Persian Carpets: A Brief History

A most important part of Persian/ Iranians art and culture, Persian Carpets, has been undoubtedly one of artistic magnificence nurtured for more then 2,500 years. Iranians have achieved a degree of excellence through their centuries of creativity, unmatched imagination and talent. Persian Carpets are an integral part of an Iranian home, which is the most valued possession for Persians.

History

To know the exact history of Persian Carpets, we have to follow a path of cultural growth of one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known. Many people in Iran have invested their whole wealth in Persian carpets, which is often referred to as an Iranian's stocks and shares. For many centuries, the Persian carpet has received international acknowledgment for its artistic splendor. In palaces, famous building, rich homes and museums throughout the world a Persian carpet is amongst the most treasured possessions. Thus, today Iran produces more carpets than all the other carpet making centers of the world put together.

The history of the carpet is divided into three main periods, i.e., Zoroastrian period, Islamic period & Modern period. All of these periods are elaborated below:

Zoroastrian period

* Unique archaeological excavation in 1949
* Pazyryk carpets were discovered among the ices of Pazyryk Valley, in Altai Mountains in Siberia
* The carpet was found in the grave of a Scythian prince
* Believed that the carpet from Pazyryk is not likely a nomadic product, but a product of the Achaemenid period.
* By the sixth century, Persian carpets of wool or silk were renowned in court circles throughout the region

Islamic period

* The carpets of Khorassan, Sistan and Bukhara, were in high demand among purchasers because of their prominent designs and motifs
* During the reigns of the Seljuq and Ilkhanate dynasties, carpet weaving was still a booming business
* Sheep were specially bred to produce fine wool for weaving carpets
* The earliest surviving of the Persian carpets is of a Safavid (1501-1736) carpet known as the Ardabil Carpet
* The carpets are woven in 1539-40 according to the dated inscriptions
* The foundation of silk and the pile of wool with a knot density of 300-350 knots per square inch
* The size of the carpets were 34? feet by 17? feet ( 10.5 meters ? 5.3 meters)
* There is much variety among classical Persian carpets of the 16th and 17th century

Modern Period

* Iran exported $517 million worth of hand woven carpets in 2002
* Iran's carpet exports amounted to US$635 million in 2005, according to the figures from the state-owned Iran Carpet Company
* In October 2007, National Iranian Carpet Center revealed that hand-woven carpets have ranked first in country's non-oil exports and hold the third position among overall exports

Design & Material Used

The making of Persians Carpets is done using traditional styles and patterns used by the ancestors of weavers or designers. This traditional way of designing is used for simple rectilinear designs. While, for elaborate curvilinear designs, the patter are carefully drawn to scale in the proper colors on graph paper. Each square on graph paper becomes a knot, which allows an accurate rendition of even the most complex design. With the change in creativity, imaginations and thoughts, little change has been observed in art of weaving. Today, computers are used in the production of scale drawings for the weavers.

The use of quality material help in weaving most impressive and eye catching range of Carpets that is widely demanded for its durability, strechability and design. Some of the material is listed below:

* Wool: kork wool, manchester wool & camel hair wool
* Cotton
* Silk

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From Mesopotamia to Mexico - A Brief History of Silver Coins

Silver has been used for many years as a fungible good of exchange and decoration starting with ancient civilizations. While silver was used much earlier for jewelry, Mesopotamian traders collected silver in exchange for their goods as early as 700 B.C. Silver coins and the history associated with them have played a key economic role in the development and growth of civilizations ever since its use in Babylon and Syria. Silver's value is derived from its scarcity. While, it is not as rare as other precious metals such as gold or platinum, its rarity in comparison to other metals like copper and iron ore make silver bullion an ideal metal for use in currency. While it will tarnish over time, its durability as a metal makes it ideal as a lasting currency that can be exchanged from person to person over many years.

There are many ancient civilizations known for their silver coin production. Chinese coins are regarded for their age and are known to be some of the oldest silver coins available. They often depict pictures of various emperors and can be identified according to dynasty. Greek silver coins were known to be hand milled and had many intricate designs on them. These coins were only produced into the first century A.D. The Romans began production of silver coins around 200 B.C. and they modeled their methods after the Greek coin makers. An interesting fact about Roman coins is they could never depict the face of someone who was still alive. Islamic silver coins were produced after the 7th century A.D., this included the Ottoman Empire. Many rulers had several coins produced during their reign so; a great variety of styles can be seen in these coins.

The discovery of the New World in 1492 was boon for Europe in regards to silver production. Major deposits of silver were found in Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru; and are still mined today. Mining and production of silver was so prodigious at this time that it is estimated that 25% of the world's silver supply available today was mine in this period of 1492 to 1770. This is an impressive amount of mining considering the technology available at this time coupled with the fact that mainly deposits close to the surface were harvested.

Silver coins helped America develop its economy. The United States in 1792 fixed the price of silver in relation to gold and made it part of the nation's currency. This fixed price economic model meant that the value of silver could easily be calculated and there was no need to worry about a varying value for silver as in today's market. The American Eagle Silver Dollar was minted from this time period up until is discontinuation in 1965. Today silver is mined as a byproduct of other metals. Mines extract silver from gold, zinc, lead, and copper mines. Recycling programs also exist to replenish silver sources. In 1986 the U.S. Mint began producing American Eagle Silver Dollars again for coin collectors. Silver is still widely regarded as a precious metal and is considered a great investment commodity by many.

For more examples of silver bullion coins like the Chinese Panda please visit the provided links.

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