Origins of hand-knotted Oriental rugs

 
You don’t simply buy an Oriental rug— you understand the effort behind it, appreciate the artistry, and fall in love with it. A common misconception is that items such as rugs are just simple home decor products. Buying an antique product such as an oriental carpet is considered to be an investment— they become priceless as time goes by. In this article, you’ll come to understand the basic concepts behind what your dollar is actually purchasing.
 

Why choose a Persian rug?

 
The Persian Rug, or Persian carpet, has its origins stapled to ancient Persia. These pristine artifacts of history are considered to be an integral and prominent part of Persian culture. In ancient civilizations, the Iranians were among the founding fathers of carpet making. With the Iranians’ variations in carpet weaving and intricate interlacing techniques, the Persian carpet is an absolute must have when it comes to flaunt one’s richness in taste and beauty. A classic beauty, Persian carpets are categorized based on the materials used within their crafting. From the warps, pile, spinning, dyeing, weaving, and plying of the yarn, these handcrafted tapestries are born. Across every fiber baked into each rug, they are the definition of interior aesthetic.
 

Why choose Indian and Pakistani rugs?

 
In India, rug weaving is approximated to date back to the sixteenth century. A common theory is that the initial models were Persian as their designs are closely related. During the late sixteenth century, the most intricate carpets were woven under the Mughal Empire. The royals of the empire demanded only the finest decor. As time passed, India developed its own personal rug-making style that differed from Central Asia’s techniques. The unique blend of closely packed colors, followed by tangled patterns, vine work and naturalistic floral outlines separated Indian drapery from the rest—the perfect craft for those of high taste.
 

Rug Composition

 
History isn’t the only thing to consider when you are purchasing a hand knotted rug. For any product, it is important to consider the materials used. Various techniques and materials are combined to weave different rugs. Everyone has different tastes—it’s important to keep that in mind when buying, for example, a wool rug. Wool from sheep and goats are mainly used. Far Eastern weaving involved using Yak and horse hair. Silk produced by silk worms is also used to make figurative rugs. For the basic foundation and sometimes also in the pile of the rug, cotton is used.
 
For all Oriental Rugs, dye is a commonly used ingredient; however, understanding the importance between natural dye and synthetic dye is crucial for any consumer. If you’re a green consumer, natural dyed rugs would be the perfect choice. Various plants and insects are used to obtain traditional dyes for oriental rugs. Aniline dyes such as mauveine and other synthetic dyes have been used in oriental rugs since the mid-1860s. They are cheap, easy to use, and very unique because of the techniques used in them.
 
Furthermore, if you prefer a bit conventional and polished product, there’s always the synthetic dyed carpet. Nearly any shade of color can be obtained with the use of modern synthetic dyes. Through synthetic dyes it becomes very difficult to recognize whether natural or artificial dyes were used in the finished carpet. Carpets nowadays can be woven beautifully with synthetic colors to give incredibly artistic and intricate details of impeccable standard that one can proudly flaunt in their household.
 

Types and Design Patterns

 
From the many methods of weaving, to the various uses of fabrics and colors, the varieties of rug selection is infinite. Some of the examples include:
 
  • Tabriz rugs:

The Tabriz rugs originate from the city of Tabriz and generally fall in the category of Iranian or Azerbaijan carpets. The Tabriz style is inspired by ornamental patterns with shades of cream, red, or navy blue on them; likewise, they have one of the most assorted designs, ranging from medallions, figurative illustrations, picturesque stories, and sometimes even 3D shaped influences.
 
Similar Persian carpets include: Karshan

 

  • Oushak rugs:

Oushak rugs carry powerful outlined motifs and subtle floral decorations that normally encompass a medallion. This is a great area rug to make a point or simply highlight your space. They are known for their silky and luminous wool work.

 

  • Kilim rugs:

The basic inspiration and style of Kilim rugs come from classic geometric figures and, on occasion, mythical creatures. Other widely used patterns involve stylized female statues. The Kilim style of rug is the perfect styling piece for those interested in the arts. This rug’s aesthetic embodies to the impeccable taste found in the artistic aspects of life. However, modern designs show bold geometric patterns and include colors such as turquoise and purple.
 

Similar Persian carpets include: Serapi and Bukhara.