Identification of Bushrouyeh Carpet and Analysis of structural characteristics

Bushrouyeh is one of the rug weaving areas in South Khorasan province. The people of this area have been engaged with weaving carpets using their own style for nearly a century. In recent decades, however, the weaving of these types of rugs has also been neglected due to various factors such as the change in the lifestyle of the local people, the prevalence of using machine-made carpets and the prevalence of weaving rugs with Naeen style. On the other hand, Bushrouyeh rug has always been marketed under the name of Ferdows carpet (neighboring city of Bushrouyeh), which has made these handwoven rugs unknown. Therefore, it is essential to study the characteristics of Bushrouyeh rugs with the aim of recognizing and introducing them. The purpose of this research is to study and identify Bushrouyeh rug in terms of historical background, design and motif, color and technical characteristics. The current study is a type of fundamental research and its method is descriptive-analytical based on field studies. The scope of the research included the city of Bushrouyeh. Moreover, statistical population consisted of genuine Bushrouyeh carpets as well as people who were active in the field of weaving and supply of Bushrouyeh carpets (weavers, producers, dealers and local intermediaries). The results of this study show that the traditional rugs of Bushrouyeh are rustic style rugs woven narrow and long. Usually, all the stages of production, including the preparation of raw materials and tools, dyeing and warp winding, and also weaving process, are done by the weaver. Due to the fact that carpet weaving is not very old in Bushrouyeh and has become popular in the region since around 1310 AD with the recession of Barak weaving (Barak bafi), the design and pattern of carpets, like Turkmen and Arabic designs, have been adapted and brought from other weaving regions. All kinds of Toranji, Turkmen, Arabic designs and designs known as Eresk can be mentioned among the common designs in the region. Meanwhile, Toranji designs are more abundant than the other ones.