Weaving carpets is the oldest handicraft of Iran. This Artistic industry has been exported to many countries through out the centuries. Persian carpets have been luxurious objects, decorating the castles and mansions for centuries. All courts and palaces’ floors and walls were covered with Persian Carpets.
The carpets’ designs where influenced by the ceramics which de
corated the walls. The old Persian temple’s constructional structure resembles a smaller sky, and inside is decorated with paintings, which reflects the spiritual belief of the nation at that time. These paintings where the raconteur of the picturesque religious stories for the eyes looking at them instead of stars.
The artist had to divide a motif in several prepared mosaics, and for protection from natural hazards, had to enamel them. Later these mosaics where installed onto the ceiling of the temple. The floor was covered with carpets, which were influenced by the ceramic design of the ceiling and walls. It was carpet weaving amongst all the other ancient Persian crafts that survived. The mobility of this art and the economic support of the Europeans who were found of Persian Carpets are among the major reasons.
The selected beauties of the centuries are captured in a picture. On the carpet loom there are thousands of knots in every row and thousand of rows are sitting upon each other to depict a picture.
The closer the picture to perfection, the tighter the knots and the more delicate the yarns. Iran is a large country with thousands of years of history. The Iranian population consists of several cultures, and every culture has its own tradition and art. The design of each nation varies, and through out the centuries the elements of designs, including techniques have become more stylized, symbolic and sophisticated.
The Carpet designs embody the historical events of the centuries. Every carpet has the story of its own weaver, and carries the culture of the region. Usually the sizes of the carpets were based on the market demand. There were several small factories which specifically prepared carpets for European markets.
The city of Tabriz with its reputation in the art of carpet weaving is the center of the province of Azerbaijan, which has been on the route of export by land to Europe and Russia. The importance of the market of this city for trading has been retained in countries. Mostly the European traders who imported textile and other goods to Iran, also exported carpets to Europe in exchange. IT was during the nineteenth century that the Persian carpets introduced to north America by European traders, and later it was the Armenian traders who carried on the export of the Persian carpets. As per the historical records, export of the Persian carpets to Europe is documented around 14th century. During the last century there were over 2500 looms in several factories, which produced pre-designed and identical carpets for foreign traders.
However, in most provinces of Iran, there are many houses where the members of the family still weave their dreams and pass the message to the next generation's artisans.
Designs and techniques in carpeting vary from province to province. Tabriz has been distinguished among the other cities of the country for excellence in carpet weaving industry.
Alinasab family in Azerbaijan province has been reputed as one of the most sophisticated and skilled artisans.