\"Shahsavan rugs and woven articles represent an extraordinary rich contribution to the Iranian textile tradition, yet until recently these pieces have been little recognized in Iran and virtually unknown elsewhere. This comprehensive volume presents for the first time the depth and variety of Shahsavan work. The name Shahsavan today refers to a confederation of Turkish-speaking tribes, chiefly inhabiting northwest Iran. The name, however, has a history of honor and power and dates from the sixteenth century, when Shah Abbas the Great of the Safavid dynasty conferred the title, meaning 'those who love the Shah,' on an assembly of his most loyal followers and defenders. Despite the historical importance and the achievements of the confederation in the field of textiles, the wealth of Shahsavan articles has circulated under the label Caucasian because of the great demand for Caucasian textiles and because of similarities in design. It was not until the mid-1970s, with the first exhibition of the Tehran Rug Society, that Shahsavan textiles were given rightful credit. The author provides a stimulating text, beginning with the historical and geographical background of the Shahsavan, followed by chapters on design and symbols as well as the changes in methods of weaving brought on by the progressive contact of the tent-dwelling tribes with modern, urban ways of life. All the pieces illustrated in this volume come from the Shahsavan community in Iran; some were in use until purchased, others were retrieved from the trunks of families who had relocated to villages and towns. Owing to the astonishing rate at which Iranian Tribes are undergoing changes, a monumental work of this kind will probably be impossible to produce in the future. Indispensable for collectors, scholars, and textile enthusiasts, Shahsavan greatly enriches our understanding of a hitherto neglected subject.\" -- Provided by publisher