During the past century, the Oriental rug has become valued throughout the
world as a work of art. With its rich history and color, the Oriental rug often
is called the aristocrat of carpets. Although the Oriental rug of today may not
soar through the air like the magic carpet of Arabian legend, the Oriental rug
does perform magic, transforming interior spaces into extraordinary spaces.
The name 'Oriental carpets' is usually referred to all hand-knotted carpets;
since this denomination is not inexact in view of their common Asiatic origin.
However, the immensity of the producing areas, and the variety of techniques,
styles, and materials used necessitate a detailed classification. As a rule,
Oriental carpets are divided into four main groups: Caucasian; Central
Asia or Turkestan; Persian; and Turkish or Anatolian.
In the second half of this century an important production of the
hand-knotted rugs has developed rapidly in Europe, North Africa, and the United
States of America; although they can not be classified with Oriental carpets,
they merit no less of our attention, because, woven according to the same
procedure, they attain today a worthwhile quality.
The term, Oriental rug, traditionally has been used to describe hand-knotted
rugs from the East. The process typically involves stretching warp threads on a
loom and knotting the pile to these threads. When a row of knots is completed, a
weft thread is inserted. Once the entire carpet is knotted, the pile is shorn.
To a large degree, the precision of the design depends on how tightly the rug
has been knotted and how short the pile has been cut.
The rug's density, or number of knots per square inch, can be a useful indicator
of the fineness and durability of the rug -- the more knots the better. A superb
Oriental rug may have more than 500 to 1,000 knots per square inch.
Historically, the great carpet-producing areas include Turkey, Persia, the
Caucasus and Turkestan. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India and China also must
be added to the list. And under Arab influence, Spain, too, has produced
hand-knotted rugs of distinction.
History
Although there are references to carpets by early Greek and Arab writers, just
when the first Oriental rug was woven is unknown. In 1949, a Russian
archaeological expedition to the Altai mountains in southern Siberia excavated a
royal burial mound that contained a miraculously preserved frozen carpet, Known
as the Pazyryk carpet, it was used as a saddle cover for a horse interred in the
burial mound. Beautifully designed, the rug dates from the 4th or 5th century
B.C. and is the earliest-known surviving example of a hand-knotted carpet.
One theory is that the technique of knotting carpets was begun by the nomadic
tribes of Central Asia. These tribes produced small rugs typically decorated
with geometric motifs inspired by plant and animal forms. For the nomad, the
rugs were both decorative and utilitarian, serving as floor covers, wall
hangings, curtains and saddlebags.
Because the nomadic carpet-makers were forced to dismantle their looms and move
on whenever their security was threatened by natural elements or human foes,
their creations may contain irregularities in weave, selvages and design. The
wandering nomads are credited with spreading the art of carpet-making to new
lands and peoples.
Some of the greatest carpet-making centers developed in Persia and Turkey.
Persian manuscripts from the reign of Chosroes I, the king of Persia from 531 to
579, describe the Spring Carpet of Chosroes. This rug was woven of wool, silk,
gold and silver. It was studded with precious stones.
The period from the 16th century through the first half of the 18th century is
known as Persia's golden age of carpet-making. A number of carpets survive from
this era and are recognized for their harmony of colors and originality of
designs.
Carpet-making probably has been taking place in Turkey at least as long as in
Persia. After his visit in 1271 to the Turkish region known as Anatolia, Italian
traveler Marco Polo described the area's carpets, with their geometric designs
and animal figures, as the most beautiful in the world.
Turkish rugs appear frequently in the paintings of well known artists. In fact,
German artist Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543) painted the geometrically
patterned rugs so often that they came to be known in the West as Holbein
carpets.
It was primarily through Italian merchants that the Oriental rug became
recognized and valued in Europe. Venice early established itself as a major
trading trader with the East. Venetians spread Oriental rugs along their narrow
streets, hung the rugs from windows and used them to decorated their gondolas.
By the early 16th century, Oriental rug collections could be found in the great
courts of Europe, including those of Catherine de Medici and Charles V. The Lord
Chancellor of England, Cardinal Wolsey, is reported to have purchased 60 Turkish
carpets from a Venetian dealer to furnish his palace at Hampton Court.
Western interest in Oriental rugs waned during the 17th and 18th centuries. But
after the great exhibition of 1891 in Vienna, Europeans had renewed enthusiasm
for the carpets. Americans soon followed suit. Western importers began asking
the carpet-makers to modify dimensions, and sometimes color and design, to
satisfy the tastes of Europe and the Americas. In the 20th century, the appeal
of the Oriental rug continues to grow.
Designs and patterns
Dyeing Process
Materials
Weaving and Knotting
Purchasing and Caring
Classification
Taking proper
care of your rug will prolong its life and appearance. Vacuum your rug regularly
to remove loose soil, taking special care when vacuuming fringe and edges. Some
throw rugs, especially for bathrooms, can be washed in your home laundry. Always
comply with manufacturer’s recommended cleaning methods to prevent warranty
invalidation and damage to your rug.
Have a professional deep
clean your rug often. Several cleaning methods will work, but to prevent rapid
resoiling, it is important to completely remove any cleaning agents.
Your retailer can refer
you to a cleaning specialist where you rug can be taken in your area.
Deep cleaning are
rug | Spot removal
| Vacuuming your rug
| pet stains
cleaning and care tips
Quality Area Rugs
822 Sixth St Norco Ca 92860
Copyright quality area rugs 2004
