The last few posts have explained what pile is in an Oriental rug. The different types of knots used to secure and establish the pile are very important in rug quality and overall style cohesion. The Flat Weave Pattern Unlike typical rugs, flat woven rugs use a different weave pattern to create a pileless rug. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
We have seen that one of the ‘revolutionary’ aspects of modern rug production has been the return natural dyes. Not long ago, shoppers who were interested in new rugs had no choice but to buy rugs with synthetic dyes. Today, though, natural dyes are an option in new rugs and, in fact, you will have […]
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 […]
All oriental rugs are made in one of two ways: they are either hand-woven (flat-weaves) or hand-knotted (pile rugs). Individual weaving groups may adopt slightly varying methods of construction, particularly in the type of knot used to form the pile, and it is often these slight differences in weaving and structure, taken in conjunctions with […]
Most varieties of Oriental rugs have wool pile, but many have cotton warp and weft. This cotton foundation can be weakened, and sometimes actually rotted, if the rug gets wet repeatedly and is not properly dried. A common cause of damage occurs when potted plants are placed directly on a rug. The plant is watered […]
There are many common misconceptions about new oriental rugs. In this post, we will uncover the truth about new oriental rugs, and uncover where these misconceptions come from. Misconception #1 Old rugs have natural dyes; new rugs have synthetic dyes. This is false. Most rugs and carpets in the market now that are considered old […]
Glossary of Rug Terms #7 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 Persian Rugs! This month we will be focusing on rug terms starting […]