Glossary of Rug Terms #5

Every month or so, we will post a few interesting rug-related terms and their definitions in this glossary for your knowledge and enjoyment. Always educate yourself on a topic before you make a purchase, especially with something like Oriental Rugs!

This month we will be focusing on the first letter of the alphabet: A

Angle of Twist- A measure of the tightness to which yarn is twisted in spinning. The angle between the longitudinal axis of the yarn and the plane of the fibers in a single or the plane of the last ply in plied or cabled yarns. The direction of spin is taken into account when measuring this angle. A twist angle of about 5 degrees is a soft-spun yarn; 20 degrees is a medium spun yarn and 30 to 45 degrees is a hard-spun yarn. Crepe spun yarns crinkle and have an angle of twist of 65 degrees or more.

Aniline Dyes- Direct dyes derived from aniline, which is in turn a derivative of coal tar. The first such dye, mauve, was invented by Perkin in 1856.

By 1870, aniline dyes were inexpensive and widely used. Some of the aniline dyes used in rugs were not colorfast.

Antique Rugs- This term is ambiguous and variously interpreted. An antique rug may be one thought to be at least 100 years old.

Area Rug- In the rug trade, any rug that is not cut and installed to cover the floor from wall to wall.

Artel- An artisans’ cooperative. Cooperatives of rug weavers were organized in the 1920s in Soviet Russia to weave rugs for export.

Armorial Carpet- Any carpet bearing a coat of arms or heraldic device. More particularly, carpets woven in Spain by the Moors which were commissioned by Spanish royalty and bore their coat of arms. These carpets are dated as early as 1405.

Glossary Source: The Oriental Rug Lexicon (Paperback) By (author) Peter F. Stone