Islamis Compare and contrast paper - Essay Example

The usak type of carpet was found to have historical sources in Bukhara area in west Turkistan. Another area of origin was in Kuhnel found in the same region. It is believed that carpet weaving began in the 3rd and 6th century BC. The carpets had elaborate designs and there was great attention to detail as seen from the intricate design found on the carpets. The weaving technique employed is known as the "Turkish knot" where the knotting technique was used instead of the traditional woven fabric.

The main materials used to weave the carpets are cotton and wool. (McCarthy 146) The weaving techniques were greatly admired and were exported to various countries such as Egypt and Spain. The carpets were also featured in the paintings of artists in Europe where they had been exported. These carpets had detailed kufik designs and also animal designs such as the dragon in battle with the phoenix, which is one of the bold and popular designs found on the carpets. These designs were used to frame the carpet.

They also had intertwining flowers designs and featured in the 15th and 16th century. The carpet designs consisted of a rumi-palmatte background with pattern of diamonds and octagons giving a dramatic and beautiful finish to the carpet. Contours, which were submerged, and alternating in diagonal, were also incorporated. The carpets also had diamonds, octagons and crucci incorp. (Brown 456) The usak type of carpets also had stars and medallions as part of their elaborate decorations. The medallion usaks were decorated using designs from books and book covers.

The star usak had eight pointed stars in the design with medallion shaped like diamonds alternating in the design. The carpets had different colors incorporated into their designs; the dominant shape was a rectangular shape. A description of a typical design of a usak carpet has a field which is dark blue and has red octagonal or lozenge shaped medallions surrounded by a strip of yellow and blue; the entire pattern is enclosed by large squares. At the corner of the there are quarter lozenges which interact at the corners and are red.

The wide border with kufic designs has symmetrically arranged squares and is light blue in color on a dark blue background with a meandering shape. The narrow borders have floral motifs which are purple with a crimson background and include schematic yellow leaves on each side arranged in rows pointing in an alternating pattern upwards and downwards. The field is bordered by a pattern of broken's' which is yellow on a light brown background. The colors used on the carpets were made from vegetable dyes.

The colors were significant as they were used top describe various aspects of the Islam religion. The colors were seven in total with the number seven considered sacred in Islam. Each color had a specific meaning yellow is associated with the faith of man, dark blue with beneficience,green with tranquility, light blue with trust, red with gnosis and blue with ecstatic bewilderment. The hereke carpet had a design described as naturalistic designs came about in the 16th and 17th century when the