«Mahramat» pattern in handwoven carpet

Getting to know Mahramat design carpets

Mahramat design is one of the original and ancient designs of Iranian carpets, which can be seen in other traditional arts in addition to carpets. This design has a rich history in Iran and even now examples of it can be woven in the carpets of regions such as Kurdistan, Farahan, Il Qashqai, Derakhsh and Birjand. If you are interested in carpets with a striped and unique look, stay tuned because in this article we are going to introduce Iranian carpets with mahramat designs.

The background of the Mahramat plan

The history of Mahramat designs goes back to before the Timurid period and the appearance of revolving designs. Traces of this design are also evident in Iranian paintings and pottery belonging to the Samanid and Seljuk periods. In some sources, the role of mahramat is attributed to the Achaemenid and Sasanian eras. The design of the Mahramat in the form of stripes and stripes covers the entire length of the hand-woven fabric, and each stripe can be decorated with a pattern or color, and a pattern and color is repeated throughout the length of the carpet, and in these stripes, the pattern of different materials such as flowers, foliage and Animals are used and sometimes combined with other designs. Mahramat designs are produced in different regions of Iran such as Tabriz, Kashan, Kerman and Birjand. Also, this design is used in most of the handwoven fabrics without lint, such as rugs and jajim.

The oldest signs of the Mahramat plan

The oldest work we have of the map of taboos on the clothes of Iranian women and men of the 19th century BC is also in Egyptian inscriptions. Iranian women's clothes have such a role in these inscriptions that one of the prominent Egyptologists said about them that they are reminiscent of Iranian carpets. Completely all-over stripes with repetitive patterns reminiscent of writing and prayer can be seen in these clothes.

Mahramat, one of the oldest patterns of Iranian carpets

Evidence and historical evidence indicate that the mahramat pattern is one of the oldest carpet weaving patterns in Iran. The design of Mahramat can be seen in glazed clay vessels of the 4th and 5th centuries of Hijri, as well as the fabrics that have remained from Mazandaran and Tabaristan from the same date, or the painted glazed terracotta vessels of the late 6th century obtained from Amel and Saveh, which are decorated with the pattern and design of Mahramat. have became. In the flourishing silk weaving industry of Gorgan and Tabaristan from the 4th to the 6th centuries of Hijri, the pattern of Mahramat was so widespread that more than two-thirds of the clothes, carpets, curtains, tents, and blankets in the one hundred and nine miniatures, the oldest version of Qaboosnameh, are painted with Mahramat. .

Characteristics of carpets with the pattern of mahramat

In carpets with a Mahramat pattern, the text of the carpet is either longitudinally or diagonally (transversely also in carpets of other countries and Iranian fabrics and rugs, which are rugs in which the carpet or bed is placed) and in parallel rows. It is divided with mostly equal width and inside this parallel pattern is filled with different shapes and motifs. The dominating role of Mahramat is Qalmadani and Bete. According to experts, before the Mughal period, the only roles that can be spoken about with certainty are Mahramat. Mahramat is a very simple map. Dividing a surface into narrow strips, whether straight or diagonal, is not a problem. The name of Mahramat, which has nothing to do with the month of Mahramat and is pronounced Muharmat in Pakistan, indicates that the narrow strips of Mahramat are probably related to the pre-Islamic seal, which means prayer. In the Sasanian language, mahr means prayer. This word has remained in Mazandaran. Apparently, in Iran, in order to prevent loss and change the form of Mahr in the word and connect it to Mahramat, so as not to be criticized. In other words, in this design, the entire text of the carpet is divided lengthwise into several parallel rows, inside each of these rows it is decorated with pictures such as Bete Jaqeh or types of Slimi or Khatai and other flowers and leaves. This map has an apparently Arabic name, but it is originally Persian, and the pronunciation of this word may have been Arabized in Pakistan, which has preserved some original Iranian words such as Qali (Kalin), which means that the word Mahramat is basically Iranian and means strip or sheet. on which the prayer is drawn or written.

Types of privacy plans

The most famous of this type of mahramat design is Bete Jaghaei. Bete's Mahramat design with Alvan background, which is a design based on the Mahramat map based on Bete's painting. This design was first found in carpet designs and then in combination with Bete Jaqeh in Isfahan calligraphy and then found its way into carpets. In the text of the carpet, as is usual in the design of mahramat, parallel lines can be seen, which are carved inside both lines. Other common designs of Mahramat carpet are:  
The plan of national security restrictions  
Mahramat design of multi-colored flowers  
The design of the tiny flower of one color

Diagonal Mahramat design

Also, Mahramat may be diagonal. That is, the strips should be diagonal to one side of the edges of the carpet or fabric, and sometimes from the middle of the four sides of the text. It may also be accompanied by bergamot and bergamot and other elements. And it is possible that Mahramat are formed only by placing roles or rows of roles one after the other, and there is no clear margin or border between the rows. Sometimes the order of roles is such that it is both straight and diagonal. This duality adds to the attractiveness of the map. Usually, the borders of such a map, especially floral maps, are in harmony with it. In this case, of course, the main role is with the main border, which is wider and more prominent.

