Representation of the Patterns and Designs of Tabriz Historical Gardens in the Garden Carpets of Northwestern Iran

Persian gardens play a key role in shaping forms, giving meaning, theme, and the very particulars of many works of art, including the art of carpet weaving. The effects of these gardens on decorating the drawings and geometric composition of garden-design carpets were examined in this study. This research aimed to investigate the way carpets of garden design adopted patterns of historic gardens of Tabriz in the 17th and 18th centuries. Using a comparative study and case analysis, three historical gardens of Tabriz, including the Sahebabad, Shomal, and E'lgoli Gardens, and seven carpets of garden design dating from the 17th and 18th centuries of Northwestern Iran were selected. The map of the gardens and the designs of the carpets were taken from historical documents and library sources. Then, the extent to which geometric elements of the historical gardens were represented in garden design carpets was studied using physical-structural features of Iranian gardens, including geographical-environmental features, spatial-physical elements, natural elements, form-geometry, and design-aesthetic principles. The research findings demonstrated the presence of common design features such as using Chaharbagh pattern, rectangular geometry, straight lines, focus on the main axis through water streams, pavilions and ponds in the center, fence and gardens, decorative trees and shrubs, symmetry, spatial-functional arrangement and independence-diversity of spaces. In sum, it was found that the general design and structure of garden design carpets from northwestern Iran was harmonious with the general structure of Sahebabad, Shomal, and E'lgoli Gardens. Sahebabad, Shomal, and E'lgoli Gardens were found to have the highest effects on the patterns and designs of garden carpets.