In the designs of Persians carpets and area oriental rugs, birds, animals, and insects are often displays. They can be very stylized, or very realistic like the wild animals on the hunting designs of Persian rugs. Tortoise, tiger, tarantula, stork, dragon, dove, dog, deer, camel, crab, butterfly, beetle, bee, bat, sparrow, scorpion, rooster, phoenix, peacock, parrot, magpie, elephant, lion, duck, dragon, stork, tiger, tarantula, squirrel, and tortoise are the animals most frequently found in the pattern of Persian or Oriental carpets.

Area Oriental Rugs

The tarantula and scorpion detonate poison and viciousness and also represent the defense. They are also found in the borders of Caucasian rugs such as Shirvan and Kazak.  The camel denotes happiness and wealth. This is a logical symbol since this animal is both a precious means of transportation for desert nomads and a remarkable source of food as well. Three universal power symbols are the elephant, dragon and the lion. The elephant is a symbol of royalty in India. The dragon symbolizes death in India and evil in Persia, whereas it represents a commanding power in China. The lion is an almost universal image of authority, strength and in some countries such as India.

The butterfly, generally shown on the border of Chinese rugs, represents pride while the crow is a sign of sickness both for the Indians and Chinese. The dove universally indicates companionship and peace, and the duck is forever a symbol of a happy and faithful marriage. The tortoise, perhaps because of its own very long life-span and slowness, naturally represents immortality and longevity.

The parrot represents the courier of life whereas the rooster generally symbolizes the devil and is found on some rugs as an appeal against evil. The magpie, although seldom showed on rugs, represents good luck and fortune. The squirrel is scared to Hindus, signifying the Gods protection. Symbols of fruits and flowers such as willow and palm are also seen on rugs, often indicating deep religious meaning and lovely immortality through death.

Handmade rugs

The attendance of birds and animals in the designs of Persian rugs va is not just for decoration objectives but also helps in determination of their origin, although it takes years of experience and a long time to pinpoint the correct place of birth for hand-knotted rugs. As serious interest in Oriental rugs and Persian, without a doubt, should have its own rewards if the student looks at, inspects and reads about as many rugs as he possibly can. The task becomes so much simpler with technological advances which make all kinds of information so readily accessible.