Lion Rugs
The Lion in the Art and Culture of Iran
Parviz Tanavoli
Postage will be calculated at checkout
Description
Lion Rugs examines the representation and significance of the lion in Iranian art and culture, with a particular focus on its appearance in Persian rugs. For thousands of years, the lion has been an important symbol in Iran, associated with kingship, courage and protection, and later with Imam Ali, the “Lion of God”.
Parviz Tanavoli traces the imagery of the lion from ancient reliefs and royal emblems through to folk art. Drawing on examples from his own collection, as well as historical and visual sources, he explores the development and cultural significance of lion rug designs and their place within the history of Persian tribal weaving. The book is richly illustrated with examples of rugs and related works of art.
About the Author
Parviz Tanavoli is an Iranian sculptor, painter, scholar and art collector, and a pioneer of the Saqqakhaneh movement, Iran’s influential modern art movement of the mid-twentieth century. His sculptures are held in major international collections, including the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Alongside his artistic career, Tanavoli has written extensively on Persian art and craftsmanship, with a particular focus on tribal rugs and textiles. Through his collecting and exhibitions, he has played a leading role in bringing international attention to Persian lion rugs, a subject explored in his publication Lion Rugs: The Lion in the Art and Culture of Iran.
