While many people know about the larger rug making countries like China, India, or Pakistan, there are also many minor rug making countries that produce beautiful rugs. Egypt Egypt is arguably the most important of the minor rug making countries. They are generally known as Mamluk carpets and usually utilize geometric patterns; however, they are […]
Originally, Oriental rug designs were dictated by family tradition. Today, Oriental rugs are made in factories with the intent to mass produce rugs for exportation. However, one aspect of the process still remains the same and it’s what distinguishes Oriental rugs from most other rugs: the pile (or the part of the rug that you […]
In the 1980s, decorative carpets came into fashion. These rugs were formal looking and light in color. Essentially, they were the opposite of tribal and village rugs. Ironically, this change in preference come about just as the Oriental rug industry was finally able to meet the demand for inexpensive tribal rugs. Throughout the 70s and […]
Dyes and Spin For all intents and purposes, natural dyes and modern synthetic dyes are excellent, as are hand and machine spun wool. When buying an Oriental rug, the choice between the two depends on personal aesthetic. There are four ways these choices can be combined: natural dye with handspun wool, synthetic dye with handspun […]
In terms of price and quality, contemporary Chinese rugs are probably the best value items produced today. The rug-making industry is organized under the government control and a wide range of items, which conform to exact standards of quality, size, colour and design, are woven in a number of manufactories and workshops in Peking, Tientsin, […]
Chinese Rugs It is impossible to say exactly where and when rug-making in China first began. There is ample literary and pictorial evidence to suggest that rugs were in use from the 12th century onwards, but it is not clear whether these were Chinese in origin or imported from from abroad. However, it is generally […]
Floral- The image of a lush and fecund garden is the one that is deeply rooted in both the religious and cultural heritage of the Persian people. Not only has the arid nature of the land inspired successive rulers to create the most exquisite and luxuriant ornamental gardens in their palaces and towns; it has […]
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! gloss- a sheen or high degree of light reflectance, present in silk, […]
By the 1950′s there simply were fewer new rugs to choose from than there had been in the past. Many of those available to us showed unmistakable deterioration. Oddly, as weaving skills were lost, rug designs often seemed to become more elaborate, resulting in new examples that were crowded and confusing. Materials in rugs suffered […]
Americans and Europeans of a certain stripe have been in love with Oriental rugs for over a century. But we have preferred old rugs to new. Nearly all collectors and many home decorators have perceived a beauty in the soft colors and polished wool of rugs that have been walked upon for decades, and they […]