As Steve Boodakian, an expert with decades of experience in the rug business, notes, “In over 25 years in the business of buying, selling, and appraising Oriental rugs, I have counted the knots on less than 100 of them. As Steve Boodakian, an expert with decades of experience in the rug business, notes, “In over 25 years in the business of buying, selling, and appraising Oriental rugs, I have counted the knots on less than 100 of them. Oriental rugs have been prized possessions for centuries, often passed down through generations as family heirlooms. Assessing the quality of an Oriental rug involves examining several key factors that contribute to its overall value and durability.
Online platforms have expanded the market for Oriental rugs, offering a vast selection and often competitive pricing. An Oriental rug is a hand-knotted carpet traditionally made in Asian countries such as Iran, China, India, Turkey, Pakistan, and Nepal. Oriental rugs are exquisite masterpieces encapsulating centuries of tradition, craftsmanship, and cultural richness. Hand-knotted Oriental rugs are famous for their beauty and durability; a hand-knotted rug is a wise investment that will last lifetimes.
Main Street Oriental Rugs offers high quality, 100% wool, hand-knotted area rugs in a variety of sizes, colors, and designs. The value of an Oriental rug is influenced by several factors, including its age, condition, origin, and artistic merit. Authentic, handmade Oriental rugs from ECARPETGALLERY with free shipping. Oriental rugs are functional pieces of art that can add character to a room and serve as a lasting investment.
What are oriental rugs called now?
Other Tabriz rugs feature an allover herati patterns of stylized flowers within curved diamonds, though herati motifs are not unique to Tabriz rugs. But how different is, say, a Serapi from a Shiraz, and does it matter anyway? Also known as Ushak rugs, these floor coverings originated in Usak, Turkey, back when much of the country was known as Anatolia. Finally, antique Hamadan rugs traditionally feature central medallions surrounded by smaller motifs and patterns. Traditionally Oushak carpets featured stars, medallions, and other geometric motifs, though by the 19th century many rugmakers were incorporating vines and other botanical motifs as well.
While India already had its own weaving traditions, the Mughals brought with them rugmaking techniques and designs from Persia. Not only did they cover mosque floors throughout the Ottoman Empire, but they were also memorialized in paintings by German-Swiss artist Hans Holbein and Italian artist Lorenzo Lotto, so much so that certain types of Oushaks were known as Holbein carpets and Lotto carpets. With its rich reds and blues and profusion of geometric motifs, this vintage Heriz is a prime example of the style. For much of the existence of the Mughal Empire, in the 16th and 17th centuries, Agra was its capital, which is why Agra rugs are sometimes called Mughal rugs.
However, in modern situations, the phrase area rug may be used as a more inclusive and neutral term, reflecting the worldwide nature of rug production and the numerous cultural influences that affect its designs. This explains the similarities between Heriz carpets and some types of Tabriz rugs, especially Ardabil styles. These rugs are often considered the gold standard of the Oriental rug world due to their high-quality craftsmanship and long history. Objects of courtly representation and prestige initially, oriental rugs became affordable to wider groups of European citizens with the growing wealth and influence of merchant families and private persons.
Still others depict the seasons and trees symbolizing everything from strength (oaks) to willows (love), among other designs. By the end of that century, foreign firms dominated Heris’s rugmaking industry, and rugs were produced primarily for export. This is specially important if you are a new to buying Persian rugs and need to get as much information as possible before investing. A prayer rug is characterized by a niche at one end, representing the mihrab, an architectural element in mosques intended to direct the worshippers towards the Qibla.
It is called the Pazyryk carpet, and demonstrates the same way that Persians use colors and decorative geometrical patterns in their rug making. Heriz rugs will always feature an oversized medallion in the center, with a double or triple outline and large corner pieces. If you see something described as an Anatolian rug, that typically means it’s Turkish but its exact origins aren’t known. Persian rugs, on the other hand, are a specific subset of Oriental rugs, originating from the historical region of Persia (now modern-day Iran).
The tradition of Persian rug weaving has been passed down through the generations, so that fine handmade carpets are still being produced in modern times. That’s why it’s easier to find oversize Heriz rugs than other Persian carpets, many of which were produced for use in mosques or small rooms. Already by the thirteenth century, merchant travelers like Marco Polo remarked on the beauty of the Oriental carpets they encountered on their journeys, and soon such carpets began to be imported into Venice and thence to the rest of Europe. They are tightly knotted, with a luxurious pile of silk or cotton and intricate designs that include a combination of flowers, birds, medallions, hunting scenes and gardens in dark blue, reddish brown or orange.
Due to their weave structure being less durable than pile orientals, these rugs are better in lower traffic environments and fit bedroom décor or under a coffee table. Named after the city of Heris in northwestern Iran’s East Azerbaijan province (not to be confused with the neighboring nation of Azerbaijan), Heriz carpets only became widely known to the Western world in the 19th century. In comparison, Persian aka Senneh or Sehna knots are asymmetrical but allow for greater pile density and finer design details. Some of the most well known types of area rugs that would be considered “Oriental are the iconic area rugs that were woven in Persia – the modern day country of Iran.
