Woven pleasure: continuity and change in Persian carpet making during the Ṣafavīd period
type: CreativeWork
description: Ṣafavīd Iran is widely recognised as the Golden Age of Persian carpet. Experts in the field argue that significant change in carpet design took place towards the end of the 15th century, evident by a move from the geometric cross, star, and rosette designs, to medallions and scrolls. Some scholars consider this change as a “revolution” in carpet design; others contest this proposition. Much debate remains, however, on the nature of change—its provenance as well as its time. Another aspect of this change is the involvement of miniaturists in designing new carpets. This argument, however, opens a new discussion on who carpet designers during the 15th and 16th centuries were. This study aims to document the history of change in Persian carpet design, investigate socio-cultural and artistic contexts, and establish the significance for Iranian society. Although the examination of the “carpet design revolution” argument versus historical evidence in original sources is one of the main aims of this research, the scope of this study is wider than the narrow implications of this examination. The research also aims to examine the chronology of carpet production and development in the 16th and 17th centuries. The circulation and migration of ornamental design played an important role in the similarity of surface decoration in various media in Islamic art. Therefore, this study also aims to show the visual resonance that existed historically between carpet design and other art media, especially architectural decorated surfaces that share similar visual characteristics to carpet patterns. The evolution of Iranian art in the late 13th and early 14th centuries under the Mongols is indebted to Chinese elements, including blossoms, trees and shrubs, clouds and cloudbands, and animals known as “chinoiserie.” This evolution continued during the Tīmūrīd period in the 15th century. Since chinoiserie contributed to the evolution of Persian arts, including carpets that preceded the so-cal…
abstract: Ṣafavīd Iran is widely recognised as the Golden Age of Persian carpet. Experts in the field argue that significant change in carpet design took place towards the end of the 15th century, evident by a move from the geometric cross, star, and rosette designs, to medallions and scrolls. Some scholars consider this change as a “revolution” in carpet design; others contest this proposition. Much debate remains, however, on the nature of change—its provenance as well as its time. Another aspect of this change is the involvement of miniaturists in designing new carpets. This argument, however, opens a new discussion on who carpet designers during the 15th and 16th centuries were. This study aims to document the history of change in Persian carpet design, investigate socio-cultural and artistic contexts, and establish the significance for Iranian society. Although the examination of the “carpet design revolution” argument versus historical evidence in original sources is one of the main aims of this research, the scope of this study is wider than the narrow implications of this examination. The research also aims to examine the chronology of carpet production and development in the 16th and 17th centuries. The circulation and migration of ornamental design played an important role in the similarity of surface decoration in various media in Islamic art. Therefore, this study also aims to show the visual resonance that existed historically between carpet design and other art media, especially architectural decorated surfaces that share similar visual characteristics to carpet patterns. The evolution of Iranian art in the late 13th and early 14th centuries under the Mongols is indebted to Chinese elements, including blossoms, trees and shrubs, clouds and cloudbands, and animals known as “chinoiserie.” This evolution continued during the Tīmūrīd period in the 15th century. Since chinoiserie contributed to the evolution of Persian arts, including carpets that preceded the so-cal…
author: Rajabitanha, Mansoureh
language: en
keywords: Ṣafavīd carpets, Persian carpet design, carpet design revolution
date published: 2020
date modified: 2026-07-24T00:51:08Z
provider: University of Adelaide
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Adelaide

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2440/126012