InANTIQUES | BLOSSOM DESIGNS

Blossom Designs in Vintage & Antique Carpets

The Beauty of Traditional Paisley, Boteh, and Saraband Rugs

BY RODNEY HAKIM CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

SUB-CATEGORIES OF ANTIQUE FLORAL RUGS

Within the larger category of floral rugs, which were woven in various city centers, there are numerous sub-categories and classifications of rugs, depending on their design aesthetic, weave, and the city or geographic region in which they were woven.

In previous InAntiques articles, we have discussed some of those specific sub-categories, with investigations into Kerman and Lavar carpets, Tabriz carpets, and Sarouk carpets, among others, and delved into the weavings of those specific city centers.

While there are definite aesthetic differences from one region’s weaving style to that of another region, there are also certain floral motifs that recur from place to place, and appear in slightly different forms in the antique rugs from various locations.

Some of the most popular of these recurring floral motifs are the aforementioned blossom designs, as the rug weavings depicting flowers would frequently want to exhibit those floral elements in the more exciting blossom phase, and would often do so in the forms of Paisley, Boteh, or Saraband motifs.

Paisley Designs In Antique Rugs

Paisley designs have been around for centuries, having their origins in the ancient textiles and other artistic expressions of the Mughal and Indian cultures. It can be argued that the paisley motif rose to its greatest prominence, however, via its depiction in antique Persian carpets, and particularly those woven in the mid to late 1800s.