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Rugs 101
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Designer Services
Clearance Specials
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Shop By Style
Shop By Room
Rugs 101
Cleaning / Repair
Newsletter
Contact Us
Showroom
Designer Services
Clearance Specials
Store Location
Store Hours
| Rugs 101 - Information Center for Oriental Rugs |
Materials
While the materials used to construct an oriental rug may vary, there
are only a few general materials used which account for 99% of all hand-
knotted rugs. Because of this, generalizations can be made which
allow one to learn much about their rug solely through knowledge of
what composes their rug.
Most hand-knotted rugs have a woolen pile, but this woolen pile can
consist of any number of combinations of animal and hair fibers. Aside
from basic sheeps wool, goat hair, camel hair, mohair, silk, and metal
fibers are commonly found in many oriental rugs. Silk rugs also have
another subcategory because of the use of synthetic false silk fibers
and mercerized cottons as substitutes. Blending of different materials
to create finer grades of wools, cottons, and silks, is also common, but
sometimes reserved for finer pieces. Wool, for example, can be
blended in order to create softer, more lustrous pile materials.
The warps and wefts of oriental rugs are almost always cotton, with
finer piece using a silk foundation, and many antique piece using a
wool or silk foundation. Again, how the foundation is constructed and
what material is used will give many clues as to the age, origin, and
value of the rug. Cotton is arguably the best base fiber for the average
rug because of the low cost and durability of the fiber.
All of the materials in oriental rug have both pros and cons, but the
overwhelming majority of rugs are constructed using wool, silk, or
cotton. Each of these will be discussed further in this section.
are only a few general materials used which account for 99% of all hand-
knotted rugs. Because of this, generalizations can be made which
allow one to learn much about their rug solely through knowledge of
what composes their rug.
Most hand-knotted rugs have a woolen pile, but this woolen pile can
consist of any number of combinations of animal and hair fibers. Aside
from basic sheeps wool, goat hair, camel hair, mohair, silk, and metal
fibers are commonly found in many oriental rugs. Silk rugs also have
another subcategory because of the use of synthetic false silk fibers
and mercerized cottons as substitutes. Blending of different materials
to create finer grades of wools, cottons, and silks, is also common, but
sometimes reserved for finer pieces. Wool, for example, can be
blended in order to create softer, more lustrous pile materials.
The warps and wefts of oriental rugs are almost always cotton, with
finer piece using a silk foundation, and many antique piece using a
wool or silk foundation. Again, how the foundation is constructed and
what material is used will give many clues as to the age, origin, and
value of the rug. Cotton is arguably the best base fiber for the average
rug because of the low cost and durability of the fiber.
All of the materials in oriental rug have both pros and cons, but the
overwhelming majority of rugs are constructed using wool, silk, or
cotton. Each of these will be discussed further in this section.