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During that era dyeing
centers were set up next to carpet weaving looms. The
industry began to thrive until the attack on Iran by the
Mongol army.
The earliest surviving of
the Persian carpets from this period is of a Safavid
(1501-1736) carpet known as the Ardabil Carpet,
currently in V&A Museum in London. This most famous of
Persian carpets has been the subject of endless copies
ranging in size from small carpets to full scale
carpets. There is an 'Ardabil' at 10 Downing Street and
even Hitler had an 'Ardabil' in his office in Berlin.
The carpets are woven in
1539-40 according to the dated inscriptions. The
foundation is of silk and the pile of wool with a knot
density at 300-350 knots per square inch ( 470-540.000
knots per square metres). The size of the carpets are 34
1/2 feet by 17 1/2 feet ( 10,5 metres x 5,3 metres).
There is much variety among
classical Persian carpets of the 16th and 17th century.
There are numerous sub-regions that contribute
distinctive designs to Persian carpets of this period
such as Tabriz and Lavar Kerman. Common motifs include
scrolling vine networks, arabesques, palmettes, cloud
bands, medallions, and overlapping geometric
compartments rather than animals and humans. Figural
designs are particularly popular in the Iranian market
and are not nearly as common in carpets exported to the
west.
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Some traditional tools of the craft.
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