Rug Life

    When you think of antique rug, you probably picture the shapes and patterns that are common for Persian rugs. That's because the art of carpet and rug-making has always had its epicenter in the rich culture and history of Persia, or modern-day Iran.
    The major turning points in this history usually have to do with various royal dynasties in the area. For example, at the dawn of the Achaemenian Dynasty, when Persia conquered Sardis and Babylon in the 500's BC, we know that nomads were using the technique of knotted carpets. It was when the modern-day function of a carpet as both functional and artistic came to be. In fact, it is said that Emperor Cyrus of the early Achaemenian period brought the art of rugs to his court, and his tomb was filled with dozens of precious rugs.

    Seven hundred years later, the Sassanid dynasty oversaw another carpet renaissance. Emperor Heradius brought with him many different carpets and ancient rugs back from his conquering of Ctesiphone, the capital of Sassan.  This treasure trove of carpets included the "Spring Time of Choseroes", a gorgeous, wildly famous garden rug that beautifully depicted springtime. This Persian rug brought the warmth of a springtime garden to many a wintery court over the next centuries.

    And when Persia fell under the rule of the Caliphs of Baghdad, history of production of knotted rugs sort of slips off the map. Since they were ruled form afar, it's doubtful that the high-class works of art that were seen in earlier, Persian-run eras were produced.
    From this period through various occupations by Arabs, Turks, Mongols, and others, carpet-making again returned to the nomads. Not to say that no works of artistic value were created, but they were simply not publicly acknowledged, nor did the art have the acclaim it did in previous golden eras.