Before we think about technology and machinery, coloring and design, hand skill and passed-on knowledge, there is one single, elemental component to rug weaving: the knot. Rug knot is such a simple concept that one might overlook its central position in rug structure, look and durability.
There are two ways a rug knot is defined: density and type. When choosing a nomad or a village hand-woven rug, one might not consider the density of the knot a major factor. These traditional articles are made either within a season – and therefore fast – or with simple looms, and usually contain about 25-100 knots per square inch. Other factors are at play here: originality of the individual artist’s design (from memory), natural local dyes, manual labor, and plenty of love.
The workshop hand-made rugs, however, are woven on a much more sophisticated machinery. Precision is therefore a major factor- on par with design and authenticity. The knot density ranges between 100-1000 knots per square inch. If you consider that each knot takes about 10 seconds to complete, it is astounding how long finishing a large enough rug may take, keeping in mind a rather high knot density.
The other way of thinking of a rug knot is its method, with two predominant ones being symmetrical and asymmetrical. Popular in most of Iran, India, Egypt, China, and parts of Turkey, the asymmetrical, or Persian Senneh, have their knot loops tied around two warps and come up on the same sides to make the rug tufts. The Turkish Ghiordes knot (the symmetrical one) goes around two warp threads on opposite sides and comes up in the middle. The most commonly used knots are slight variations on the Persian one. The Tibetan knot is perhaps the most interesting one, wrapping around warps in a complex fashion and reminiscent of Indic script.
The study of rug knots is not necessarily complex, but it certainly is full of grace and style, which is necessary for understanding the structure, design, and feel of these wonderful hand-woven rugs that we cherish throughout our lives.
From the most basic designs to sophisticated machinery, the venerable loom is at the heart of rug making and is a key invention that heralded each of the eras of human technical advances, bringing people together.
While it may look a bit intimidating, the loom is a rather simple construction, at its core. An interlocking structure of moving wooden beam frames is strung tightly together by yarn (warp) to create the rug foundation while a second yarn (weft) is passed through perpendicularly to hold the rug together. The pile yarn would then be woven into the rug base to create the visual patterns and texture of hand-woven carpets.
The process of weaving is traced back to the Neolithic age when its invention helped herald the agricultural revolution by both utilizing the newly mastered control over crops and techniques of extracting yarn from wool, and by helping make a home. Regular settlements and the nomads could use comfortable and beautiful rugs on their floors and walls, warming their abodes both literally and figuratively. Many rituals evolved to include rugs in them ever since.
For all these millennia and all this prehistoric art, the basic loin loom was utilized, until later advances in the Middle Ages. The weavers used a very simple construction and their own body tension needed to make a rug for a perfect purpose. Later evolutions of the loom included stationary, heavier looms where separate heddles could be lifted to create complex designs, administered by a second weaver if the rug is too big. In 1773, a British weaver John Kay invented the flying shuttle, which could be flung across and around the loom, eliminating the need for the second person.
By twentieth century the looms became fully mechanized and powered electrically. This final stage has dramatically reduced the labor and increased production. That being said, the automated looms will of course never achieve the artistry, attention, and skill of experienced master weaver hands.
Sometimes things can be uncomplicated, sometimes they can be understated. Sometimes the beauty comes from the simplicity of the design and execution. Look no further than Kilim hand-woven rugs, classic flatweave carpets known for their unique contained look and versatility.
One of the most consistent technique to go back centuries, Kilim rugs were most likely first used by nomadic peoples of Middle East and Central Asia. The earliest examples were found around Khotan, present day Xinjiang, China, one of the centers of trade along the Silk Roads, and go back centuries. The name is derived from Turkish “gelim”, which means, “to spread” (as in, to spread a rug). Its pure geometrical designs are believed to have mystical, inspirational powers.
To us, the most fascinating thing about the hand-woven Kilim rugs is the unique weaving technique, called slit weave. These rugs don’t have a pile, and are created by simply weaving the woolen wefts and the cotton or wool warps (thread ratio is 16 of weft, 14 of warp). Two different-colored weft blocks are tightly packed into the warp by a special comb and returned to original side once they reach each other, leaving a slight “gap” in between – the slit! This is the origin of the traditional Kilim motif: diagonal and horizontal lines, a pattern designed for durability.
While the traditional colors for these magical Kilim hand-woven rugs are blue, green, red, and yellow, the modern take on the carpets includes a variety of dyes and designs. Still these works of art are as versatile and affordable as they were centuries ago: they are easy to spread or fold, don’t crease; are great at being a centerpiece decoration, hanging on a wall or serving as a door step rug, or for saddling your mule, if the occasion truly calls for it!
