Antique Kerman Rug 3416 by Nazmiyal
Guide to Kerman Rugs: Since the early 17th century, Kerman carpets (Alt. Spelling: Kirman) have been exported to western markets where they have consistently ranked among the best of the best in the upper echelons of Persian rugs. The history of carpet weaving and textile production in Kerman / Kirman dates back before the city gained its modern name. The earliest carpet artifacts from Kerman / Kirman date back to the 1500s, but depictions of opulent carpets decorating the courts of Persian emperors date back more than 2,500 years.
Located in the rugged, high-altitude plains of southeast Iran, Kerman / Kirman is both a province and a provincial capital often associated with surrounding counties and cities, including the famed carpet-producing village of Lavar, which developed its own group of designs. Kerman / Kirman was established in the 3rd century as a military outpost and citadel for the Sassanid Empire. Kerman / Kirman has been known by different names, including Karmania, Kermania and Zhermanya, which stem from words related to bravery in combat. As power fluxed between ethnic groups and religions, Kerman / Kirman remained part of the greater Persian Empire, which was controlled by a number of independent groups before the year 725 when Islamic leaders became the predominant imperial force.
By the 8th century, Kerman / Kirman had gained a reputation for producing fine Cashmere shawls and textiles from luxurious fiber obtained from the Kashmir goat. As a defense outpost, Kerman / Kirman was an unavoidable stop from travelers and merchants on the Silk Road. With access to international trade routes, carpets and textiles from Kerman were distributed east to India and China and west to Anatolia and European countries.
In 1271, the legendary traveler and merchant Marco Polo visited the city of Kerman / Kirman. Accounts of his visit include details of plentiful turquoise mines and advanced steel production. However, his most prolific paragraphs on industry in Kerman / Kirman mention the exquisite textiles, needlework and decorative embroidery produced by the women and girls in Kerman / Kirman, which he describes as marvels to see. In addition to the silk embroidery and colorful threads, Marco Polo mentions the animals, birds, trees and flowers used to decorate the local textiles.
Antique Kerman Rug 44646 by Nazmiyal
When Marco Polo arrived in Kerman / Kirman, the city was formally ruled by Seljuk Turks from the Kazakh Steppe. However, the fragmented government of the Seljuk Sultanates left the province of Kerman / Kirman largely under its own control. From the 13th century through the 16th century, Kerman / Kirman and the greater Persian Empire experienced constant power struggles between the Mongols, Timur the Great and finally the Safavids. During the 17th century, Kerman / Kirman experienced tremendous internal growth that led to an increased output of carpets for export. In 1604, the explorer Pedro Teixeira also known as Pedro Teshira, who was working for the Portuguese crown, ranked Kerman’s carpets as the second best in Persia behind the neighboring province of Yazd and ahead of Khorasan to the north.
In the second half of the 17th century, Jean-Baptiste Chardin also known as Sir John Chardin commented on Kerman’s carpet production while compiling his ten-book series, which was one of the earliest and most comprehensive works on Persia and the Near East completed by a Western scholar. During his travels through Kerman, Chardin noted that the province produced some of the finest carpets in Persia, which were often marketed as Turkish carpets due to the import route to Europe.
In Kerman, Muslim carpet weavers worked in studios small and large as well as private homes. Carpet weavers in Kerman produced a number of pictorial pieces as well as exclusive gift for foreign dignitaries. Due to the varied production settings, not many carpets from Kerman are signed by master weavers. However, there were several prestigious workshops and weavers operating in Kerman between 1866 and 1915, which have made it possible to attribute these pieces and regional designs with astounding accuracy. As a city that flourished under Safavid rule, carpets from Kerman represent a broad range of patterns that encompass the world of traditional Persian designs.
History of Kerman Carpets and Kirman Rugs
History of Kerman Rugs: Kerman is a city and as well as a province in south central Iran. With its 60,000 inhabitants and surrounding villages, it is one of the major rug producing areas of Iran. Unlike other parts of Persia, Kerman existed with relatively no interference from invasions, mostly due to its provincial isolation. As a result the arts in Kerman flourished. Kerman rugs are easily recognizable with curvilinear graceful floral designs in a brilliant assortment of colors. The dyes of Kerman are the most varied and imaginative. The dyeing process is done while the wool is still in the flock, before spinning, allowing for more uniformity of color. The dyers of Kerman are renowned for their skill in producing light shades of color. Kerman is also noted for its distinctive late 16th century to mid 17th century carpets called ‘vase carpets’. This term refers to a design of all-over stylized flowers and oversized palmettes with vases placed at intervals throughout the field. Kerman rugs are woven in all sizes and the foundation is often cotton. To the north of Kerman is the village of Ravar where Laver Kerman rugs are made. These rugs are rarer than Kermans and the name is used as a distinction of quality.
