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PERSIAN RUGS
The Persian rug is an essential part
of Persian art and culture. Carpet-weaving is undoubtedly one of the most
distinguished manifestations of Persian culture and art, and dates back to
the Bronze Age (c.3500-2000 BC).
The earliest surviving corpus of Persian carpets come from the Safavid
dynasty (1501-1736) in the 16th century. However, painted depictions prove a
longer history of production. There is much variety among classical Persian
carpets of the 16th and 17th century. Common motifs include scrolling vine
networks, arabesques, palmettos, cloud bands, medallions, and overlapping
geometric compartments rather than animals and humans. Persian Art being
based in Shia Islam does not take the hard line against human representation
that we see in Sunni influenced Turkish rug weaving. Figural designs are
particularly popular in the Iranian market and are not nearly as common in
rugs exported to the west.