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The Most Common Motifs of Tribal Rugs and Their Meanings

Buy Tribal rugs that are quite popular among collectors all over the world.

They are primarily woven by semi-nomadic and nomadic tribes, typically in formerly Central Asia, Caucasus, Anatolia, Persia, and Kurdish enclaves.

Each rug is handmade by tribal women without following a predetermined pattern or design, making them genuinely one-of-a-kind expressions of the weavers' own tales and creativity, with minor flaws that only serve to enhance their beauty.

What Do The Signs And Symbols On Various Antique Carpets And Rugs Mean

15 Common Motif Design Rugs and Their Meanings

While each tribal rug is distinctive in its own right, there are a number of themes, symbols, patterns, and designs that are present in most of them, each with distinct importance or meaning.

Understanding the meaning of the designs in artistic Persian carpets, Caucasian rugs, and Kurdish rugs, and when you buy tribal rugs is necessary to fully appreciate their beauty.

Here are some of the most prevalent symbols and designs used in tribal carpets.

The Eight-Pointed Star

A star is shown by the eight-pointed geometric figure.

This typical tribal pattern when you buy tribal rugs is woven primarily as a representation of happiness, but it also represents humankind's capacity to reach a higher plane of comprehension and knowledge on a spiritual level.

Boteh

The paisley pattern known as "boteh," which has a curled top end and an ornate tear-shaped motif, represents the cosmos and eternal life. The phrase "the seed of life" has been used occasionally to refer to it.

Multiple paisleys can be seen within a single, bigger paisley when you buy certain tribal rugs, which is likely a sign of the mother's womb.

Around the world, commercial carpets frequently include the paisley design.

Diamond

For several nomadic tribes, the diamond sign symbolized different meanings. Some people utilized them to depict human eyes, and the rug's design served as a deterrent against ominous stares.

Diamonds were employed to symbolize ladies when you buy other tribal carpets, and when two diamonds were linked together, they stood in for a man and a woman.

Ram Horn

A ram horn was a wind instrument that men used to call people together in many different civilizations.

It is frequently thought that women who woven ram horn figures on carpets desired for such attributes in their future spouse because of the masculinity, power, fertility, and heroism that they symbolize as a motif.

Elibelinde

In Turkish and Kurdish totemic kilims or flat weaves, this motif is frequently seen.

In Turkish, the word "Elibelinde" means "hands on hips." A triangle is frequently used as a symbol to depict a lady holding her hands on her hips in an inward curl.

Different carpets have variations in the symbol's weaving. It is thought that the elibelinde symbolizes both motherhood and fertility.

Cross

Given that it does not always signify Christianity; the cross is one of the most intriguing design elements seen when you buy tribal rugs.

The "four powers" of nature, which are represented by the cross instead, are earth, air, fire, and water.

When paired with another theme, the motif's intended use alters. One approach to fend off evil from all four directions, for instance, is to look for diamond symbols that contain crosses.

Mihrab

A Mihrab, which is a niche in a mosque's wall that shows the direction of the Kaaba (House of God) in Mecca or the Qibla, is called a mihrab.

On Muslim prayer carpets or Islamic prayer rugs, the mihrab motif which resembles an arched doorway is typically present. When praying, tribesmen would lay the rug so that the mihrab was facing the direction of the Kaaba.

Spiders and Scorpions

Because of their venomous bites, spiders and scorpions were dreaded by the tribespeople.

To prevent theft, they would arrange their jewelry in a such that it resembled the form of a scorpion.

Therefore, images of poisonous animals like spiders and scorpions on a rug served to guard the tribe against bad energies.

Fish

Rugs made in Kurdistan, Turkey, and Persia frequently include the fish design.

These motifs, which are more frequently referred to by their Persian name, "Mahi," are frequently shown in an extended shape, similar to the mahi-mahi fish, and are said to bring luck and wealth.

Camel

For nomadic cultures, camels were a valuable animal since they helped with transportation. Camels are commonly used as a symbol of strength and endurance because of their ability to resist the harsh desert environment.

As only wealthy nomads could maintain the animals, they can also stand in for riches.

Mountains

Mountains are represented by the zigzag line motif patterns that are frequently seen around the rug borders.

In a more philosophical sense, they can reflect the mountain peaks that encircled the tribes' villages or camps, or they might represent the challenges that people face in life and must climb through.

S-Shape Motif

The "S" shape is a frequently used border design that is sometimes woven curved and other times geometrically. The pattern is frequently observed and is said to be based on the sun emblem used in Zoroastrianism.

It is seen as a protective symbol as well, serving to stave off bad luck. The hook is another prominent design motif seen in tribal rugs and is an inverted "S" form.

Guls

Often found in both tribal and commercial carpets, Gul is a medallion-like pattern.

It is a Persian term that means rose or flower and is derived from the word "gol". A representation of the gul known as the Memling Gul was created in honor of Hans Memling, a well-known Flemish artist from the fifteenth century.

In his early Christian paintings, he frequently included guls, including the Memling Gul, which is a common motif in tribal rugs on sale.

Peacock

Different bird motifs are frequently seen in carpets and represent pleasure and love.

However, the peacock pattern represents majesty and royalty. The tribes desired an affluent intellect on a spiritual level, comparable to the peacocks' external splendor.

Running Water

Water was an extremely valuable resource for nomadic tribes since they endured terrible weather conditions.

Running water represents life everywhere, hence its motif indicated by various rug patterns was meant to represent the significance and good fortune of running water.

Ancient handmade tribal rugs have a variety of themes, and it is their importance and meaning that gives each rug life. Look for those symbols and patterns the next time you come across a stunning ancient tribal rug because they have a tale to tell.

By - 04 Aug 2022