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A Comparative Study of the Moharamat Design of the Handwoven Fabrics of the Caucasus and the Qashqai Tribe of Fars

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Zahra Mahmoodi
Fatemeh Akbari
Carpet Department, Faculty of Carpets, Tabriz University of Islamic Arts, Tabriz, Iran.
Abstract
Qashqai tribe is one of the important Turkic-speaking tribes of Iran consisting of six clans: Dareshuri, Big Kashkuli, Farsi-Madan, Kashkuli Koksh, Amale and Sheshbloki. The main center of this clan is the Fars region, which is one of the most significant areas of carpet weaving of Iran. One of the characteristics of the carpets of this clan is the wide variety of colors, designs and motifs. Moharamat design is one of the oldest designs in the preparation of Qashqai carpets that has been depicted by Qashqai women in various ways to express their feelings and dreams. This design has also been observed among the handwoven artifacts of the Caucasus region. There are many similarities between the Qashqai tribe and the Caucasus region; this resemblance is observed in the older weaves related to the time when the southern borders of the Caucasus and Iran were the same. The current research has been carried out using a descriptive and analytical method with a comparative approach and relying on the data of library and electronic sources. The findings of the research indicate that considering that a number of clans migrated from the Caucasus to Fars and joined the Qashqai tribe, the similarities are more evident in their art and culture. Therefore, in this research, an attempt is made to collect an authentic collection of hand-woven fabrics with the design of Moharamat in order to analyze their design and role. Investigation was carried out on 32 samples of carpets from the mentioned areas. The comparative findings of the design and motifs of the design under study indicate that all types of the design including vertical, horizontal, slanted, geometric are woven relatively more or less in both regions. The design and pattern in the margin and the text have many common features that have been identified in this research.

Research aims:
1. Examining the coordinates of the Moharamat design.
2. Knowing the commonalities and differences in the handwoven artifacts of the Caucasus region with the Qashqai tribe.

Research questions:
1. How to classify handwoven pieces with the Moharamat design in the Qashqai tribe and the Caucasus region in terms of their structural elements and motifs?
2. Is it possible to define common and different criteria in terms of design, role for handwoven artifacts with the Moharamat design of the Qashqai tribe and the Caucasus region?
Keywords
Moharamat Design
Handwoven
Qashqai Tribe
Caucasus
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Sofalineh
Volume 1, Issue 1
March 2025
Pages 189-210