All carpets are rugs, but not all rugs are carpets? In today’s Oriental rug and carpet market, it is typical to use these terms interchangeably; however, these terms were not always so relaxed. The United States rug and carpet markets do not clearly distinguish between the two Oriental groups, and many other countries no longer […]
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, […]
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, […]
A congenial atmosphere includes protection from too much sunlight. Sunlight streaming through a window directly onto a rug is virtually guaranteed to harm it, whether morning or afternoon, southern or western light. Naturally dyed rugs and synthetically dyes rug suffer equally. Colors fade unevenly and wool and cotton dry out and become brittle. You can […]
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 […]