(In a first glance this carpet looks like a big garden, with the repetition of trees and elements of life, the carpet itself is woven in finest quality of silk, it comes in big size and natural color. We used some symbols that are common for both China and Iran, and will be easy to recognize for our two nations.)
A specially-made silk Persian carpet featuring Iran’s cultural ties with the ancient Silk Road is expected to be on display at the Xining Expo in northwestern China’s Qinghai province on June 1.
The carpet, which measures 4.5 meters in width and length, was named “One Belt, One Road.” It was made by noted Bordbar family-owned Carpet Lover Club. It took a team of seven experienced weavers three years to complete. The company had to build a special loom just to make the huge carpet.
A documentary on the making of the carpet will also be played at the show. The documentary will be in English and in Chinese.
(Twin goats (sheep) signifies fortune and happiness. Snake means four directions in Chinese Buddhism, or four elements of life: water, fire, wind and earth.)
“We decided to make a Silk Road-theme carpet, because we see strong connections between our two ancient civilizations - China and Persia (Iran). At the time, many goods exported from China to Iran were carried by merchants, and this also expanded the influence of Chinese culture in the Middle East. The same thing happened to Persian merchants who exported their goods to China. This is why art dealings are important for both Chinese and Iranians,” said Hossein Bordbar, CEO of the club.
(Pomegranate is a symbol of fertility. And pomegranate combined with Cypress tree mean longevity and prosperity. Hearing magpie is singing indicates a lucky day, and seeing this bird on a tree is a very propitious symbol.)
As the silk trade to the Orient started during the Tang Dynasty, Persians were among the first to get high-quality silk and to use it in things such as carpet weaving. Many goods arrived to Persia through China, and vice versa, according to Bordbar, adding that cultural exchange was the highlight of the Silk Road.
(Golden and brown - colors of earth, they also present royalty, glory and wealth.)
About the carpet: At first glance this carpet looks like a big garden, with repeating patterns of trees and nature. The carpet itself is woven with the finest silk. It was made in Khorasan province in northeast Iran, which is where the Silk Road begins in Iran. It is big, its colors are natural, and it has some easily recognizable symbols that are common to both China and Iran.