A Survey of the Tree of Life Images in Safavid Textile Arts

Iranians’ mastery and innovation in the art of knitting has a long history. Archeologists such as Roman Ghirshman and Phyllis Ackerman confirm that the spindles excavated over the past thirty years date back to ancient Persia and the first signs of human settlement in the Iranian plateau. Historical evidence suggests that the Safavid period (1501-1722 AD) was the golden years of textile arts in Iran. One of the most important motifs in these works is the tree of life that is present in the majority of Persian arts, especially textiles. The purpose of this descriptive-analytical study is to examine the evolution of this motif in the textiles of Safavid period. Examining the historical, cultural, and artistic context of this period and analysis of the extant textiles show that the tree of life has a significant conceptual application and is an important element in the composition of the fabrics. The results indicate that the tree of life perpetuates the Sassanid art (224-651 AD), intertwines with Islamic themes, and becomes more subtle in design and composition.