Quarterly Scientific-Research Goljaam

Fars is one of the most important areas in kilim rugs and carpet production in Iran. Among the important reasons for variety and multiplicity of kilim rugs in Fars era, is the fact that here Turks and Fars people live together. This article has focused on the motif of Swastika or Broken Cross (Mehraneh in Persian) in these hands-knitted products. This paper aims to study the symbolic language of this motif through the time and its appearance in Qashqa’i carpets. Due to the multiplicity of the appearance of this motif, the current paper is not only concerned with the language of this symbol and its implications in Qashqa’i hand-kitted products, but also the role of Mehraneh through time in different cultures and religions. Some semiotic means have been employed herein. From viewpoint of the objective of the research, this is a fundamental one which explains the characteristics of this motif by exploring and discovering truths, realities and gaining knowledge about this motif. However, this paper is descriptive and historical for its nature and method. In other words, the common and general characteristics of this motif can be explained and orderly described by using original and referable documents and evidences. Also it will be possible to study their specifications, consider the relations of variables (if necessary) and recognize the characteristics of Swastika motif and its application in Qashqa’i carpets. The sources are visual, verbal and written.

The hand-woven products indicate the identity and rich culture of our country, Iran. The weavers of “Bidgeneh village” have knitted faith and love in the warp and weft of their carpets. The Bidgeneh carpet, as one of the manifestations of high culture and art of Iran has been forgotten for many years. In spite of the long history of carpet-knitting in this village, there has been little research on the matter. In this paper, we have tried to revive this art by looking closer at the effective elements which involve in its formation. Initially we have shown that except a few disperse studies on the subject, yet there has not been done a full research on these carpets. Then we have studied pieces of the indigenous carpets and have carried out pathological studies for them. Finally, some methods have been recommended for upgrading and reviving the carpets of this region.

 In a competitive environment, identification of appropriate strategies improves a business by choosing the right passage. In this article the effects of competitive strategies of Michael Porter including differentiation, concentration and cost leadership on the expansion of domestic market of Iran’s hand-knotted carpet are evaluated. This research is descriptive and the survey methodology is used. A questionnaire is designed and after accreditation distributed among two respondent groups; i.e. technical staffs of Iran National Carpet Centre and carpet retailers in Tehran who have more than 10 years experience. The results show that all three competitive strategies could trigger the expansion of domestic market of Iran’s hand-knotted carpet. On the other hand, the concurrent implementation of these strategies has different influences on market expansion. In technical staffs’ view, cost leadership has the highest role in market expansion, while the other two strategies have a minor role in domestic hand-knotted carpet market. On the contrary, retailers evaluate two other strategies; i.e. differentiation and concentration, would have higher impact in hand-knotted carpet market expansion, respectively; whereas cost leadership would be insignificant. Although the research hypotheses are accepted, the statistical analysis shows a very significant difference between the views of the retailers and technical staffs of Iran National Carpet Centre.