Glossary of Rug Terms #2
Glossary of Rug Terms #2
Every month or so, we will post a few interesting rug-related terms and their definitions here for your knowledge and enjoyment. Always educate yourself on a topic before you make a purchase!
Gyab-Yol: A wall rug.
Haft rang: Dyed warps sometimes used in Senneh rugs. Seven colors were used to dye bands of warps. An Uzbeki ikat of seven colors is highly prized because of the complex dyeing process.
Kyongden: (Tibetan) A fringed runner less than sixteen feet in length.
Kyongring: (Tibetan) A fringed runner greater than sixteen feet in length.
Sizing: Starch or glue added to yarns or fabrics to increase their smoothness, stiffness, or bulk. Sizing is sometimes used in Oriental Rugs. The loss of sizing in a new rug may be noticed when it is washed for the first time and it becomes loose and floppy.
Palace Carpet: A carpet longer than 14 by 24 feet.
Pictorial Rug: A rug whose field is occupied by naturalistic or realistic representations of people, places, or things other than the conventionalized motifs. Because these rugs are not generally popular, Iranian dealers refer to them as “wrong design” or naqsh-e ghalat in their native tongue. Persian examples depict large animals such as horses, camels and lions, tales from Persian folklore and literature, and kings and historical personages. Beginning in the 19th century, many pictorial rugs were woven in China.
Tentering (blocking): When rugs are taken from the loom and are not rectangular or do not lie flat, they may be wetted and dried on a stretched frame to correct the shape. The problem usually returns when the rug is washed.
Hair: Miscroscopically, hair is distinguished from wool in that hair contains a medulla or core consisting of a cellular structure of air pockets. In oriental rugs, some admixture of hair adds luster to the rug. Excessive quantities of hair diminish the wearing quality of the rug.
