two flower design, Manbari design, Musakhani design, Jungle design, Shul Ya Bandi design, Marghi design And finally, visual designs. Afshar rugs are often known for their geometric designs, and most of the designs used in these rugs are of Caucasian origin.
- In terms of color composition, compared to urban carpets woven in Kerman province, the reduction in the number of colors is one of the characteristics of nomadic carpets in this province. Of course, the use of harmonious color combinations is one of the reasons for the popularity of Afshar rugs. The colors used in these rugs often include lacquer, brown, cream, black and dark blue, purple and ivory, which are often extracted from natural dyes.
Weaving raw materials in Afshar rugs
- In terms of raw materials used in weaving, it should be said that wool is the most important fiber in the pile of Afshar rugs. In addition, cotton thread is also used as warp and weft, especially in today's Ayl Afshar carpets. Of course, it should be noted that in the old carpets of Il Afshar, wool thread was used as the warp and weft of the carpets, and this is one of the most important characteristics of the texture in that region, and the reason for the smoothness and flexibility of the old Afshar carpets. Is.
Common dimensions in Afshar rugs
- The dimensions of the nomadic carpets of Kerman province are not very diverse, and usually these hand-woven carpets are woven in three back sizes, a cubit and a half, and a maximum of two cubits. But in recent years, larger carpets, such as a six-meter carpet, have been woven by nomads in some villages around Sirjan.
Index and type of knots in Afshar carpets
- In authentic Afshar nomadic rugs, the Turkish knot is the only knot used in the weave. But on the contrary, other nomadic weavers from other clans use the Persian knot. Currently, in some villages around Sirjan, rugs with the name Afshar and Persian knot are produced.
- The weft count in most authentic Afshar rugs ranges from 15 to a maximum of 25 rows. Therefore, these carpets are placed in the category of coarse weave according to the index.
Shiraze weaving and finishing in Afshar carpets
- All nomadic carpets of Kerman province, including Afshar rugs, are always shirazed during weaving.
- Carpet payment is also done during weaving in these nomadic weavings.
Carpet hanging, tufting and wefting in Afshar carpets
- Nomadic weavers of Kerman province always use ground (horizontal) looms to weave their carpets, which is one of the characteristics of carpet weaving in this region.
- The tufting of these carpets is done on the dar and in the Turkish way.
Kerman nomadic carpets were in the form of a single weft in the past, but now they are woven using two thin and thick wefts after each row. The use of red weft is one of the other distinctive features of the authentic handwovens of Ayl Afshar.
- Also, rug weaving at the beginning and end of the weave in Il Afshar rugs is often done in Persian style using thick weft.
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