Yalame Rug Symbology

Written by Abdolhossein Ghasemnejad.

The Yalame rug is the most renowned rural and nomadic carpet among customers. This article is meant to interpret the main symbolism behind this rug.

Geographical Scope

The Yalame rug was originally produced by the Qashqai clan who speak Turkish, yet today it is chiefly created in an area located in Lurestan and Isfahan provinces which is dominated by Lorish culture and dialect. Therefore, it is a national heritage belonging to both provinces.

Yalame Rug Structure

The Yalame rug consists of three main patterns: Hozi, Shekarlu and Bandi. What these patterns have in common is the use of rhombus patterns with decorative shapes stretched harmoniously on the sides, a feature which is of great significance in the symbolic interpretation of this rug.

Symbolism

In ancient Iran, geometrical parallelograms were a symbol of land in general and the earth in their specific interpretation.
As mentioned before, there are decorative shapes and designs along all four sides of rhombuses appearing in the patterns of the Yalame rug. In his book Fars Handwoven Rural and Nomadic, Dr. Sirus Parham interprets these motifs subjectively as the heads and necks of birds. These motifs are woven along the sides of a rhombus with every other one pointing inwards and outwards to the side.
Rhombus patterns of the Yalame rug, thus represent a pond due to their bird-like motifs. In fact, the weavers of the Yalame rug somehow pictured migratory birds on the rugs which symbolize a plea for rain. The number of rhombuses on the patterns are also synonymous to the number of mantras uttered in prayers. The weavers regarded rain as the driving force behind the growth of plants and the livestock they tended which provided a living for them.

Bibliography

1. Ghasemnejad, Abdolhossein. 2022.