A historical tour in the carpet designs of South Khorasan
Carpet has a special place among Iranian families as an art and an industry, and the art of carpet weaving can be considered the peak of creativity and art among the tribes of a land. It is interesting to deal with it.
Abdullah Ahrari, a member of the Iranian Carpet Scientific Association, said regarding the introduction of South Khorasan carpets: Considering that Iranian carpets have a variety, frequency and types of styles, many researchers have spent their lives researching Iranian carpets and still have complete information. They have not achieved the types of Iranian carpets. In fact, the style of carpet weaving in each region depends on the culture, climate and raw materials used in that region; Like wool and silk, of course, the region’s livelihood and type of economy are also involved.
This carpet researcher pointed out: In the history of South Khorasan carpets, it is said that the role of Herat, which was also known as tangled fish, was woven in Birjand and Qaen villages during the Timurid period, when Herat was the economic center, and was actually transported to Herat after weaving. Could be; Because these designs were sold in the Herat market, the Herati design was registered.
Ahrari said: the carpets of South Khorasan should be classified into three axes; The first axis is the axis of Ferdows and Tabas, which in terms of proximity to the city of Nain, the main design of carpets that are woven in this area, is inspired by the design of Nain carpets. The next axis is on the border strip along Khaf to Zirkuh and Ghaenat and the part between Ghaen and Ferdows that the nomads weave different rugs and carpets. These carpets and rugs are known as Baluch carpets of Khorasan and their texture is from Sarakhs to Sistan and Balochistan continues. Of course, despite the fact that these carpets are woven by Turks, Baluchis, Sistanis and Arabs of Nehbandan and Ferdows, it is still known as Baluch carpets.
A member of the Iranian Carpet Scientific Association explained: The characteristic of Baluch rugs is that they weave the sides and tops of the carpet from goat hair, which prevents the presence of insects such as scorpions. The color of these rugs is not varied and tends to darken, which is due to the use of a metal salt to absorb the color during dyeing. The nomads of this region used the soil that contained iron. The iron in the soil, which caused the colors to darken, made the color of the carpets compatible with the nature and climate of the region, which had less greenery and more desert.
Ahrari stated: Birjand, Sarbisheh and Darmian cities are the main axis and center of carpet weaving in South Khorasan and most of the carpet production takes place in this region. The first Iranian carpet company, which was of completely Iranian origin and its shareholders were Iranians, operated from the middle of the Qajar period to the early Pahlavi period and continued to operate until 1314, when the carpet joint stock company was established.
He added: It should be mentioned that part of the type, texture style, type of design and role of carpet in South Khorasan is affected by Kerman carpets; Carpet weaving in South Khorasan province is common in three styles, the style of the Nain region, the style of Isfahan, the style that is modeled on Kerman carpets and finally the style that is modeled on the Baluch carpet of Khorasan.