Persian carpets and rugs

Known as the home of the original oriental carpet, Iran (Persia) the oldest and once most powerful empire in the Middle East, stood at the crossroads of Eastern and Western civilizations. It is hard to say when the carpets were first made in Persia,but by the fifth century BC carpet making had reached a high artistic level in Pasia. This was proven by the Russian archaeologists Rudenko and Griaznov, who in 1949 discovered the oldest known "knotted" carpet in the Pazyryk valley, about 5000 feet up on the Altai Mountains in Siberia. The Pazyryk carpet is of rare beauty and woven with great technical skill. It was found preserved in the frozen tombs of Scythian chiefs, which were 2400 to 2500 years old. It is the oldest hand-knotted rug found in the world till today.
Under the Safavid Dynasty (1502-1736), Iran attained its artistic height. Court weaving, together with the arts of calligraphy, miniature painting, and tile work, flourished to exceptional heights. This brilliant era witnessed the development of highly qualified carpet factories in the cities of Kerman, Isfahan, Kashan, Tabriz, and Herat. Persian carpet exports began in the 16th century. Starting in the 1850s, American, English and German firms established new factories in Mashed, Tabriz, Kerman, and Sultanabad (now Arak), thereby ensuring the art form's continued development. Under Reza Shah Pahlavi, royal factories were established to utilize the finest materials and methods of manufacture.
Persian carpets are traditionally known for their tremendous variety in design( Mainly the designs can be classified into 3 categories: geometric design, curvilinear and floral designs, and pictorial design, color, size, and weave. Old Persian carpets usually used natural dyes such as minerals, plant leaves , roots, barks, and so on. Indigo, madder, ?larkspur, and walnut peels are most popular dyes. Now days the chemical dye is widely applied. Moreover, they are known for the uniqueness of each and every rug produced. Rugs are generally named after the village, town or district where they are woven or collected, or by the weaving tribe in the case of nomadic pieces. Each rug's particular pattern, palette, and weave are uniquely linked with the indigenous culture, and weaving techniques are specific to an identifiable geographic area or nomadic tribe.
The workshops in large cities were an important factor in the past, much of today's production is from cottage industry lines in small villages and towns.
Persian carpets and rugs have always been and still are an intrinsic part of Iranian culture and its people's daily lives. Indeed, Persians carpets and rugs are in many cases the most valued possessions for Iranians and they are an integral part of their home. The Persian carpet has received international acknowledgment for its artistic splendor. In palaces, famous building, rich homes and museums throughout the world a Persian carpet is amongst the most treasured possessions.