Looking into our rugs is sometimes like looking into the depths of history. The Peshawar rugs take us to one of the greatest depths. One of the epicenters of the great Silk Roads, the city of Peshawar was, quite literally on the map since the 5th century B.C. From the ancient Persians and the Hellenistic descendants of Alexander the Great, to the medieval Mongols and finally the Muslim empires. Peshawar commanded authority throughout the region, housing millions of citizens and invariably creating and absorbing culture for centuries. Some may argue the Mughal era of rule over the region was one of the most successful in last few centuries and has inspired some of the most fascinating and impressive works of art.
Perhaps the best time capsule of this Mughal artistry is the hand-woven Peshawar rug, whose designs evolved through the centuries but with mastery that never dwindled. In the 16th century, emperor Akbar had ordered the construction of rug weaving workshops and fostered the knowledge exchange with the Persian artisans to reinforce the local style. In the 20th, after the crumbling of British colonialism the existing industry simply needed a push from the newly independent government to survive and to flourish.
Traditional Peshawar rugs are always hand-woven, and feature a pure high mountain hand-spun wool pile, although sometimes, in select rugs, fine merino wool is blended in – that makes the rugs look slicker. Occasionally silk is woven in as well, especially if the artist wants to highlight a motif. The weft and warp are cotton, for the strongest support. The resulting rugs are durable and reliable, but are luxurious and extremely soft to the touch.
The design of the rugs, as chronicled in history, is heavily influenced by ancient Persian rug motifs. The colors, usually light and earthy and derived from sun-dried vegetable dyes, give the rugs its characteristic antique and washed-out look. But whether they are stonewashed and have their piles cut shorter, or the modernist take will have the colors pop, you are sure to be mesmerized by the deep richness and artistry that are the Peshawar rugs.
The beloved Serapi rug from the remote mountains of Northwest Persia, has a typical design from the Heriz region. The elements inherited from many traditions are combined into the majestic antique Serapi carpet; geometric designs maybe connected to tribal Caucasians rugs, while the Tabriz carpet has surely influenced the usage of the central medallion in the Serapi rugs.
The highly skilled female weavers work in groups during years, before completing a Serapi Persian rug. The spontaneity that characterizes these groups of women, is the result of amazing and tedious labor. Small workshops were known to deliver fine knotted carpets, while families created symbolic designs and a more rustic weave type. The women from the Heriz region also had knowledge of how to deep dye the local wool, achieving the desired “abrashed” or muted color. Large areas of the Heriz rug use pale wool colors, providing the perfect contrast that distinguish these carpets.
The 19th century Serapi carpets are known by a center quadrant medallion, inspired by a bird’s eye view of a persian garden. In many occasions, a large-scale all-over design pattern could also be used. Nowadays, the Serapi inspired hand-knotted rug can be found in many different colors, ranging from the traditional pink, red and navy blue. In the years 2015 to 2017, many rug designers have modified the look of The Heriz carpet, to the so called “Broken Design Rugs.” These new carpets are indeed very valuable as a new trend in the design industry and an original handmade piece can only be found from trusted rug shops.
In the first years of the 20th century, these rugs were woven in isolated areas, and then sold in the market of the Sarab city of Persia. This is where the name Serapi originated, from the word “Serab-i” which means “of Serab”. The whimsical charm of the antique Serapi carpet, it’s pure vegetable dyes, traditional designs, or modern broken motifs, make them a worthwhile furniture item. Many interior designers love to have this type of rug, as a home decor idea.
Kazaks (Kazakhs), the majestic carpets from de Caucasus
Luxurious, spectacular, magnificent are good adjectives to describe the geometrically designed Kazak or Kazakh rug. Centuries of Armenian craftsmanship carried down to our days, the best natural dyes, unique patterns, the finest wool, are among the characteristics that guarantees carpets of the best quality. Large-scale designs, numerous medallions, and contrasting colors such as blue, red and ivory, gives this type of carpets a superb appearance.
Its origin dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries in the Kazak area of the Caucasus, probably the most famous area in weaving terms. Kazak rugs were hand-knotted by the women of the Tiflis and Erevan. Within the Kazakh rugs, other categories are considered depending on the geographical area were they were woven, for example carpets from the south of the Tiflis, Bordajalou Kazak rugs, coarsely woven with simple designs. Carpets from the North of the Erevans, with shorter pile and more formal designs. Other categories includes carpets made before 1925, known as: Karabach, Sjirvan, Kuba and Dagestan carpets. Each one with variation in the patterns and predominance of the traditional colors.
