Quarterly Scientific-Research Goljaam

Various Persian traditional arts can be understood as different aspects of a unique concept. All of them represent substantial meanings which root in both Islamic and Iranian beliefs. The symbolic language of these arts and the ability of being expressed in various arts let artists to choose proper methods for their work. Rug and architecture are the most important Persian arts and two aspects of Persian symbolic design methods. This paper tries to focus on Mihrabi rugs as a direct reflection of one of architectural components of mosque architecture in rug design as a suitable carpet for praying time. The paper intends to show how ancient and Islamic architectural symbols affect symbolic expression of these rugs and how these different arts show a homogeneous idea in terms of their own capacities. This study uses a descriptive method and a comparative semiotic approach from historical and iconographical viewpoint and traces the mosque architecture elements and symbolic plant designs of Mihrabi rugs. Paradigmatic process shows some evidences regarding designers’ efforts to represent triple structure of ancient Mithraism altars in the form of mosque space structures and heaven on the limited space of rugs by replacing a triple division of floral patterns instead of architectural structure of mosques in a symbolic way, so the middle tree represents the ancient tree of life and recalls the main dome and two cypresses with their roots in ground and their heads up to the sky are the symbols of minarets. This fulfills artist’s objective to demonstrate such rugs as mosques and linkage between heaven and earth. 

This paper investigates and analyses geometry in Mihrabi carpet design in Safavid period. These carpets are very important group of Persian carpets in Safavid era. Analysis method is based on the main disciplinary lines in frames. The ultimate objective of this analysis is achieving principal and dynamic points in design composition and suggesting sound geometrical patterns underlying these designs. The conclusion was made that the past designers have turned to geometry as a principal base in carpet designing, and have drawn the designs on the basis of geometry. In designing Mihrabi carpets in Safavid period, just like other arts, special proportions were used in dimensions and some patterns were applied in designs.

The Persian carpet has invariably been a means for expression of the beliefs and traditions of various people of this country. Among various plant and animal motifs, the carpets with the motif of the "Talking Tree" which are also known as “vaq vaq”, have replaced the allegorical and symbolic representation of the decorative designs of carpets with anecdotal motifs due to their pictorial characteristics. The present research aims at achieving the visual qualities and concepts of this tree by means of a comparative study among the present works in three civilizations, i.e. Persia, India, and Middle Asia. This research was conducted on the concepts and within the field of pictorial tradition, relying on the remaining records in the culture, literature, and pictorial tradition of the carpets of Persia, India, and Middle Asia. The result obtained indicates that vaq vaq has its roots in the ancient Indo-Iranian culture. It has however adopted different meanings through the separation of the branches of this civilization. From a conceptual perspective, this tree is an image of the tree of knowledge and a picture of Kelileh va Demneh, as wisdom uttered by animals. However, as it enters eastern regions, this conceptual aspect is retained and in northwestern regions of Iran, a part of fertilization rituals and the haven of the residence of spirits create its present shape, due to a connection with the roots of shamanism remained from the Middle Asia. This decorative motif is gradually manifested in various manners since sixth AH/ twelfth AD century, as the Middle Asian tribes enter the homeland of Iran. This research was conducted using descriptive/analytical approach.