Why buy a Persian rug and use it as an area rug? Let us have a look over what area rugs are all about. We all know it: some of the most important elements of homes and spaces in general are the floor coverings and there is hardly a house or apartment without a rug or a carpet. Rugs come in many shapes and sizes and there are thousand of different designs for each one. There are stylish and modern rugs, for places like art expositions or galleries ? to fit in or maybe complete the artistic atmosphere of the room. There are also enormous area rugs that match ceiling architectural patterns and cover the halls of museums or public institutions, like Parliament buildings or various palaces and many others.
Although there is a whole rug industry, one must admit that few equal the genuine Persian rugs. A Persian rug has always been the jewel of one's home. Since the times of the ancient kings and their great empires, Persian rugs have held renown for their finesse and fine appearance. Their tradition lived on to this very day, when handcrafters still manufacture them with great care, to preserve the same qualities that always charmed their lucky owners. Next, we will go over a brief history of Persian rugs and we will learn why buying one as an area rug could be one of the best choices you will ever make in decorating your home.
The earliest Persian rug patterns and designs historically date back to the 15th century, although paintings and writings tend to indicate their existence to even older times, to Ancient Persia (c 3500 BC). They generally range within three groups, based on their size and named accordingly: Farsh - 'Qalii' (greater than 6x4 feet), ?Qalicheh? (?rug? in translation ? 6x4 feet or smaller) and Nomadic (Kilim) ? representing rough carpets.
The art of creating rugs exists in Iran since c. 500 BC. It has undergone many changes, based on the political, religious and social aspects of the time passing. There were always many varieties of the themes and styles used, like various geometrical patterns. Moreover, the art displayed mainly focuses on Islamic culture. It has always offered great stories which represented a steady pillar in the creation of the carpets, providing spectacular images of surreal events (godly battles in the skies, hyperbolical features of heroes and gods or simply tales that will live forever in the worldwide culture) ? writings that will always offer sensational and mind-thrilling feelings.
The most sought-after type of Persian area rug in, let us say, modern times, is the 16th or 17th century woven Persian rug. One of the most remarkable rugs discovered in modern times is the ?Pazyryk? carpet, uncovered beneath the Pazyryk valley, during an archaeological excavation back in 1949, in the tomb of a Scythian prince. Readings showed that its manufacture occurred during the 5th century BC, thus being one of the oldest carpets in the world.
Common 16th and 17th century carpets designs include scrolling vine networks, medallions as well as arabesques and overlapping geometric compartments instead of humans, animals or story-inspired imagery, like the older ones. These motifs will always bring a great artistic touch to every floor they will cover, their royal allure also carrying their well-earned reputation of the great kings? universal preference in matter of exquisite decorations.
Their lucky owners will nevertheless have to worry about maintaining the ?lifespan? of their Persian rug, as it would a pity to treat such a fine work of art without care. In this matter, you can always find the help you need online. Here, on our website, you will find reviews and recommendations concerning all there is to know about how to choose an appropriate area rug or Persian rug and all the other details necessary for owning such a precious floor covering.
The tools need to create some of the worlds most intriguing rugs are surprisingly few.One is a loom. It may be large as in a modern industrial factory or it may be small enough to carry on the back of a horse.The looms' role is to hold the warps (longitudinal strands) under tension so that the weaver may weave the wefts (horizontal strands) between the warps to fabricate the rug. The earliest portable looms were backstrap, ground,warp-weighted or frame.. A backstrap loom is used while the vertical warp thread is attached to a branch or some other appropriate object and tied around a tree and around the weavers back. Tension is adjusted by leaning back, hence the name.
The ground loom would be strung between rows of pegs with the weaver being forced to work while leaning over the loom. This lead to the "pit loom" being developed (necessity being the mother of invention) whereby the weaver could be level with the loom while her legs were in the pit in the ground.
The warp-weighted loom has the vertical "warp" thread suspended from a branch or a tree and attached to the ground or weighted down as the name suggests. The "weft" thread (horizontal) would then be woven across the warp threads by hand or with the aid of a rod. A frame loom is based on the same principles as other looms with the addition of a frame enabling the loom to be carried easily.For the purposes of this discussion we will not delve into modern looms.Also required for the production of early rugs were a few more tools. The beating comb is much the same as our modern day comb,except it is of course much larger. It can be made of wood, bone, horn, metal or a combination of these. Its function is to compress the wefts lines to get the resulting tightly woven Persian rug or kilim. A knife or scissors are used for obvious reasons. The shuttle is a stick with notches in the ends. The weft end is put in the notch and the shuttle is inserted between alternate warps to produce a weave. However, most weavers prefer to do this with their own hands.
Persian rug materials
Fine rugs are always made with natural materials, cotton, wool and silk are the most common; silk being the most expensive of course and the most highly prized.The popularity of wool as the prime material used to make a Persian rug or kilim lies in its inherent properties. Wool is flexible, durable, readily takes on dyes and easy to handle when it is spun or woven. Also it must be noted that wool is readily available in the regions where Persian rugs and kilims are made due to the nomadic life of the peoples in these regions.
This is one of the intriguing characteristics of rug making peoples whereby the Persian rug or kilim can be ascertained to come from a certain tribe based on the wool that is used and the dye also. Some sheep's wool is more highly sought after and makes a more lustrous Persian rug or kilim.
Cotton is commonly used for warps because its high strength makes it keep its shape. Also it retains its natural whiteness through the passage of time. A third reason is that as cotton can be spun into thin strands. Animal hair (goat, horse or camel) is used in the making of Persian or kilim rugs to create certain effects. Camel hair is sometimes used to give extra strength to a woolen rug. Horse hair is used to provide attractive bangs or tassels. Fine goat hair when mixed with wool gives a silky sheen. Silk will always be a luxurious material which is why silk rugs are rare but still produced. As part of a brides' dowry a silk rug or kilim will be jealously treasured as a status symbol and protected as family wealth.
Gold or silver thread, beads and baubles and other decorative items may be included in the design of a Persian rug or kilim.
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