Considered a sign of status, Kazakh rugs and other Armenian carpets were an important possession in the wealthy houses, in palaces, and in churches. They could be used as tapestries, or to cover the king`s throne. They were also used for day to day activities like dining. Kazakhs were frequently woven with threads of silver and gold, making them precious enough to be demanded as part of the tax owed to the nobility that ruled over the Armenians.
Just like kings and princes prized the Kazakh carpets, Caucasian rugs connoisseur`s highly esteem their robust aesthetic and saturated natural color tones, large motifs and majestic proportions that explain the appeal of these iconic designs.
Mamluk inspired carpets carry a vast culture of Middle Eastern designs. The Mamluk people arrived to Egypt during the thirteenth century to work as slave soldiers and established the Mamluk Sultanate; a ruling empire in their new home. Their carpet weaving tradition led them to develop a thriving rug weaving emporium during the last years of the fifteenth century and until the mid–sixteenth century. Cairo, Egypt`s capital, became a well-respected carpet weaving center, even when the Ottomans took over Egypt, rug production continued. Mamluk`s carpet weaving art influenced Ottoman`s decoration and manufacturing method. Rug production was commissioned from the Mamluk`s workshops of Cairo, this explains how Mamluk rugs are closely related to Turkish carpets.
Their exceptional quality defied the passage of time allowing us to admire these antique pieces in museums, mosques, and carpet collections. The Mamluk style carpets are also found in European works of art, particularly in Carpaccio’s paintings.
The designs of Mamluk style carpets are characterized by a complex pattern formed by a large central medallion surrounded by intersecting Islamic geometric motifs, forming a fractal figure. Mamluk are also distinguished by their fine weave, lustrous wool and limited palette dominated by soft hues of greens, yellows and reds. Transitional versions have more freedom when it comes to colors and material. For those who prefer an original take on the sultan designed rugs we can find sari silk and oxidized wool, overdyed, whitewashed or undyed Mamluks.
Trying to explain or understand what makes certain antique carpets more valuable than others is an elaborate and difficult task. One must try to strike a balance between quantifiable measures such as market precedent, market trends, condition and rarity and less objective values such as personal taste, provenance and aesthetic and chromatic quality.
In the field of antique Persian carpets, before we make any judgement about rarity and aesthetic quality, it is important to have a brief understanding of how material quality can inform and affect judgements on value. This in turn means that we must have some idea about how carpets have been made in Iran historically as material quality is relative to the area in which it was made.
There are four types of weavings made in Iran: the first is a nomadic rug made by tribal people for their own consumption or use; the second is a village weaving made for local use but also sold at the bazar as a source of additional income; the third is organised workshop production where designs and materials are given to a weaver to create under supervision; and the last is the court atelier or workshop with exclusive access to the best dyes, materials, designers and weavers.
The first two create rugs that reflect the women weavers own color and design preferences, and may well be individual in character and express the unfiltered artistic vision of the weaver. The third type of rug has a more formal aesthetic and reflects precise and well-articulated design and color preferences. While the workshop represents skilled craftspeople making items for sale, there are obviously different levels within this category ranging from loosely woven rugs made in villages out of wool through to important workshops with named designers using silk, the finest and most expensive wool as well as very high knot densities. It is important to note that while fineness of weave can affect the value of a rug, that is not to say that all fine rugs are necessarily valuable.
The final category of court workshop represents an exclusive class of weavings that are extremely rare and sought after since they only came into existence during the reign of the Safavid dynasty in Iran (1501-1736). Workshops were set up within the court weaving exclusively for the Shah, setting standards for colour and quality and using designs created by the greatest artists of the day. In the late 17th century, the court dissolved these in-house ateliers and began to buy from a selection of private workshops, which were commissioned rather than directly employed by the Shah. While court carpets from the 16th and 17th century are bought by museum and collectors, the practice of court and royal patronage, both nationally and regionally, remained a significant factor in terms of quality and innovation in the Persian carpet industry until the 20th century.
While the quality of wool, weave, natural or chemical dyes are all important indicators of value within each of these levels of production, it is difficult to draw direct comparisons across the categories. How can you meaningfully compare the material quality of a long-pile tribal rug made to protect against cold with very minimal design and colours with a silk rug made in a city workshop for use at a wedding ceremony with a design of a tree of life? Critical judgement and any realistic assessment of value for antique Persian carpets is therefore relative to the type of rug, and recognising how it was made before values associated with material quality can be allied.
There is an overwhelming range of rugs available in the market, each trying to outdo its competitor, fighting to capture your attention. While the marketing pitches can get very invasive, most of them seem rather reluctant to talk about one thing—ethicality of their produce.
