The Symbolic Significance of the Tree Motif in Kerman Tree Carpets

 Kerman is one of the famous carpet weaving regions of Iran which has shone in different 
periods of time. Kerman’s carpet possess many symbols and signs, each of them has its own 
meaning and definition among which this paper focused on the tree symbols that are very 
scenically worked in Kerman carpet. The role of tree in addition to having a natural and apparent 
meaning, it has a symbol that has been used especially in the arts of ancient Iran. Thus, tree 
symbol has gained a prominent place in the design of Kerman carpet. Some of the tree designs 
that exist in carpet, designed in a very natural appearance and some of them have changed 
from being natural and have taken on a symbolic design. For this purpose, this paper focused 
to answer this question that has the role of the tree of life in the Tree-Cypress carpet of Kerman 
take on a symbolic meaning? Moreover, I tried to respond this query that does the design of 
realistic trees contain a specific symbolic meaning in the field of carpet design? The research 
methodology is descriptive-analytical, and the basic data were gathered mostly through the 
library studies. In this research, five tree models were analyzed, compared with together, and finally divided into two groups. It is worthy to be mentioned that in the first group of symbols 
the form of the trees (mostly cypress) is designed abstract, symmetrical and far from the natural 
shape of those trees in the nature. In the second group, the form of trees is closer to their natural 
shape (realism) since they have been designed unbound, dancing and asymmetrical forms.