Persian rugs are versatile, durable and always stylish. They are made up of a layout and a design which in general includes one or a number of motifs. Persian rugs are typically designed using one of three patterns: all-over, central medallion and one-sided. They are both beautiful and sought after, however many people and collectors of fine persian rugs are not able to find the selection that are looking for in their local area. They are popular in the well-designed homes of today, keeping rug prices on an upward trend. Persian rugs are the world’s “gold standard” of rug making, copied by other countries, but not equaled. They are durable art for the floor. Persian Rugs are made through a procedure called weaving, which can last for months and even years if they are handmade products. Persian Rugs are known as one of the oldest oriental rugs.
They add charm and sophistication to every room they adorn, whether knotted with pile or woven without. Persian rugs have enchanted their admirers for thousands of years, and have universal appeal due to their elaborate designs and use throughout history. Persian rugs have a fascinating history to them, and the fact that they were possessed by Eastern royalty in ancient times is evident in their elaborate stylishness and extravagant designs. They are well known for their high quality and they are produced by a unique blend of domestic and international interests and thus were able to conquer international markets as well. Persian rugs were originally made in Egypt over four thousand years ago and have grown into a commodity around the world.
Persian rug design can be described in terms of the manner in which the field of the rug is organized. They are closely associated with those from Khorasan, Kordestan, Hamedan and Azarbaijan. Each square becomes a knot, which allows for an accurate rendition of even the most complex design. For the more elaborate curvilinear designs, the patterns are carefully drawn to scale in the proper colours on graph paper. There are a number of patterns which are found in Persian and Oriental rugs called ‘motifs’, these designs have different meanings and tend to be used depending on the area the rug was woven although it is not unusual to find more than one motif in a single rug. Persian rugs are typically designed using one of three patterns: all-over, central medallion and one-sided. Artists would create the carpet designs, and the best designs would be woven by the best weavers in the empire. Rugs are named for their designs, tribes, or locations of origin. The more complex the design, such as using curvilinear instead of geometric lines, the higher the rug’s price. The shapes and overall pattern of these rugs is geometric, although in many cases the rug design tells a story or depicts a special event.
Persian rugs are well known for their high quality and they are produced by a unique blend of domestic and international interests and thus were able to conquer international markets as well. The best materials of high quality and techniques of superb manufacturing methods were implemented in the royal factories for producing world class quality Persian rugs. These gorgeous treasures were hand woven using high-quality wool and dyed using all-natural vegetable dyes (synthetic dyes were used later, and would disqualify a Persian rug as ‘antique’). These carpets are made in the small town of Nain which has always had a reputation of producing high quality wool. There are many different textures, shapes, and quality of rugs that may fit your budget and needs, so it is a good idea to have these factors in mind. Rugs made of silk or high quality wool are much more expensive than those made of cotton or materials of lesser quality. With regard to knot count, the higher the knot counts per square inch in the warp, the higher the quality of the rug. Rug quality and designs declined; thus, when the embargo was lifted in 1990, Iran lost the grip it held on carpet export to the United States. Silk, wool, and cotton yarns must be evaluated for quality and evaluated for the use of natural dyes versus synthetic dyes, as natural is always preferred. Cheap dyes, low quality wool, chemical washing and even meaningless designs supplied by the European importers brought the industry almost to its knees.
Weaving normally begins by passing a number of wefts through the bottom warp to form a base to start from. Weaving carpets has been a part of Iranian history for more than 2, 500 years as a tradition that passes down from one generation to the next. Weaving a rug is not just a necessity for Iranians but also a form of expressing community, identity, and artistic creativity, which Iranians proudly acknowledge. Weaving is a form of art, not just a way to create carpets, and because they are designed and hand-woven one at a time, no two can ever be exactly the same. Carpet-weaving is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished manifestations of Persian culture and art, and dates back to ancient Persia. The art of carpet weaving existed in Iran in ancient times, according to evidence such as the 2500-year-old Pazyryk carpet, dating back to 500 B. Sheep were specially bred to produce fine wool for weaving carpets.
The great carpet weaving fell back into the hands of the wandering nomads who had maintained their centuries-old traditions and skills, apart from a few centres, principally Josheghan, Kerman, Mashad and Azarbaijan. Persian carpets became very popular in European nations and the elegant technique of carpet weaving. They set up many weaving workshops inKashan, Esfahan, Tabriz, Ghazvin, Kerman, and Josheghan and in other suitable areas of Iran. During the reign of the Safavid dynasty in Iran, the arts of calligraphy, gilding, tiling, painting, miniatures, architecture and carpet weaving approached their highest previous level. Iranians are considered to be the beginners in weaving rugs from the ancient civilizations.
Knots are extremely important for determining many rug prices. Knots are counted on the back of the rug. The foundation is of silk and the pile of wool with a knot density at 300-350 knots per square inch. Depending on the fineness of the weave, the quality of the materials and the expertise of the weavers, the knot count of a hand made rug can vary anywhere from 16 to 550 knots per square inch. In order to operate the loom, the weaver needs a number of essential tools: a knife for cutting the yarn as the knots are tied; a comb-like instrument for packing down the wefts; and a pair of shears for trimming the pile. Two basic knots are used in most Persian Carpets and Oriental rugs: the symmetrical Turkish or Ghiordes knot (used in Turkey, the Caucasus, East Turkmenistan, and some Turkish and Kurdish areas of Iran), and the asymmetrical Persian or Senneh knot (Iran, India, Turkey, Pakistan, China, and Egypt). Other knots include the Spanish knot looped around single alternate warps so the ends are brought out on either side and the Jufti knot which is tied around four warps instead. More knots per inch equals a finer, more durable rug. The single strand of the Persian Senneh knot allows for more flowing outlines and apparently finer work simply because these knots occupy less space.
Man-made dyes do run into each other after cleaning Persian rugs and carpets. By using an electric sweeper and spot cleaning spills with a mild detergent, your Persian rug can last for multiple generations. Let the rug dry after cleaning then vacuum it to restore the pile and texture. Mix the cleaning solutions according to the directions. Taking care of the problem immediately is essential in cleaning your Persian rugs. There are also a variety of services offered for cleaning.
[ad_2]Source by Roger Rompot