Tracing Roots of This Discussion
This topic is a result of a rather long discussion that happened at a friend’s place last week. The overall mood was upbeat. The occasion was like a house-warming gig and the hosts were enjoying every moment of compliments from the guests. One of the most appreciated elements of their new living space was an Oriental Rug. Somewhere during the conversations, a question emerged—recently there has been a lot of debate about how some big lifestyle brands indulge in exploitative labor practices. Does this apply to the niche of rugs and carpets too? To ensure the young couple wasn’t bogged down by the morality of their purchase, the debate was quickly wrapped up but the topic registered in our minds.
Why talking about ethics is apt in the niche of Handmade Rugs?
If you dig into the subject, you will realize natural rugs are highly vulnerable to being sourced from unethical, inhumane practices. Just consider this—a humble looking 8 x 10 hand-woven rug might have a million knots, each hand-done knot takes considerable effort. Still, many conventional rug-making locales just about manage to sustain themselves. In today’s era of every handmade item being termed sacred, pure or organic, isn’t it strange that natural handmade rugs are often available at hugely discounted prices?
If you have already been thinking this issue, you are not alone. Chances are that some human rights group has already put serious doubts in your mind about buying that wonderful looking rug. However, you should not blame yourself for this. To a certain degree, the problem lies in the eastern Asian culture where rug making often became synonymous with child labor. Weaving and embroidery often meant laboring in conditions that would now appear inhumane. Even the concept of children having more dexterity due to their smaller fingers is somewhat of a myth construed over centuries of household weaving for below-average wages.
Most rugs are sourced from rural-based, household set-ups. These are small enterprises where men, women and children work hard in very humble environments. This is unlike the well-paid industry workers at an assembly line setup. In many Asian rug-making locales, chances of engaging child labor are higher than you can imagine. The reason is simple—smaller, nimble fingers can work intricate designs a lot better and the wages are invariably lower than employing an adult resource.
Get Your Facts Right: Every Rug is NOT Inhumanely Made
However, this does not mean that every Oriental Rug is a result of human exploitation. Still, there are rug sellers and re-sellers who intentionally indulge in such practices to maximize their profit. While some rug destinations like Turkey can boast of negligible chances of unethical rugs, the same does not apply to every Asiatic destination popular for its rug produce. As a consumer, you might be unintentionally fueling such inhumane industries. To make a better, well-informed choice, you need to be more aware about the type of rug you are about to purchase.
Why making the right choice is difficult but not IMPOSSIBLE?
It is hard to get an ethically made certification for each rug. There has been a rising incidence of rug makers getting Fair Trade certifications or Good Weave licenses. Still, there is every chance that the rug you are about to buy does not carry sufficient proof of its ethicality. You can ask questions about the locations from which rugs have been procured and environmental impact of the rug’s creation process. Invariably, rug sellers indulging in fair trade practices are least likely to offer genuine handmade rugs at throwaway prices. Sticking to morally correct rug making ensures that the pre-market cost cannot be restricted beyond a certain point.
Ethical rugs are also about fair pricing and the profits being shared with the real workers. The rug industry is highly susceptible to getting inventory where the skill of weavers is not aptly awarded. Now, more non-profit organizations are taking the ownership of ensuring that rug sellers pay weavers more-than-reasonable wages. Other initiatives include assuring primary education to children from the rug weaving communities.
The industry might see a price revision not to a customer’s like but at least the exploitative traditional practices will give way to a more responsible approach to making rugs. For regional communities that carry on the legacy of this intricate art, this is a big step forward. As consumers, it is vital that you support their cause.
The onus is on you to buy rugs from retailers who have proven credentials in the market. Quality rugs at a genuine dealer will not come with jaw-dropping discounts. Think of the rug provider as your partner in making a smart, educated buying decision. The retailer should be able to guarantee the authenticity of rugs, taking the time to educate you about the creative process and the rug’s regional heritage. With this approach, weaving communities will get their share for handcrafting a rug that will last you for years and you earn the satisfaction of knowing that your purchase hasn’t trampled human rights.
Rugs have remained a popular type of floor covering and a decoration option for centuries, because they are soft, improve acoustics and insulate living spaces, with amazing ease. However, a beautiful carpet that has adorned your house might be making you sick – not according to us, but to many others. Including, some carpet manufacturers who seem to think so.
What is this discussion really about?
