Quarterly Scientific-Research Goljaam

In Islam the “Tree of Life” is named as Sedreh or Tuba and the followers of Islam believe that this tree is grown in Heaven; therefore it is an interesting subject for artistic innovative. In Turkmen terminology “tree of life” is called “Yashaish bagh”. In this study we have made an effort to evaluate the symbol of the Tree and the “Tree of Life”, with reference to the shapes of the “Tree of Life” in the ancient civilizations and compare this shapes with the patterns present in the Turkmen rugs and hand – woven pieces; and to study the hypothesis that the name “Tree of Life” could be assigned to these patterns. The carried out comparisons show that Tree and “Tree of Life” designs in Turkment carpets patterns are similar to Islamic and ancient patterns.

Findings and opuses of Islamic civilization era are designed and rendered on different surfaces such as wood, stone tablet, tore, cloth, kilims, jijims, carpets and rugs in geometrical or curvilinear forms of motifs existing in nature or purely spiritual symbols. The art of carpet designing and weaving which was mixed with its concurrent crafts and industry as well as naturalistic and visual symbols, is the key to the connection of the artist to his/her surroundings and even his/her thoughts, faith and beliefs and incorporated with novelty. This research is mainly concerned with such Persian carpets which their designs include a Mihrab on a carpet (prayer rug). This paper focuses mainly on Persian Mihrabi carpets to present the common concepts in the culture of Islamic era, such as, "Taqe Mihrab" and "Darvaze"(gate). Then the origins of such carpets are examined regarding the painting works, and some works are introduced. Some early examples, in which flowers, plants and birds are used as well as two common symbols in such carpets, i.e., Qandil and cypress tree, are discussed and analyzed.