"Oriental" or "Turkish cucumber", "buta", "Persian cypress" - all this is not a list of plant names, but the name of one very popular pattern. They are decorated with clothes and shoes, various accessories and utensils, wallpaper, furniture.
And if in Russia this drop-shaped ornament is most often called a bean or a cucumber, then Europeans know it as paisley - “paisley”. Why does the Turkish cucumber pattern have so many names in different countries, what does it mean and when did it appear in Europe? In the article we will try to answer all these questions.
Why is it called that?
"Tear of Allah", "Indian" or "oriental cucumber", "Turkish bean", "Persian cypress" - all these names of the oriental ornament are associated with the fact that it resembles a cucumber or sprouted bean in shape. In cases where a Turkish cucumber is drawn with a stalk at the bottom, it is called a "palm leaf" or"cypress".
In each country, this ornament is assigned different meanings, for example, in Iran, the image of an oriental cucumber is considered a wish for happiness and prosperity, and in India, it symbolizes movement or development.
When and where did he appear?
Discussions on the answer to this question have not subsided so far. There are many theories and versions of where the Turkish cucumber was created, as well as who adopted it from whom. The problem is that for centuries there has been trade and diplomatic relations between countries. Peoples and people traveled, moved, their cultural traditions, symbols and ideas also wandered and mixed. Let's consider several main hypotheses of the origin of buta - Indian cucumber.
The most remote from us in time is the version that the Turkish cucumber known to us is an ancient Egyptian ornament, and it symbolized immortality, represented in the symbolic form of a wheat ear.
Two later versions say that buta was born in Persia or India. In both cases, this word means "fire", only in the Persian case this pattern, which came from the oldest world religion - Zoroastrianism, symbolizes eternity and life, and in the Indian interpretation - just a sacred fire.
There is another very beautiful legend about the origin of buta. According to her, the drawing "Turkish cucumber" appeared due to the defeat in the war of one of the ancient rulers of Persia. Disappointed by the military failure, he cuthis own wrist and put his bloody signature on the surrender document. After this act, the “buta” pattern of carpet weaving masters began to be placed on their products, thereby glorifying the courage of this ruler.
There are other, less popular theories, but they all unequivocally say only one thing: this beautiful pattern, which pleases us today, came to Europe from Asia.
How did it get to Europe?
Turkish cucumber is an ornament that conquered Britain at the beginning of the 17th century, and European countries and Russia in the 18th century. Buta came to England along with the British, who were returning from India, which at that time was a colony. It was they who brought cashmere shawls, which were decorated with a Turkish cucumber pattern. You can see a photo of a similar, but modern product with this motif below.
In Europe, the Turkish bob pattern became popular at the end of the 18th century also thanks to Indian shawls and a Scottish city called Paisley. It was in this town that the first production of fabrics with a similar ornament was established, which existed until the beginning of the 20th century. At this time, the fashion for paisley fabrics is gradually disappearing.
History of Oriental Cucumber in Russia
Just like in Europe, this pattern came to Russia in the 18th century, when the fashion for cashmere scarves appeared in high society. However, this ornament fell in love with everyone, and today most people consider the Turkish cucumber to be a Russian pattern. The pattern "settled" on Ivanovo calicos and printed fabrics, as well as on Pavloposad shawls.
The pattern can be either clearly defined (they fill the middle or edges of scarves or fabrics), or in the form of various plant and flower motifs arranged in a “cucumber” shape and not having a clear outline.
Paisley today
Forgotten at the beginning of the twentieth century, in the 60s the Turkish cucumber pattern became fashionable and popular again. John Lennon contributed a lot to this by purchasing a Paisley-patterned Rolls-Royce and the movie "Summer of Love" released on the screens, as well as men's ties with a "cucumber" pattern that came into fashion at that time.
In the 70s, the intricate oriental pattern "buta" attracted the attention of hippies, who appreciated the variegation, richness and shape of the "drop".
In the 80s, several fashion houses at once, for example, Missoni, Etro and a number of others, began to actively use the paisley pattern in their high fashion creations. For Etro, the "cucumber" motif has become a hallmark and decoration of all collections: clothes, perfumes, furniture, textiles.
Modern fashionistas are happy to use things decorated with "cucumber" patterns to create a variety of looks, which today are painted not only in classic, but also in bright and trendy colors, such as indigo or fuchsia.
