The traditional art of carpet weaving in the Province of Fars.

Posted in 2010 in the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Iranians enjoy a global reputation in carpet weaving and the carpet weavers of Fars, located in southwestern Iran, are among the most prominent. The wool for the rugs is shaved by local men in spring or autumn. The men then build the carpet loom - a horizontal frame resting on the ground - while the women convert the wool into yarn on spinning wheels. The colors used are mainly natural: reds, blues, browns and whites produced by dyes including common madder, indigo, lettuce leaf, walnut peel, cherry stalk and pomegranate peel. The women are responsible for the design, color selection and weaving and bring scenes from their nomadic life to the carpet. They are woven without any design. No weaver can weave two rugs of the same design. The colored yarn is tied to the wool net to create the rug. To top it off, the sides are stitched, the extra wool is burned to make the designs vibrant, and the rug undergoes a final cleaning. All these skills are transferred orally and with practicality. Mothers train their daughters to use materials, tools and skills, while fathers train their sons to cut wool and make looms.

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