Iranian Journal of hand woven carpet

Introduction of Mythical Motifs of Gholtough Carpet

Hossein Ghorbani

Culturalattitudesduringdifferentperiodsare associated withmythologicalbeliefs ofthe people, however,regarding culturaldivision, each period contain a particularconcept. Hand-woven motifsand mythsinproportion to the categoriesof motifs in Persiancarpet are dividedinto several types, mostimportantly mythicfigureas plant and animalmotifs(Daryaei, 2003, 83). It cannot be saidthat such motifs oncarpetsare exactly equal to the interpretation ofthe concepts thattoday'sgreatestmythologists,sociologistsand historianspropose. Behind these motifs, there lies a written language of people who have experienced the powerto transfersuchideasin therealmofcolor andwool.One of themost importantartisticvaluesin Persian rugsis their motifs, and howwe can identifythemythic valuesof such motifs?GholtoughVillageinZanjan Province is one of the importantcarpet-weaving areas in Iran. Carpetart-industryhas prevailedin the areafor a longtime andhas survived until today,soits designs and motifscanberooted in thepastperiods.Carpetsof Gholtoughvillageasa manifestation ofthe richart and cultureof this landhave beenabandoned for years.Thus, in order torevivethis art, a closer look atthefactorsaffectingitsplasticity, its originaldrawingsanddesigns and its maincharacteristicsis necessary, so that its symbolicandmythicalconceptscan be identified, and imagination and of puredreamsofits weavercan be describedand understood.The aimisto identify themythic valuesof motifs in Gholtoughcarpetand to find needed information.This studyis historical, descriptiveandanalyticalin terms of method. Accordingly, firsta brief historyof Gholtoughvillagewill be provided and technical characteristicsandappearance ofthe carpets in the areaare studied.Finally, aestheticfactorsare describedwhich are the cultural and intellectualgrounds for mythologicalmotifson the carpet.Sample size for motifs of Gholtoughcarpethas been 9samples.

Simulation and Inventing a Formula for Measuring the Sharpness of the Carpet Design

Mohammad Javad Karamad

Sharpness of the carpet design is one of the parameters affecting the visual appearance of the carpets. In this paper, some preparatory steps have been taken for measuring the sharpness of the carpet design. First, the influencing parameters on the sharpness of the carpet design have been analyzed and formulated, thus this formula can be used as a theoretical base for measuring the sharpness of the carpet design. Then, by simulation of the carpet design formation, the effect of distinctive steps of carpet product on the sharpness of the carpet design has been studied.

Identifying and Prioritizing Effective Factors on Carpet Exporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SME,s)

Mehdi Kateb

The role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in economy and in creating jobs in developing countries is an important parameter, and other important parameters in this field include investigating their economic situation and profitability in order for survival and creating value for customers. Whereas small and medium enterprises which work on sale of Iranian handmade carpets,as the exclusive product with international brand and national position,can benefit from handicraft expertsand human resources,and use domestic resources to answer domestic demand, as well as many customers around the world.Nevertheless,the export of this product has decreased comparing other domestic products, but still experts and active participants in this industry antedate from other domestic and foreign rivals and are successful in development and growth of this product. Identifying effective methods for growth of small and medium enterprises in carpet industry in international economyand the related indicators can be profitable for other active participants and stakeholders, whether in private and corporation sectorsor for planners and policy-makers in this section. This study seeks to answer the question thatwhat elements, despite decreasing exports of carpet, have caused the growth of small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) in carpet export sector. Identifying and prioritizing such parameters are the results of this case study. The geographic scope of this study is the exporters of handmade carpet and during 2013. The research methodology is descriptive-correlativeone and research population include all exporters of handmade carpet which earn over 1 million dollars annually. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire that was prepared according to review of literature. Dependent variable in this research was growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of carpet industry in international economy, which can illustrate the sales scale, increment and exporting the stuff (MacMillan and Day, 1987) and independent variables include ability and capacities, demands (causes and activators of growth), resources, seasons and manager and service’s owner personal characteristics (Davidson, et al. 2006). Results illustrate that there is a positive correlation between variables of demands and seasons in range of 99 percent to growth of producing services and commercial services of export of handmade carpet.The aim of this research is studying effective factors on the growth of carpet export in Iranian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The research design is based on correlation. Instrument validity was established by a panel of experts and its reliability was confirmed by filling out 30 questionnaires. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated for different parts between from 0.75 to 0.84. The statistical population was 124 carpet exporters that during ten past years(2001-2011) exported more than one million dollar. Due to their small numbers,census method was used for data collection. The descriptive results of the research indicated that the average amount of carpet export among Iranian SMEs was 4.5 million dollars. Another result showed that there was positive correlation between demands and opportunities facing these SMEs with their growth. The results of the bivariate regression revealed that 38.4% of variation of SMEs’ growth stemmed from these two factors (between demands and opportunities facing these SMEs).

