Tag: Persian rugs

Persian Rugs Care

Posted on by D F

Persian rugs are the finest in the world. Nothing grabs my attention like hand knotted rugs, made with fine silk or wool. It is another form of art, but one of the few kinds that can be executed with more than one pair of hands. Hand knotted rugs are worthy of being hung on your wall. That way you can admire them and preserve them for a longer time than if they were on the floor. Here are some more rug care tips:

Keep it away from the sun. This can fade your beautiful Persian rugs. If it is in the sun, rotate it monthly. If it is on the ground, rotate it four times a year, seasonally. This will help the rug to fade uniformly. Move furniture accordingly.

Straighten any gnarled fringe. Don’t comb the fringes, but fold one end of the rug to the other. This will straighten the fringe. Shake the rug if there are still some tangles.
Vacuum and keep clean your Persian rugs. It will also help the fibers look fluffy. Be careful, though. If your rug is expensive or antique and has threadbare spots, beater bars can make them worse. It’s best to turn off the beater bar.

Lastly, if you have a spill, clean it thoroughly and immediately. Absorb the spill with paper towel and then dampen it with water. If the spill remains, take it to a professional rugs cleaning service.

Tehran and Hand Knotted Rugs

Posted on by D F

Persian rugs come from Iran. They can be divided into three main groups: Farsh rugs, greater than 6×4 ft., Qalicheh rugs, smaller than 6×4 ft. and nomadic area rugs, or Kilim, made from rough wool. Iran’s Persian rugs are the country’s third largest export and more than five million people work in the industry.

Tehran is the capital of Iran. With almost 8.5 million people, it is the 21st largest city in the world. It is also one of the oldest. Settlements in the area date back more than 8000 years. Unfortunately, during the intra-war period, the Shah, Reza Shah Pahlavi, decided that the city’s oldest buildings should not be part of a modern city. They were razed to create new municipal buildings and wide straight avenues. The Iran-Iraq war saw more destruction of the old city and in its place were Soviet style apartment buildings. Despite their lack of a cohesive architecture, Iran retains much identity in their culture, especially their hand knotted rugs.
This is where you should go if you really want authentic Persian rugs.  Or you can call or visit online www.1800GetARug.com. They have as wide of a selection of hand knotted rugs as you’ll be able to find anywhere.

An Area Rugs Conversation

Posted on by D F

When I first thought about getting a rug, it seemed easy. All of these rugs are the same, besides differences in color, style, and texture. Then one cool winter evening, in the library of my friend Matthew’s home, we began to discuss my decision to choose new area rugs, and he offered a new perspective.

“Oriental rugs and Persian rugs make a marked difference in the way your area rug feels,” he said. “In fact, some area rugs are so precious, they are better hung on the wall as a decorative piece of art.”

“Really?” I inquired. I had thought they were all akin to the carpet I tread to get to my office at work- scratchy, bland, and eventually worn and faded.

“Yes, Oriental rugs have been treasured for thousands of years. A nice one can last for a long time, too, if you take care of it, of course.”

“How do I take care of it, Matt, old boy?”

“Well,” said he, “Be careful not to let the sun hit your rugs. That is one of the biggest ways to dampen the color of your rugs almost immediately. And if you want, take off your shoes before walking on your area rugs.”

“Matt,” I said, “I don’t know what I’d do without you.” We drank to that.

How To Choose a Rug

Posted on by D F

Picking out rugs can be a pain if you don’t know what you’re doing. And so, from all of us at 1-800 Get-a-Rug, here is our very own Rug-Buying for Dummies guide.

First, figure out what size rug you want. A large rug that takes up most of the floor can make the room seem bigger than it really is.

Next, figure out what shape you want. Round? Oval? Square? Rectangular? Round and square rugs usually don’t work, because rooms are so rarely equilateral and it looks strange to have so much more bare floor on one side of a rug than on the others. (However, if the rug is meant to be used just under a piece of furniture, a round or square rug could work nicely to match the shape of the furniture. Oval and rectangular are better for area rugs, and you could easily draw out a few sketches of the room and see how different shapes would look in it.

Then, decide what color and/or pattern you want. If you have lots of patterned furniture, you might want to stick to a simpler design for the rug, maybe with just 2 or 3 of the colors prominent in the room.

Finally, choose a weave. Do you want a hand-knotted rug? Needlepoint? Remember to take durability and cleanability into account.

A Brief History of Persian Rugs: The Pazyryk Carpet

Posted on by D F

Persian rugs have been around for hundreds of years. One of the oldest on record, the Pazyryk Carpet of Iran, is roughly 2500 years old, dating back to 500 B.C. Archaeologists are rarely able to garner any useful information from pieces of Persian rugs they’ve found, as over time the fibers (usually wool, silk and cotton) decay, rendering them void of any real news. The Pazyryk Carpet is considered the oldest and one of the best-preserved Persian rugs found, and, as you can see below, even it is in withering condition.

The Pazyryk Carpet was discovered in 1949 in the Siberian Altai Mountains, specifically in the grave of a Scythian prince. Extensive research on the rug suggests that by the time it was made the rug-making process had already undergone a long and elegant evolution. There is some debate about which time period the rug actually belongs to; some believe it is not a nomadic product as first assumed, but one of the Achaemenid period. Its timeline matches that of Cyrus the Great at Pasargade, whose court is said to have been decorated with luxurious rugs and carpeting. It’s plausible that citizens of an opposing country could have stolen the rugs from the court, in effect scattering them across the continent.

