April 2025
Textiles with the Dragon Slayer Motif
Tehran University of Art, Textile Design Group
On May 4th, we had the pleasure of being hosted by the Textile Design Group of the Tehran University of Art for an in-depth exploration of one of the motifs in our current "Human Figures in Iranian Textiles" exhibition: a gold brocade (Zari) textile reproduced in the mid 20th century on the basis of a Safavid motif known as the "Drago Slayer". Examples of this textile motif can be found in established museums all over the world.
We explored the motif's fascinating connections to the perilous relationship of Persia to the courts of Russia, the Ottomans, and Europe; the dragon-slaying champion being our emmissary of choice during some of the most delicate and fateful moments of negotiation, war, and diplomacy.
More on this topic can be studied in Galina Lasikova's paper titled "Hushang the Dragon-slayer: Fire and Firearms in Safavid Art and Diplomacy".
