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What is an Oriental Rug anyway?
Definition:
Defining an oriental rug can be as easy or as had as you like. Each person has a unique
picture in their mind of what an oriental rug is, but describing that image to another person
accurately can be difficult. For our purposes, we will use this simple definition. A true
oriental rug is a rug or carpet that is hand-knotted in the near, middle, or far east. While
this is still a very broad definition, it contains two very key factors.
First, and most important, all true oriental rugs are hand-knotted. There are many
counterfeit carpets that are hand-tufted or machine made that look similar and are similar
in price. Don’t let these fool you. The amount of time and cost involved in making one of
these pieces is barely a fraction of the cost in making a true hand-knotted carpet. These
pieces cannot be repaired, do not age well, do not last as long, and do not hold their
value. Avoid such pieces at all costs.
The second key factor in the definition is that all oriental rugs are made in the eastern
hemisphere of the globe. The name oriental rug is itself a misnomer. Here in the U.S.,
most people consider the orient to be southern Asia (China, Japan, Koreas, etc.) The
majority of oriental rugs are manufactured in Persia (Iran), India, China, Pakistan, Tibet,
Afghanistan, Turkey, and Russia. Rugs may also be made in northern Africa and France.
Type:
Oriental Rugs may be either flat woven or hand-knotted. Flat woven rugs are not as
prominent as piled carpets. Flat woven rugs are pileless, created through a system of
crossing vertical and horizontal threads to create the fabric of the rug. This process is very
similar to other weaving processes, where threads are interlaced to create material. The
difference is that flatweaves change colors and threads intermittently to create designs,
and the threads are woven upon a cotton warp base. There are multiple types of flat
woven rugs made up of different materials, dyes, and designs. These types of rugs may
be called kilims, soumacs, dhurries, or flat weaves depending upon the specific way in
which they are constructed. These flat woven rugs will be discussed further later in this
book. Pile carpets are the most prominent form of oriental rug. A pile carpet is formed
when strands of material are tied (knotted) onto a foundation of warps and wefts, with the
cut ends of these knot strings creating the pile of the rug. Each individual knot is pre-dyed
in mass wool quantities, and the placement and colors of these individual knots creates
the pattern and quality of the rug. Again, these rugs vary greatly in the materials, design,
and dyes that may be used.
Rugs vs carpets:
Many people become confused by the use of the terms rugs and carpets. For most
practical use in the western world, it makes no difference which verbage you choose to
use. The true difference between carpets and rugs is the size. If a person was to ask for
carpets in certain areas of the middle east, the vendor would bring you smaller area
rugsranging from 6X9 and smaller. To ask for rugs would be to ask to see larger sized
pieces, 6x9 or larger.
Defining an oriental rug can be as easy or as had as you like. Each person has a unique
picture in their mind of what an oriental rug is, but describing that image to another person
accurately can be difficult. For our purposes, we will use this simple definition. A true
oriental rug is a rug or carpet that is hand-knotted in the near, middle, or far east. While
this is still a very broad definition, it contains two very key factors.
First, and most important, all true oriental rugs are hand-knotted. There are many
counterfeit carpets that are hand-tufted or machine made that look similar and are similar
in price. Don’t let these fool you. The amount of time and cost involved in making one of
these pieces is barely a fraction of the cost in making a true hand-knotted carpet. These
pieces cannot be repaired, do not age well, do not last as long, and do not hold their
value. Avoid such pieces at all costs.
The second key factor in the definition is that all oriental rugs are made in the eastern
hemisphere of the globe. The name oriental rug is itself a misnomer. Here in the U.S.,
most people consider the orient to be southern Asia (China, Japan, Koreas, etc.) The
majority of oriental rugs are manufactured in Persia (Iran), India, China, Pakistan, Tibet,
Afghanistan, Turkey, and Russia. Rugs may also be made in northern Africa and France.
Type:
Oriental Rugs may be either flat woven or hand-knotted. Flat woven rugs are not as
prominent as piled carpets. Flat woven rugs are pileless, created through a system of
crossing vertical and horizontal threads to create the fabric of the rug. This process is very
similar to other weaving processes, where threads are interlaced to create material. The
difference is that flatweaves change colors and threads intermittently to create designs,
and the threads are woven upon a cotton warp base. There are multiple types of flat
woven rugs made up of different materials, dyes, and designs. These types of rugs may
be called kilims, soumacs, dhurries, or flat weaves depending upon the specific way in
which they are constructed. These flat woven rugs will be discussed further later in this
book. Pile carpets are the most prominent form of oriental rug. A pile carpet is formed
when strands of material are tied (knotted) onto a foundation of warps and wefts, with the
cut ends of these knot strings creating the pile of the rug. Each individual knot is pre-dyed
in mass wool quantities, and the placement and colors of these individual knots creates
the pattern and quality of the rug. Again, these rugs vary greatly in the materials, design,
and dyes that may be used.
Rugs vs carpets:
Many people become confused by the use of the terms rugs and carpets. For most
practical use in the western world, it makes no difference which verbage you choose to
use. The true difference between carpets and rugs is the size. If a person was to ask for
carpets in certain areas of the middle east, the vendor would bring you smaller area
rugsranging from 6X9 and smaller. To ask for rugs would be to ask to see larger sized
pieces, 6x9 or larger.
859-254-4412
Rugs 101 - Information Center for Oriental Rugs __________________