1800-Can-I-Get-a-Witness?

Posted on by D F

If you’re in the market for Oriental, Persian or area rugs, check out 1 800 Get a Rug. They have great products and the best customer service around. Not convinced? Take a look at a few testimonials from some of their satisfied customers.

“If you are considering the purchase of a rug, DO NOT DEPRIVE YOURSELF OF THE OPPORTUNITY OF BUYING FROM 1800getarug.com. You will love their service and your rug!” says Susan.

“The carpet that we bought from you was just unrolled, and I want to thank you for sending us a beautiful, quality carpet. This carpet has is a perfect enhancement to our room. You have been very helpful, communicative, and prompt with this transaction. We look forward to buying more carpets from you in the future,” says Sarah.

And says Gureet, “I can’t believe the level of service I received from 1800getarug.com. During my first call, you made me feel comfortable and confident in making such big purchase online. You gave me all the possible details about the rugs and made this process a piece of cake. My rugs arrived on time and they look gorgeous in my rooms! I can’t thank you enough for the experience. I will come back soon for more.”

Need more proof? Check out any of the other dozens of testimonials from 1 800 Get a Rug’s customers.

Call 1 800 Get a Rug for the Best Rugs Around!

Posted on by D F

Before spending your money on anything — electronics, homewares, clothing, etc. — you should know about the company you’re paying. The folks at 1 800 Get a Rug live by this idea, so we’re going to tell you a little about them.

1 800 Get a Rug has been selling the finest oriental and Persian rugs for over two decades now. They’re in constant contact with rug providers in the Far East and have access to the the most exciting new colors and designs in traditional, transitional and modern oriental rugs and carpets. Though they deal mainly with the interior design community as well as other rug vendors, they sell to everyone.

1 800 Get a Rug’s collection of rugs ranges from Persian antique and semi-antique to fine new oriental rugs, including vegetable dye rugs, silk, formal and informal, through European designs from 18th and 19th centuries to beautiful floral motifs that add grace and style to any setting. 1800 Get a Rug has a unique collection of beautiful handknotted rugs which is always up to date with color and design.

Don’t take our word for it; go check out 1 800 Get a Rug’s huge assortment of rugs. Their web site make it super easy to find exactly what you want, whether by color, size, foundation. It won’t be long before you find something you love!

Persian Rugs As Art

Posted on by D F

Oriental rugs are the product of great skill and craftsmanship. For millennia they have been venerated by princes and kings as pieces of fine art. But oddly enough, they are one of the few artistries that can be produced by more than one pair of hands.

Of course, bestselling books have been written by duos, and Rembrandt’s workshop helped with certain paintings, but oriental rugs such as the Spring of Khosrau (a 6th century rug kept in Iraq, woven with silk, gold, diamonds and other precious and semi-precious stones) or the Ardabil carpets (a pair of rugs woven in the 16th century, 17’6″x 36’6″ with 300 knots psi) have stood the test of time and are regarded as exemplary while being crafted by who knows how many hands.

Rug weaving is a relatively thankless job next to the other arts, where individual genius is glorified. Most rug weavers do not sign their name in the rug, and have no way to let their patrons know who they are. For this reason there is a certain mystique about Persian rugs, tied into Eastern philosophy. One does not weave Persian rugs to seek fame, but weaves beauty because it is representative of life’s totality, the good and evil, heights and lows, woven into every experience.

The Rules for Persian Rugs

Posted on by D F

Area rugs can really make a big difference in the feeling of your home. If you have wooden floors, it is a great idea to add some texture to a room by placing oriental rugs in it. This added splash of color can enhance any gathering you have by allowing people to think about how your furniture interacts with your rugs.

And don’t think that Persian rugs won’t go with your current decor – they are so classic that they can go anywhere and look good. A great way to make your interior design more interesting is by combining different elements (modern with antique, leather and wool) for a unique room that offers options.

Silk or wool is a good choice if you are thinking about area rugs, though the former, I must warn you, is typically more expensive. It does attract light better, however, and also may function as a piece of decorative artwork. Should you buy a 5×8, you can hang it on the wall to appreciate its multitudinous colors and superb craftsmanship.

Persian rugs are excellent investments, appreciating dramatically once they become antiques. Remember to keep your Oriental rugs out of the sun, and if they’re underneath furniture, rotate them annually so they don’t become worn in one specific area.

The Relaxation of Oriental Rugs

Posted on by D F

The relaxation oriental rugs provide is a luxury. It makes a big difference when you can sit in a living room with the floor beneath you a blaze of rich color and light. The silk Persian rugs capture and refract the glow from the logs burning in the fireplace. You rest your head against the back of your leather chair, feeling the cold scotch in your hand.

Your friend and confidant of many years is here tonight. You reminisce fondly on years past, the trials and errors of your youth. You sip the gold liquid from the tumbler feeling the warmth penetrate from your fingers to your toes. The fire crackles. Your friend admires the arabesques and floral curlicues in the deep burgundy around the area rugs, glances at the creamy white background the church blues sit on and the vibrant greens leaves that radiate from the center of the Persian rugs.

You become conscious of your pleasure, and it recedes. Your eyes make contact and you break the short silence that grew while the scotch worked. “Good to see you, old friend.”

“Good to be here.” And from the languid way his shoulders hang, and how his fingers splay on the easy chair, you know he means it.