The Study of Design and Pattern in Carpets with Armenianplan in Kharaghan Region of Qazvin

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Instructor and Faculty Member, Art Department, University of Arak, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Ferdows Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Ph.D. in Comparative and Analytical History of Islamic Art, Faculty of Art, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Problem statement: A high number of tribal and rural carpets in Qazvin Province belong to different ethnic groups living in the area. Having continued their old tradition of weaving carpets in this area, Armenians are among the most important tribes and their cultural and tribal features can be seen in their handicrafts. On the other hand, climatic features have also played a major role on their culture and art after the shift to sedentary lifestyle. The aforementioned backgrounds raise the question that what features the combination of ethnic and climatic factors have resulted in for the Armenians hand-made carpets in Qazvin region.
Research objective: identifying the carpets with Armenian plan in Qazvin, regarding their design and pattern, is the main aim of this research. This differentiates both the carpets with Armenian plan in Qazvin from the other carpets in the region, and the same plan in the other regions of Iran.
Research method: most data used in this research is gathered through field study and for some of the historical observations, documents are also used. Research method is descriptive and analytic based on the application method. The data has also been analyzed through qualitative analysis. Based on the field study, all the available carpets with Armenian plan in the region of Kharaghan in Qazvin are in the universe of this study and 13 carpets from this region are chosen as samples.
Conclusion: A common and general feature of the carpets with Armenian plans woven in the region of Kharaghan is the dependence of their plan and design on the carpets from Armenia. This feature is more frequent in Kharaghan in comparison to the other regions of Iran. The most particular features of the plan and design of the carpets with Armenian plan in Qazvin are the geometrical structure with broken lines, and emphasis on specific shapes like a church, cross and star which are rooted in this tribe’s culture. The most common Armenian plans have thistles, dishes, flowers medallion and vases.

Keywords


Arakelian, A. K. (2008). Armenian Myths (M. Panousian, Trans.). Chista, (252), 64-68.
Babayan, A. (2007). Bazaganan-e Jolfa va Sheklgiriy-e Honar-e Naghashi-y-e Divari [Jolfa merchants and the formation of mural art]. Peyman, 11(40), 48-52
Dehkhoda (1998). Dictionary, under the word “Ghondoz”. Tehran: University of Tehran Press.
Edwards, A. C. (1987). The Persian Carpet: A Survey of the Carpet-weaving Industry of Persia (M. Saba, Trans.). Tehran: Farhangsara.
Golriz, M. A. (1958). Minoodar ya Baboljanne-ye Qazvin [Minoodar or Bab-al-Janat of Qazvin]. Tehran: University of Tehran Press.
Hasouri, A. (1997). Negahi be Farsh-e Armani [A Look at Armenian Carpet]. Peyman, 2(5-6), 90-94.
Hovsepian, M. (2007). Zirandaz-ha-ye Armanibaf-e Iran [Armenian-woven Mats of Iran]. Tehran: Nashr-e Tarikh-e Iran.
Karapetian, A. A. (2012). Pishine-ye Farsh-ha-ye Armani va Baztab-e Nemad va Engareh Dar Esalat-e Naghsh-ha-ye An [Armenian Carpets’ Background, The Reflection of Symbol on the Originality of Their Pattern]. Peyman, 16(60), 7-50
Mojabi, S. A., Jannat, F., Mirmola, S. & Ahmadi, J. (2003). Farsh-ha-ye Armanibaf-e Faridan [Armenian woven carpets of Faridan]. Proceedings of the First National Seminar of Handmade Carpets (Vol. 2). Tehran: Ministry of Trade & Research Center of Iranian Hand-woven Carpet.
Ohaniyan, T. (2007). Naghsh-e Bazarganan-e Armani dar Farhang va Honar-e Jolfay-e No [The role of Armenian merchants in the culture and art of New Jolfa]. Peyman, 11(40), 48-52.
Soltani Nejad, A., Farahmand Boroujeni, H. & Jouleh, T. (2010). Motale’e-ye tatbighi-ye ghali-ye Armanestan va ghali-ye Armanibaf-e Iran [A comparative study of Armenian carpets and Armenian-woven carpets]. Goljam, 6(17), 27-52.
Takmil Homayoun, N. (2004). Daramdi bar Chegounegi-ye Hayat-e Ejtemaee va Farhangi-ye Armanian-e Qazvin [An Introduction on Social And Cultural Life of Armenians In Qazvin]. Peyman, 8(28), 48-64.
Tanavoli, P. (2002). Persian Flatweaves. Italy: Antique Collectors’ Club.
Varjavand, P. (1998). Sima-ye Tarikh va Farhang-e Qazvin [The Appearance of Culture and History of Qazvin]. Tehran: Ney Publication.