"Mahramat Vakili" carpet in Kurdistan

Vakili is also one of the old designs of Sanandaj, the map of which is based on a striped background with rows of leaves and big and small flowers, all of which are broken, and the middle of the striped background is filled with tranji with a geometric pattern.

The feature of the Mahramat map

In the mahramat carpet, the striped pattern covers the entire length of the carpet, and the same pattern and color is repeated throughout the length of the carpet, and in these stripes, the patterns of different materials such as flowers, leaves, and animals are used. Sometimes the strips are like a uniform line and sometimes they consist of a set of geometric shapes. Each part also has its own special color and role, and the roles are pictures that are repeated. Sometimes, there is a pattern in the middle of the carpet that cuts a line or lines. Of course, the design of mahramat is often without fringe and is rarely drawn with fringe with the aforementioned characteristics and is used repeatedly on the entire surface of the carpet. Mahramat maps are very simple and in fact each strip with its boundaries shows the systems of the plan. The sum of the borders of the strips covers the main part of the design systems. According to the type of roles of each bar, you should try to discover horizontal systems. It is rare that the mahramat map is such that the strips are diagonal. The uneven arrangement of the patterns along the strip and at the same time their specific distances can be the cause of such a pattern. Sometimes these strips have meaning in a larger dimension; For example, in the Mahramat map that is given, the diagonal sides of the branches that are repeated along each strip are placed one in the middle in one system.

Mahramat carpet is the repetition of roles

According to what was said, repetition plays an essential role in the Mahramat map, and in fact Mahramat is one of the repeated maps, and the standards and criteria of the repeated maps are true in it. Especially since taboos are derived from prayers and the characteristic of prayer is repetition. How many identical repetitions and even the repetition of a role form such a plan. But in cases where the number of roles is very large, determining the pattern of repetition requires precision and creating different orders. So that the map has well-considered systems and the defects that we counted for repeated maps are not seen in it. Mahramat maps may not have the same shape across. For example, the strips should be the same one or two rows apart or their parts should be the same size. Obviously, these actions reduce the characteristic of repetition and thus eliminate or reduce the effect of taboos. For this reason, it is preferred and spread with maps that have a regular shape and the beauty of pattern and coloring adds to the beauty of the map. Mahramatmap can be divided into groups of two colors, three or four colors, as well as wide and narrow, or in terms of shape (vertical, horizontal, diagonal, checkered). Qashqai region is the only place where all kinds of wide and narrow Mahramat are woven in different colors. In the two-color type, one color is always white and the other color is black or navy and jade.

Areas of taboo carpet weaving

Kurdistan region, Farahan, Caucasus and Ile Qashqai are among the most important areas of carpet weaving with striped patterns, which weave Mahramat in multi-colored groups with wide strips. In Tabriz, Eilat, Baharlu and Boulevards, mahramat carpets are woven together in narrow strips. In Bolourdi tribe, Mahramat carpets are used as rugs. In Derakhsh (Birjand) region, Mahramat are woven with wide strips. In Soviet Azerbaijan, Mahramat are woven with narrow strips, and recently in Qom, Mahramat carpets are woven following Qashqai patterns.

Mahramat Birjand carpet

As it was said, the design of taboos has been engraved on the carpet in different areas. From Tabriz, Isfahan, Kerman and Kashan to Eilat and Qashqai and Shahson nomads. In Birjand, the Mahramat design, as an original design, has always been the focus of carpet manufacturers. In the Derakhsh region of Birjand, Mahramat carpets are woven with local and different characteristics. Like a number of other plans in this city, the Mahramat plan is probably an imitation plan from other regions such as Kerman. And it is inevitable that the design style of the Mahramat of Derakhsh Birjand region is influenced by the design style of the Mahramat of Kerman. The design of Mahramat Derakhsh and Birjand as a whole is diffuse and includes vertical strips, and the intervals of the strips are decorated with geometric motifs, and at the same time, it reduces the overcrowding of the design. The main role of the mahramat design is the bateh jaqah, which, along with other simple and decorative motifs, as well as farang flowers, fill the text of the strips. Sometimes, for more effect of the design, straps are used to connect the strips more.

The border in Birjand Mahramat carpet

The border in Birjand's Mahramat carpet also follows the text of the carpet and consists of geometric motifs, batte jakeh and farang flowers. But the border motifs are different from the design of the carpet text to ensure the distinction between the text and the border. Usually the borders are narrower and simpler than the central text strips of the rug.

Color in Mahramat Birjand carpet

The color in Mahramat Birjand carpet consists of cream, brown, red and blue colors in different colors. There are three types of Mahramat in Derakhsh region: Jamshidi Mahramat, Sharq Company Mahramat, and Sharqah Mahramat. The color, size, and design of the vertical columns are different in Mahramats of Success, so that the colors are, from left to right, marble, lacquer, and brown. The designs also include: a bush and fish design repeated in three equal bands in cream color.

Final word

Mahramat pattern is one of the oldest and most special motifs of Iranian carpets. In fact, if you are a fan of a carpet with striped patterns and diverse but harmonious coloring that also reflects the originality of its place of weaving, Mahramat carpet is the best choice.

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