Persian Area Rugs and the Caliph of Baghdad

If we trace up the Persian rug history, we will know that people started to weave these rugs in early thirteenth and fourteenth century. As time passes, the materials used in weaving, including the wool and cotton has decayed. The archaeologists who are eager to make discoveries don’t have enough sources during archaeological excavations, save for special circumstances.

The only things that remained are the small pieces from early times as evidence of carpet-weaving. One of the oldest pieces discovered are those found in Eastern Turkestan, dating back to the third to fifth centuries AD, and some of the hand-weavings of the Seljuks of Asia Minor that exhibits in Ala’edin Mosque in Konya and Ashrafoghlu Mosque in Beyshehir, Turkey. These pieces are being studied and attracted the attention of researchers earlier this century, and now they are kept in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art in Istanbul and the Mowlana Museum in Konya.
Advanced weaving technique used in the Pazyryk carpet indicates a long history of evolution and experience in this art. Experts believed that the Pazyryk carpet is a late achievement of at least one thousand years of technique evolution and history. According to the study of art and carpet-weaving in Iran is at least 3500 years old.

To create the colors in making of Persian area rugs, they are using parts from all parts of plants, roots and other natural substances. Unexpected variations in the same color sometimes occur, particularly in older carpets or those woven by nomadic tribes. Persian area rugs are traditionally known for their tremendous variety in designs, colors, size, and weave. They are known for the uniqueness of each and every rug produced.

During the rule of Caliphs of Baghdad, There is not sufficient historic documentation to establish that knotted carpets were made at the time in Persia. As a powerful local dynasty did not exist, it is very unlikely that high quality carpets were made, but the testimony of Arab historians confirms that the craft was not extinguished and that in addition to the carpets made by Nomads. In this period, the spread of influenced to the future of this rug weaving. The integration of Persian and Islamic cultures gives influence to the countries all over the world and the name Persian rugs are now turned into antique area rugs which represent the long tradition of rug weaving.