Typically, when someone thinks of oriental rugs, he or she automatically associates them with middle-eastern cultures and locations. For a variety of reasons, the most commonly known area for Oriental rug production is Persia. Persian Rugs of the World Persian rugs are renowned as the finest and most intricately designed rugs in the world, which […]
We’ve already covered the major physical attributes that help determine when a rug was made. If you missed that blog post, you can read it here. Another way to tell the age of a rug is by checking for a date and/or signature in the pile. Dates are only found some of the time, but […]
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 […]
Weaving region: Iran Categories produced: masterworkshop, workshop, village, and nomadic For most people, the terms “Persian rugs” and “oriental rugs” are the same. Persia is seen as the spiritual, if not actual, home of rug making and its name has become synonymous with the finest and and most outstanding achievements in oriental rug textile art. […]
Vase- This term is applied to a number of compositions employing a vase, or group of vases, as a principal design element. The motif was most probably introduced into Persia from China- where it had been used for centuries as a symbol of peace and tranquility- and has subsequently been adapted to fulfil both the […]
Panelled garden- The field is divided into panels or compartments containing either individual motifs or identifiable segments of the overall scheme. Sometimes 3 or 4 motifs are repeated in alternate panels across the field, and sometimes the same, or totally separate, motifs are used. Sophisticated versions may be found in a number of workshop items, […]
The major design components of an oriental rug: Medallion- Any large central motif used as the focal point of design. Field- Main area of the rug within the borders Spandrels- Architectural expression used to describe the space between the curve of the arch and its enclosing moulding. In rug-making it refers to the contoured areas […]
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 […]
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! butterfly saddle rugs- Tibetan saddle rugs woven in a trapezoidal shape. The […]