Persian Rugs
Traditional rugs are always wholly made by hand, each knot tied by the weaver around the warp threads on a vertical or horizontal loom. A handmade rug can have from thousands to millions of knots and can take from 2 weeks to 2 years to make.
The materials are generally wool, silk or cotton, or a mixture. The backing- the longitudinal warp threads and the latitudinal weft threads- of the rug is always either cotton, wool, silk or jute.
The most usual and popular traditional rugs are made in Turkey, Iran (Persia), Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and China. Lesser available rugs are also made in Morocco, Egypt, Eastern Europe and Southern Russia and Turkmenistan.
Traditional Persian Rugs
Classic rugs are the most traditional formal handmade Persian and Oriental rugs and come with and without central medallions. They are generally floral and have a pile of wool or silk, or a combination of the two.
Modern Persian Rugs
ALL rugs are decorative but these are modern examples with a less “Persian’ looks- more space, less floral motifs, often lacking a central medallion and with colours other than red, blue and cream. Maybe, on the whole, they are easier to furnish within a typical Western home.
Persian Tribal Rugs
Tribal rugs refer to specific rug designs woven by formerly nomadic tribes of Iran and Afghanistan. Nowadays they are settled but still weave rugs which are for the commercial market in the West. Often a more freeform design than other rugs and sometimes highly artistic, spontaneous and collectable. They are not the most hard wearing of rugs but often have super luxurious wool and a suppleness that allows them to be used in many ways other than the floor. The best ones are the embodiment of the artistic living spirit.
View Persian Silk Rugs
My silk rugs are all hand knotted in Iran which, along with the fine Turkish silks, are the best in the world. They use true silk – no bamboo silk or mercerised cotton- and often weave on a silk warp and werft. They are made with thousands of knots per square metre and sometimes have gold and silver thread inlaid for added effect and utter luxury! Silk rugs look superb as a work of art on the wall so place a rod through a sleeve on the reverse and highlight with a floodlight.
Kilims
Kilims are flatweave rugs so have no pile. As a decoration they often have areas of wool pile as a decoration – this is a mixed technique kilim. Kilims were used to wrap the bales of rugs when being shipped to the west and, until about 1980, were not particualrly valued. The design is formed from the weft thread which runs across the rug and is woven in and out of the longitudinal warp threads. They are supple, light and easily transported. Use anywhere in the house- walls, as bed spreads or over the back of a sofa or chair. Best used with a non slip underaly as they do move and ruck up.