Mir-a-Buteh

This piece draws inspiration from Mir carpets, a notable representation of the Tabriz carpet school. Adorned with buta (buteh), one of the oldest and most cherished Oriental motifs, it captivated the British, who adopted the pattern from India and incorporated it into their textiles. Thus, the pattern became known in the West as the Paisley design, named after the Scottish town that gained renown for these fabrics. The term “mir” stems from the esteemed extension of buteh into mir-e-buteh, meaning ‘noble plant’.

The buteh motif is open to various interpretations, ranging from pine cone and palm crown to flame, each carrying religious significance as a symbol of immanence and eternal life. Thus, gifting someone an item adorned with buteh is akin to wishing them a long life and enduring memory.