Islamic Art Textiles and Carpets
Major Rug-Producing Regions of the World
Persian knot, open to the left (image taken from May Beattie, Carpets of Central Persia) Persian Knot: the supplementary weft yarn passes behind one warp yarn, and the two ends emerge on either side of a warp yarn. The Persian knot is sometimes called a Senneh knot; it has an asymmetrical structure Turkish knot In the Turkish knot, the supplementary weft yarn passes over the two warp yarns, and emerges to form the pile coming between them. The Turkish knot is also sometimes called a Ghiordes knot; it has a symmetrical structure.
Iran, A.D. " Polonaise" carpet, early 17th century; Safavid Iran Silk, gold and silver thread; 157 x 67 in. ( x cm) Medallion rug with a field of flowers, 17th century; Safavid Probably Kirman, Iran Wool pile on cotton, wool, and silk foundation; 81 x 56 in. (205.7 x cm)
South Asia, A.D. Carpet, Mughal, period of Shah Jahan (1628–58) India Wool on silk foundation; 66 x 160 in. ( x cm) Carpet, 17th century; Mughal India Wool; L. 363 in. ( cm), W. 134 in. ( cm)
South Asia, A.D. Prayer rug, 18th century; Mughal Probably Kashmir, India Wool pile on cotton and silk foundation; 74 1/4 x 47 1/4 in. (188.6 x cm)
Anatolia and the Caucasus, A.D. Carpet, first half of 17th century; Ottoman Ushak, Anatolia Wool warp and weft, wool pile; 167 7/8 x 91 in. (426.5 x 231 cm)
Anatolia and the Caucasus, A.D. Medallion Ushak carpet, first half of 17th century; Ottoman Western Anatolia, Ushak region Wool, about 90 symmetrical knots per square inch; 25 1/3 x 12 1/3 ft. Kilim, 1774 Ladik, Turkey Wool, metal thread; 63 x 43 in. (160 x 109 cm)
Woman and children at the loom, High Atlas, 2001 "Weaving is the women’s activity which carries the greatest symbolic importance, signifying both the prosperity of a house whose flocks have produced sufficient wool to mount the loom, and the skill and application of the women in it....” the loom is usually found in the most important room of the house “The dominance of the central room thus signifies the dominance of women within the household.”
Bibliography