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Logo Explained The Leith Gordon Ltd logo is a buta flame (also called boteh or paisley) with an embedded thistle - why? The history of the buta flame (below) connects the three countries that Susan Gordon has lived in -,born in India to Scottish parents and then on assignment to Azerbaijan. It is fitting that the Scottish heritage should be at the heart, hence a symbol of Scotland, the thistle, embedded in the buta flame. |
There are several stories surrounding the history of the buta flame, but a popular one is:
The origin of the symbol is widely accepted to be Persia, which in ancient times included the lands that are now Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan was one of the cradles of Zoroastrianism (the first recorded fire worshipers) who took this symbol from the Persian teardrop or fig shape ('boteh') and turned it into a flame. The 'Buta' is the national symbol of Azerbaijan, 'The Land of Fire'.
"Buta” is very popular in Azerbaijani art, decorations of metal products and carpets, particularly in areas of Azerbaijan which were the centres of fire-worshipers.
During the days of the 'Silk Route' (an ancient network of trade routes connecting the West and East from China and India across to the Mediterranean Sea) items were traded along the route, together with various patterns. This motif became a very popular theme of Kashmiri woollen scarves. At that time Kashmir was a northern Indian kingdom.
Then in the first half of the 17th century, the British East India Company introduced boteh shawls and other fabric articles made in Kashmir to Europe.
The western name for the motif is taken from Paisley, a town in western Scotland not too far from Glasgow, which had once specialised in the production of scarves and shawls (from the Persian word shal) decorated with the boteh (buta) motif. The imports from Kashmir, especially the women's shawls, became popular throughout Europe, and soon, demand outstripped supply. While local manufacturers made fabrics with the boteh design more accessible in Europe, the original Kashmiri and Persian fabrics commanded a premium price because of their beauty and superior quality.
It wasn't long before the name Paisley became synonymous with the boteh motif and demand for the imitation shawls grew as women all over Britain began to ask for 'Paisleys'.
And then there's the thistle of course. Alongside tartan, the thistle is perhaps the most identifiable symbols of all things Scottish.
In truth, no-one knows why this has been taken as an emblem, but legend has it that a sleeping party of Scots warriors were saved from ambush by an invading Norse army when one of the attackers trod on a thistle with his bare feet. His cries raised the alarm, the roused Scots duly defeated the invaders, and the thistle was adopted as the symbol of Scotland. Unfortunately, there is no historical evidence for this, but Scots, like other nations, love a good story.
It wasn't long before the name Paisley became synonymous with the boteh motif and demand for the imitation shawls grew as women all over Britain began to ask for 'Paisleys'.
And then there's the thistle of course. Alongside tartan, the thistle is perhaps the most identifiable symbols of all things Scottish.
In truth, no-one knows why this has been taken as an emblem, but legend has it that a sleeping party of Scots warriors were saved from ambush by an invading Norse army when one of the attackers trod on a thistle with his bare feet. His cries raised the alarm, the roused Scots duly defeated the invaders, and the thistle was adopted as the symbol of Scotland. Unfortunately, there is no historical evidence for this, but Scots, like other nations, love a good story.
So there you have it - Scotland, India and Azerbaijan all connected by a motif.
Thank you to Maria Castaneda for designing the Leith Gordon Ltd logo!
Thank you to Maria Castaneda for designing the Leith Gordon Ltd logo!
You can contact Leith Gordon Ltd via mailto:susangordon@leithgordonltd.com
Sparking solutions to people challenges
Sparking solutions to people challenges