One of the main sights in the town of Ardabil in north-west Iran is the shrine of
Shaykh Safi al-Din Ardabili, who died in 1334. The Shaykh was a Sufi leader,
who trained his followers in Islamic mystic practices. After his death, his followers
remained loyal to his family, who became increasingly powerful.
Shaykh Safi al-Din Ardabili, who died in 1334. The Shaykh was a Sufi leader,
who trained his followers in Islamic mystic practices. After his death, his followers
remained loyal to his family, who became increasingly powerful.
In 1501, one of his descendants, Shah Isma'il, seized political power. He united
Iran for the first time in several centuries and established the Shi'i form of Islam
as the state religion. Isma'il was the founder of the Safavid dynasty, named after
Shaykh Safi al-Din.
Iran for the first time in several centuries and established the Shi'i form of Islam
as the state religion. Isma'il was the founder of the Safavid dynasty, named after
Shaykh Safi al-Din.
The Safavids, who ruled without a break until 1722, promoted the shrine of the
Shaykh as a place of pilgrimage. In the late 1530s, Isma'il's son, Shah Tahmasp,
enlarged the shrine, and it was at this time, too, that the carpet was made as one
of a matching pair The completion of the carpets was marked by a four-line
inscription placed at one end and is also a historical document of importance as it
bears a signature and a date. The first two linesare a poetic quotation that refers to
the shrine as a place of refuge:
Shaykh as a place of pilgrimage. In the late 1530s, Isma'il's son, Shah Tahmasp,
enlarged the shrine, and it was at this time, too, that the carpet was made as one
of a matching pair The completion of the carpets was marked by a four-line
inscription placed at one end and is also a historical document of importance as it
bears a signature and a date. The first two linesare a poetic quotation that refers to
the shrine as a place of refuge:
'Except for thy threshold, there is no refuge for me in all the world.
Except for this door there is no resting-place for my head.'
Except for this door there is no resting-place for my head.'
The third line is a signature, 'The work of the slave of the portal, Maqsud Kashani.'
Maqsud was probably the court official charged with producing the carpets. He was
not necessarily a slave in the literal sense but called himself one to express humility,
while the word for 'portal' can be used for a royal court or a shrine. Perhaps Maqsud
meant both, as in this case the court was the patron of the shrine.
Maqsud was probably the court official charged with producing the carpets. He was
not necessarily a slave in the literal sense but called himself one to express humility,
while the word for 'portal' can be used for a royal court or a shrine. Perhaps Maqsud
meant both, as in this case the court was the patron of the shrine.
The fourth line contains the date 946 in the Muslim calendar,
which is equivalent to AD 1539 - 1540.
which is equivalent to AD 1539 - 1540.
The two Ardabil carpets were still in the shrine of Shaykh Safi al-Din in 1843, when one
was seen by two British visitors.Thirty years or more later, the shrine suffered an
earthquake, and the carpets were sold off, perhaps to raise funds for repairs. The damaged
carpets were purchased in Iran by Ziegler & Co., a Manchester firm involved in the carpet
trade.Parts of one carpet were used to patch the other. The result was one 'complete'
carpet and one with no border.
was seen by two British visitors.Thirty years or more later, the shrine suffered an
earthquake, and the carpets were sold off, perhaps to raise funds for repairs. The damaged
carpets were purchased in Iran by Ziegler & Co., a Manchester firm involved in the carpet
trade.Parts of one carpet were used to patch the other. The result was one 'complete'
carpet and one with no border.
Amoung Other traditional arts & crafts included at the V&A Museum.London are The Pashmina Shawl and Jamawar,Kashmiri Handcrafted Paper Meche,Silver Chair etc.
You can also Own Your veryown Part of the vintage history.
