The Figure and Motif of the Cow in Kerman Pateh Needlework: Examination and Analysis

Shawl weaving and pateh embroidery are perceived to be among the more traditional techniques and occupations largely associated with the Kerman province, which have since become of great significance to the local art given its reliance on tools and materials that are highly exclusive to the surrounding environment and the climatic conditions of the region.

As such, Pateh embroidery has been deemed a manifestation of the religious and cultural beliefs of the Kerman region while seeking to preserve the artistic and symbolic values of the region. The female Kerman-based artists are claimed to have unique skills that enable them to weave shawls, highly manifesting their needs, ideals, and desires rooted in their beliefs. Pateh comes in a variety of shapes and forms. Kerman pateh embroidery has long been one of the important pillars of production, providing the locals with a source of income to fulfill their daily needs. Nevertheless, it has gone through various tumultuous periods over its course of relevance. Today, many artists from other regions than Kerman, even far other countries, are dedicating their craftmanship to pateh embroidery, the number, and accessibility of which is growing daily. It has been propelled to the global stage by its perceived aesthetics and diversity in the role, color, and material. As such, the purpose of this research was to examine the patterns of needlework in pateh, including those of vegetables, animals, and geometric and abstract forms, the aim of which would be to gain an insight into the patterns of animals, especially that of the cow in Kerman pateh embroidery, using a comparative method.

This research seeks to examine and categorize the role of cows using field, library, and historical methods. To this end, interviews with experts are conducted to shed more light on its role and the viability of its revival.