The boteh (boteh-jegheh) is a teardrop-like motif with a curved tip, found on rugs, termeh textiles and shawls. Much is said about its meaning, but not all of it has the same support. In this article we separate three things: what is recorded, what is probable and what is interpretation.

1. What is clearer

Name: the word "boteh" in Persian means bush or shrub 1.

Journey to the West: in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this motif became popular in the West through Kashmir shawls and was then imitated in Europe 1. The English name paisley comes from the Scottish town of Paisley, which was a textile centre and produced this design on Jacquard looms 1.

An article published by the Victoria and Albert Museum also presents the paisley design as an imitation of the teardrop-like motif of Kashmir shawls 2.

2. What is probable

The same article says the paisley design probably has an older root in Iran, in the boteh motif 2. General sources also consider the motif's origin to be Iranian and say that it travelled from Iran to Kashmir in the fifteenth century CE 1. This date should be read with caution.

3. What is interpretation

Many meanings have been proposed for the boteh. They include the sun, the phoenix, a ritual emblem of the eagle, the cypress, the palm and the pine 1. Our source itself speaks of "much speculation" about the origin and symbolism of this motif 1.

These interpretations can be beautiful, but none of them is a definitive meaning. So if you read somewhere that the boteh means "exactly" one thing or another, treat that as an interpretation.

The boteh in rugs

In a rug, the boteh can be a repeating motif in the field or part of the border. When choosing such a rug, these questions are useful:

  • Does the size of the botehs suit the dimensions of the rug and the space?
  • Do the botehs all face the same way, or are alternate rows reversed?
  • Has the curve of the boteh tips come out cleanly at this reed count?

These points are our practical advice.

Summary

The boteh has travelled a long way from Iran and Kashmir to Europe. Its historical path is fairly clear, but it has no definitive symbolic meaning. To see designs, visit the FARSHINEH catalogue section.

Frequently asked questions

What does boteh mean?

The word boteh in Persian means bush 1. No definitive symbolic meaning has been recorded for this motif.

Is paisley the same as boteh?

Paisley is the Western name of this motif and is taken from a town in Scotland 1.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia. Paisley (design). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paisley_(design)
  2. Strachan, Shane. Taking inspiration from Bill Gibb's Tana dress. V&A Dundee. https://www.vam.ac.uk/dundee/articles/taking-inspiration-from-bill-gibbs-tana-dress