In this episode we continue discussing the Iranian Carpet and the industry of carpet weaving in the Islamic Republic which is the combination of art, creativity, collective effort and manifestation of the Iranian culture. Stay with us until the end of the program.

As you could remember in the previous program we said that experts classify Iranian carpets into nineteen main groups including, Shah Abbasi, Eslimi, Shekargah, Iliati, geometric and traditional designs. We also told you that the carpets manufactured in Iran are often named after the area where they are made for example Mashhad, Qom, Tabriz, Kashan, Isfahan, Hamadan, Shiraz, Kerman, etc.

Among the other designs used in weaving carpets is the ideas inspired by the beautiful decorative patterns and images on edifices, tile works and mansions.  

Although designers of these carpets sometimes make changes in the main patterns of these buildings, the similarity between the carpet design and the main pattern of the structure is preserved.

Among the most well- known designs used mention can be made of the dome of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan, the portal of Imamzadeh Mahrouq in Neishabour, Imam Mosque in Isfahan, the Persepolis in Shiraz, and Taq-e Bostan in Kermanshah.

The Iranians who are familiar with weaving carpets mostly recognize carpets with the name of their designs and patterns; however, throughout the world Iranian carpets are known by the area where they are made. For example, Doidokh Carpet is produced in the Turkmen- majority Doidokh village near the city of Bojnourd in Northern Khorasan Province. Among the good features of Doidokh Carpet is its high quality, delicate texture.

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It should be said that the names of Iran's different geographical regions which produce hand- woven carpets have been registered in World Intellectual Property Organization, WIPO. These cities and provinces include Tabriz, Isfahan, Qom, Mashhad, Hamedan, Kashmar, Kashan, Kerman, Naeen, Yazd, Ardebil, Sarouq from Arak and Turkmen from Golestan province.

The city of Tabriz among its counterparts in Islamic countries has been named as the exemplary tourism city in 2018 because of its museums, art and cultural centers, Islamic and historical masterpieces and holding different festivals in the fields of agricultural products and handicrafts. This city was also named as the World Carpet Weaving City by the World Crafts Council in October 2015.

The carpet museum and the historical market of Mozaffarieh in Tabriz are among the reasons this city was selected as the World Carpet Weaving City.

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