Styles and History of Rugs
Persian Rugs
Anatolian Rugs
Creation and Identification of Rugs
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Styles and History of Rugs

In non-western cultures, rugs are highly valued works of art maintaining a similar position to that of paintings in Western culture. Various styles of oriental rugs are made in Anatolia (Turkey), Caucasus, Central Asia, China, India, and Persia (Iran). While rug production experienced its greatest flourishing from the 15th through 17th centuries, carpets and rugs are named for the area in which they are produced or for the ethnic group of their maker.

During the sixteenth century, Dutch, Italian, and Portugese exported rugs. Europeans viewed the rugs as luxury objects and placed them on chests and tables as seen in paintings by Johannes Vermeer, and many others. Many collectors commissioned rugs with special features such as their coat-of-arms. By the late nineteenth century, Orientalism had reached America and prompted the collecting of rugs. Persian weaving centers were revived and rugs were created for export. Oriental rugs were officially introduced to Americans at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 in Philadelphia, PA. Political concerns within the region where Persian rugs are produced have impacted their value and rarity since 1991. 

Persian Rugs

Persian rugs are arguably among the most exquisite textiles in the world. During the Safavid Dynasty (1502-1736), Persia experienced a great flourishing in rug production at court workshops. Artisans were inspired by book illumination in the creation of medallion rugs and motifs from painting such as animals, figures, and landscapes found their way into rug designs. Persians had the highest and most diverse numbers of weaving groups and styles and they are known for their curvilinear and fluid floral motifs with blues and reds dominating the palette. Herat rugs are the most well-known and feature a central medallion on a wine-red field and a green border. 

Anatolian Rugs

During the sixteenth century, Persian rugs designs influenced the artisans of Anatolia and India. Anatolians borrowed motifs from Persian rugs and created bolder designs featuring floral and geometric motifs such as polygons stars in red, blue, and yellow. Anatolian rugs were depicted in the paintings of Hans Holbein the Younger and Renaissance master, Lorenzo Lotto and later named after the masters. During the Mughal era (1526-1858) Emperors brought Persian artists to court and imported works of art and rugs which influenced the production in India. Indian rugs of this period featured floral and plant motifs including lattice designs, millefleur patterns of tiny clustered flowers, and vines. Some of these rugs were made of Pashmina, Persian for wool, or wool from goat hair and are treasures today. 



Creation and Identification of Rugs

Rugs are woven on a loom on with a warp of yarns placed lengthwise on a loom top and a weft of yarns placed widthwise. Several different types of looms were used, but the most popular was the upright loom. The foundation can be made of cotton, wool, or silk. One method of rug making known as the knotted rug involves knotting yarns onto the warp yarns. These knots are kept in place by the weft yarns. Several types of knots are used depending on the maker of the rug and the number of knots can range from 5 to 2,000 knots per square inch. Piles can be made of silk, or wool from sheep, goats, or camels. 

Vegetal and animal dyes were used for antique rugs as well as contemporary rugs. Dyes were made of madder root, indigo, milkweed, and other plants as well as cochineal and lac insects. Aniline and chrome dyes are synthetic dyes that were introduced in the 1860s. If you want to find out if a rug is dyed with anilines take a damp cloth an run it across the surface. If it has color appears it is an indication of synthetic dyes, vegetal dyes do not leave a color residue on their surface. Rugs are usually washed after to remove excess and set the dye.



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Dr. Lori
Director
Masterpiece Technologies Inc.