Glossary Of Rug Terms #19
Every so often, we write a rug term dictionary post for those wanting to improve their handmade rug vernacular.
Whether you are an expert on decorative rugs or reading about the field for the first time, you will find these terms very informative!
Chenille Rug- a fabric composed of mercerized cotton.
Inscription- Script on an oriental rug.
It may be a date, some religious or poetic sentiment, or a name of the donor, initial owner, or weaver of the rug. In court and factory rugs, inscriptions are usually enclosed by a cartouche in the field or border. In village and nomadic rugs, the inscription is usually not enclosed. Most inscription are Arabic or Persian, in Arabic script. Some are in Armenian or Slavic languages.
Knot- A tie produced by interlocking one or more cords in such a way that one end of a cord passes through a loop in itself. Technically, the symmetric or Turkish and symmetric or Persian knots in cut pile fabrics are not knots at all (because no tie is produced), but different systems of dicontinuous supplementary weft wrapping.
Knot count- The number of knots per unit of measure. Sometimes used synonymously for knot density. In counting knots, if there is little or no warp offset, then two nodes per knot are identified. If warp offset is so great that only a single node of each pair can be seen (one node per color instead of two nodes per color), then only one node per knot is counted in finding know density.
Palace (mansion) carpet- A carpet larger than 14 by 24 feet.
Scatter Rug- Any small rug that can be easily places as a decorative accent. Also a rug from 2 by 4 feet up to 4 by 6 feet.
