The Aesthetics of Color and Design in Beluchi Mihrabi Carpets

Among the Persian carpets, Beluchi Mihrabi carpets have a special place for carpet experts. In fact, Beluchi carpets represent the traditions and cultural values of their weavers making them distinguished from other carpets. In other words, Beluchi identity of such carpets is easily recognizable. However, the aesthetics of Beluchi Mihrabi carpets is rooted in their weaver's mentality beautifully represented in their carpets and other hand-woven objects. This mentality is a combination of the weaver's religious beliefs and the natural wonders surrounding them. This study aimed to examine the aesthetics of color and design of Beluchi Mihrabi carpets. The data were gathered based on library sources and were analyzed descriptively. In order to have a better understanding of the aesthetics of Beluchi carpets, in the first place, their cultural beliefs and customs of Beluches must be understood. The results indicated that the representation of colors and designs in Beluchi Mihrabi carpets is closely related with Islamic aesthetics and thoughts

Morphology and Symbolism of Birds Designs onto the Samanid Ceramics of the 3rd and 4th Hijri Centuries

Birds have always had a special place among the decorative designs of human-made artifacts. Certain characteristics of the birds and the symbolic concepts they imply have made many artists represent them in their artworks. In the early times of the Islamic age in Iran, especially during the Samanid era, the birds represented in the artworks are of high importance symbolically and aesthetically. Far from the natural world, such bird representations come much closer to abstraction and, subsequently, to symbolism. Notwithstanding, why certain birds were represented so extensively onto the surface ceramics has been only scantily studied. Given that symbolism is one of the integral parts of the Persian art and culture, the significance of studying the bird representations becomes clearer. The present research aimed to examine the importance of symbolism expressed by birds designs onto the surface of ceramics survived from the Samanid era. To do so, first, through a morphological survey, a contrastive analysis was applied between the mentioned designs and the relevant cases in calligraphy and literature. The results implied that the birds designs onto the surface of ceramics were mainly in abstract forms. At the same time, applying the Kufic calligraphy and floral decorations have played a major role in improving the representational quality of these designs. Symbolically, the belief that birds could bring bounty for the owner of the ceramic object may well justify why ancient Iranians intended to apply birds designs. The data were collected based on library sources and analyzed descriptively. The ceramics with birds designs examined in this research were from the 9th and 10th (3rd and 4th Hijri) centuries

The symbolic position of the rooster in Iranian culture and art based on pottery, metal and textiles

Problem definition:The rooster, this extraordinary and beautiful bird, plays a major role in the beliefs of the Iranian people, due to its faith foundations and symbolic concepts. This deep connection has transformed the rooster into a sacred and cosmic bird. The objective features and behavioral style of this bird have caused many artists to use it as a basis for making their artworks and to express their thoughts via an ironic and mysterious language. Emphasizing the motif of rooster in pottery, metal and textiles within the pre-Islamic and Islamic periods, the present study investigates the application of this symbol and reasons for its importance in the Iranian art. Objective: The rooster motif in pottery, metal and textiles of the pre-Islamic and Islamic periods and the expression of its symbolic concepts. Research Method: The present study has been conducted in a historical-analytical manner and the required information has been collected through searching in library and museum sources. Results: According to the studies conducted in the field of Islamic arts, while referring to the stories and narratives, especially the references made to the story of the Ascension of the Prophet, the sanctity of this throne bird has been emphasized as well. The reflection of the rooster image in ancient Iran has been based upon the written sources of this period, especially the Avesta and the ancient Iranians highly valued and cherished this bird. The application of the rooster motif relies on the aesthetic themes and symbolic concepts. This has caused the motif of this bird to be regarded in the Iranian artworks