We’ve all heard the term Oriental rug those beautiful, durable hand-woven area rugs made from natural materials, known for their intricate patterns and centuries-old craftsmanship. Oriental was first used as a geographic designation during the Roman Empire under Emperor Diocletian (reigning from 284 to 305 AD). Cotton can be spun more tightly than wool, and tolerates more tension, which makes cotton a superior material for the foundation of a rug. Sheba is a wealth of knowledge on the topic, and when I tell you that her heart bleeds for Persian rugs, I’m being serious.
For another, the local sheep from which the wool was shorn drank runoff water from Mount Sabalan, which sits atop a major copper deposit; copper helps strengthen wool and bolsters its ability to retain dye colors. It’s also important to note that in the 1930s and ’40s, demand for red rugs skyrocketed specifically in the US, so those got cranked out from Iran.
What’s the difference between a Persian rug and an Oriental rug?
Due to this, Persian rugs tend to tell a lot about themselves by their pattern and the way they are made. Many Oriental rugs use contrasting colors, as well as different textures to create three-dimensional effects. Authentic Persian rugs are handmade and aren’t for budget-seekers (expenses start to climb when it comes to certain authentic types). For instance, Turkish rugs often display geometric patterns, while Chinese rugs may have more pictorial designs.
Finally, the fundamental points that highlight Persian vs Oriental rug points are seen in their distinct design, construction procedures, and material selections. If you should see on the back of the rug that the fringes have been sewn on, then in all probability it is not a genuine oriental rug. It should come as no surprise, then, that Oriental rugs can vary quite a bit when it comes to their designs and materials. Persian Oriental rugs are famous for their intricate and detailed designs, which typically tell a story or express cultural symbolism.
Oriental rugs encompass a wide range of handwoven carpets from various regions across Asia, including China, India, and Turkey. Persian carpets are frequently classified according to their origin, such as Tabriz, Isfahan, or Kashan, each with its own distinct design qualities. But first, what’s the difference between an Oriental rug and a Persian rug? All Persian rugs are Oriental rugs, but not all Oriental rugs are Persian. As you can probably guess, Persian rugs come from the area that was once referred to as the Persian Empire.
An Oriental rug was handmade anywhere in Asia (including Turkey yes, it straddles Asia and Europe, but regardless of the town where it was made, Turkish rugs are considered Asian rugs). Whether you opt for a Persian rug’s time-honored elegance or another Oriental rug’s distinctive charm, you’ll be investing in a piece of art that can add warmth, beauty, and luxury to your home. While Persian rugs are almost a part of the Oriental rug family, they are distinguished by their elaborate designs, traditional construction processes, and use of natural dyes. But are they really the same? The answer, like the intricate patterns on the rugs themselves, is nuanced.
Sunlight will cause the rug to fade, and will dry the oils from the fibers, causing them to become brittle and easily damaged. Probably the biggest mistake would be to confuse a machine-made rug in oriental design with a hand-knotted oriental rug. Oriental rugs, like Persian rugs, are frequently handcrafted and reflect the artisan’s talent and cultural setting.
How to tell a real Oriental rug?
Oriental rugs are not designed for outdoors and they will start to deteriorate if left outside in harsh conditions such as rain, snow, or sun exposure. RugKnots have authentic oriental rugs available in different sizes, styles, and colors for you to choose from. Real Persian rugs are a worthy investment and knowing how to tell the genuine pieces from the fake will ensure that the piece you’re acquiring is worth it. If the cloth is color-free, it is an indication that vegetable dyes were used in the rug, which means it is more likely to be a real Persian rug.
Irregularities and minor faults are absolutely normal on the reverse side of Oriental rugs – including Persian rugs. If you should see on the back of the rug that the fringes have been sewn on, then in all probability it is not a genuine oriental rug. Quality Oriental rug dealers are comparable to trusted art dealers, they should be invested, informed, and passionate about their products, because each product is high in quality and value. This is a great question and it’s one of the most important things for you to know when purchasing an oriental rug.
Because there are so many types and styles of rugs, it can be difficult to identify an authentic Oriental rug against a sea of machine-made products. Just to let you know, in bold geometric designs, knot count is less important than in detailed florals. New rugs are machine-made so they will not be as durable and have a very different feel to them from an authentic oriental rug. You’ll be able to assess whether a rug is an authentic Oriental rug or not by looking at the rug’s backside.
Real oriental rugs, hand knotted oriental rugs will always feature a soft backing whose pattern matches the top pile like a mirror image. An authentic Oriental rug will likely be made of pure wool (although some authentic Oriental rugs contain some silk or cotton) and dyed with all-natural, vegetable-based dyes. The process is such that the pattern on the underside of the rug matches the pattern on the top of the rug. Typically, a good quality wool area rug can have anywhere between 120-350 KPSI, and a very good quality area rug can have 400 KPSI and greater.
Because the rug is hand knotted, it takes a significant amount of skill and time to complete an oriental rug. A true hand-knotted Oriental rug’s backside should also have a tag or sticker stating details about the rug. In the interior design world, Oriental rugs are regarded as some of the most precious and appreciated. If the back is not a mirror image of the front, the rug is not an authentic, hand knotted oriental rug.
When the back of the rug is hard plastic, this mean that your rugs top pile is made from a synthetic material and the hard plastic back is holding the rug together. A good way of knowing is to look at the backside of your oriental rug where you will find out the original color that was used in making your carpet. Oriental rugs are also known as antique rugs that have intricate patterns with colored knots hand-woven using synthetic materials.