Though, rugs have not lost their charm, they have lost some popularity due to several misconceptions that have been created in the minds of people. Many folks have started associating carpeted floors, as a source of allergies and asthmatic attacks. There have been several debates about whether rugs trap dirt, pollen, dust, moulds or animal dander, lowering the overall condition of indoor air. As sceptics continue to argue about rugs being bad for indoor quality of air, manufacturers have unleashed a branding exercise, calling their products “Scientifically Developed Non-Allergic Rugs.” However, this did not resolve the confusion. A big question still exists – do non-allergic rugs really exist and if yes, is there a need for rugs to carry this nomenclature? To address such issues, we have come up with a list of the 4 most common myths, associated with this topic. This debate uses conclusions gathered from community-level health surveys and studies, undertaken by toxicologists. Read ahead, to find out why your rug cannot actually make you sick:
While some people believe that mites get stuck in rugs and grow there, the fact remains that these allergens exist only in places with excessive moisture. Mold growth is possible in areas with poor cleaning and maintenance. So, by eliminating sources of excessive moisture and controlling humidity, you can reduce the growth of such allergens. Vacuuming and drying your rug under the sun is the easiest way to keep away the growth of dust mites.
Did you know? Seagrass natural rugs are highly water resistant, making them naturally less prone to mites and mold growth.
VOCs refer to Volatile Organic Compounds that can be commonly found in synthetic carpets and rugs. VOCs are emitted after the installation of carpets and aren’t evident until, or unless they emit a funky smell. However, most interior furnishings emit VOCs only for a limited period of their installation. Most research studies suggest that emissions from new carpets are in fact among the lowest for any household indoor furnishing option and it can dissipate within 24 hours, with good ventilation.
Do you know?Handmade, natural rugs don’t need the kind of chemical-heavy installation that wall-to-wall carpeting requires—you get a comforting underfoot without VOCs!
3. MYTH – My rug causes asthma and allergies
The Swedish Institute of Fibre and Polymer Research concluded that carpets and rugs have nothing to do with causing asthma or allergies. In fact, as per the research, while the use of carpet in Sweden had steadily decreased since 1975, the occurrences of allergic reactions in the general population, increased. CRI has also not come across any study suggesting a link between carpets and asthma, or allergies. You would be surprised to know that some statistical studies indicate that properly vacuumed carpets are indeed known to reduce asthma symptoms.
Do you know?Hand-woven rugs are the least likely to induce allergic reactions. The presence of plant-based fibres from bamboo, jute or coir, don’t present the kind of allergy risks associated with synthetic materials used in manufactured machine-made carpets.
4. MYTH – Rugs reduce indoor air quality
Extensive technological assessment of materials used in the manufacture of carpets as well as of the emissions from a carpet, suggests that emissions from a rug present no health risk amounting to a serious public health concern. Any dirt, dust trapped in a rug can be effectively removed through vacuuming—it does not impair the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). You can opt for vacuum cleaners bearing the CRI IAQ Green Label to feel assured about comprehensive removal of common allergens. We believe this misconception is due to the kind of adhesives and synthetics used in wall-to-wall carpeting that are known to leach chemicals into the indoor air.
Do you know?Thick Pile Wool rugs are known to improve the quality of air, as they trap common contaminants like, Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulphur Dioxide, without allowing them to escape into the surrounding air.
Addressing the Age-old ‘Rugs & Formaldehyde’ Debate
One common misconception that folks have in mind regarding carpets is the use of Formaldehyde. Please understand that minimal quantities of formaldehyde are emitted during rug manufacturing or installation—a fact substantiated by an official statement issued by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI). However, it is very difficult for most people to judge whether carpet installation raw materials carry a high VOC risk, making the entire equation very uncertain.
Do rugs need to be given an anti-allergy treatment?
If the manufacturing process takes care of not using too many chemical additives, invariably the rug becomes a safe option. It seems that the rug marketplace is falling prey to invasive marketing, where such simple facts are losing ground to claims made by bigger carpet-manufacturing brands. As long as you vacuum your rug regularly, it is more likely to improve the indoor air quality by trapping allergens rather than have them floating around up on the air of your bedroom. If the carpet happens to be in a high-trafficked area, professional cleaning is perhaps the best choice, to lower the chances of allergens being dusted indoors.
Our Verdict: Choose Handmade Rugs to Keep Allergies Away
Don’t read too much into anti-allergy treatments, some might be just an excuse to bloat the sticker price. However, there is an underlying threat to the usual variety of rugs sold at supermarkets. They are likely to have some chemical residues and be non-durable product. Wall-to-Wall and machine-made carpets, are known to test positive for traces of VOCs. A wiser approach is investing in Eco-friendly Rugs—consider hand-woven & hand-knotted rugs made with natural fibres and dyes. These rugs are harmless to children or pets. Sisal, Jute, Bamboo, Silk, New Zealand Wool, Banana-Silk and Hemp are excellent Handmade Rug choices that are not susceptible to allergens, easy to clean and will last for generations to come.