Investigating the Numerical Proportions in Structure of Vist’sImaginarily-woven Carpets

Seyed Ali Mojabi

One of the most important fields of research in Iran is investigation of the characteristics of the Iranian carpet designs and motifs, especially in geographical areas in which the carpet patterns are woven imaginarily. Understanding, preserving and planning for revival of the original carpet patterns can be enhanced significantly through categorization, reformation and determination of the applied proportions in these mental patterns, which have been transferred from one generation to another through continuous years. One kind of such carpets is Vist’simaginarily-woven carpet which has been woven in the central areas of Isfahan, southwest of Khansar by nomads who came from Hamedan and left nomadic life 400 years ago and decided to reside in Vist village. Forms and patterns of the imaginarily-woven carpets of Vist have been uniform and distinct from one carpet to another with only minor change during these years. In this study, local experts selected 50 Vist carpets with more than six square meter size having all the features of Vist's patterns. They were nearly 100 years old and could be found in Vist village and the neighboring villages. Then the largest vertical and horizontal dimensions of each feature of the pattern were measured. Afterwards, different hypotheses were proposed among dimensional proportions as designing structure in Vist carpet and were tested by use of a numerical software program. Based on these findings, it was found that 16 structures were one-dimensional and these were woven imaginarily and carefully without any kind of carpet designing. The weavers of Vist carpets observed 5 determined proportions among features of Vist imaginary patterns while weaving in harmony with other characteristics in specific parts of the carpet. This study shows that other six hypotheses of researchers about proportion and determined structures among elements of imaginarily-woven carpets of Vist were not true. It is also possible to help to clarify the position of thesestructures by determining two-dimensional proportions among elements of pattern. This research presents categorized and analyzed proportions which were found for arrangement of Vist carpets.

Evaluation of Approaches towards Launching E-Commerce of Iranian Handmade Carpets

seyed mohammad mehdi mirzaamini

Increasing development of e-commerce in global extent encompass diverse and different products. The handmade carpet is one of such products traded by many websites around the worlds. However, in Iran e-commerce of handmade carpet has not been taken seriously. The results of previous studies have shown that the commencing such action is fully beneficial and useful. E-commerce, however, due to some reasons have not become possible until recently in Iran. This research is conducted using descriptive-surveying-analytical method using observational tools, and by distributing a questionnaire and desk study. Observation and analysis of foreign successful websites as well as study of active Iranian websites and interviewing with exporters of handmade carpet in Tehran revealed major causes and reasons of absence of Iran in this field. The results show that successful foreign websites technically and operationally have no complex tools and equipment which may need major investment. Thus, designing and launching similar website is also possible in Iran. However, regarding absence of training and necessary and required data among sellers and exporters and limited relationships with other countries and foreign banksdue to sanctions, they are not much willing to participate in this context. Its seems that by attracting foreign financial partners and financial support of the government in creation of equipped marketing websites, training of businessmen and producers, and legislation for copy right in the context of handmade carpet the grounds for introducing e-commerce of handmade carpet can be provided.

Harati "Mixed Fish" Motif within the Geography of Iranian Carpet

Leila Nafisinia

It can be said that a part of our cultural-artistic identity and even national identity is interwoven with carpet. Persian carpet history has been glorious and brilliant,and the artisans of the field, relying on rich and prolific past and the road which has been taken, can inspire innovation to keep it alive. Thus, one of the tasks of the researchers in this context is introducing the rich past of Persian carpet and its historical identity. This paper is based on desk and fieldstudyand aimed to study historical-artisticproperties and semiotics of one of the most famous motifs in carpets,i.e. Harati motif within the geography of Iranian carpets. The questions which are to be answered include: What is Harati motif? What is the origin that motif? And what are the types of Harati motif?