We sometimes forget about how special a carpet can be, Persian Rugs are so much more than just a welcome mat for guests to wipe their feet on. Bill Kernodle examines these fine pieces of Middle-East culture, from their humble beginings as floor coverings to expensive decorations for palaces, and even throws in a couple of hints on how to protect yourself when buying one.
Persian Rugs - Machines Can’t Tie Knots
By Bill Kernodle
Gazing at a fine Persian rug, one cannot help but become lost in the beauty and wonder that is true art. Art that is enjoyed by the masses and prized by kings and the elite in every society. Persian rugs are from what is known today as Iran. These types of rugs have been made and prized now for thousands of years. At first Persian rugs were born of necessity and the need to cover an often earthen floor. The kilims or flat weave rugs are an example of the utilitarian aspect of many rugs.
As time went by the Persian rug became a symbol of prosperity and an ornament for decorating the homes of the rich and famous as well as the common man. Even today Iran or Persia maintains a very high volume of productivity. A testament to the continued high quality of these rugs is their ability to maitain their value over time. Many rugs are kept over lifetimes and treasured through generations.
Persian rugs are named after the area in which they are produced or if made by nomadic tribes, the name of the tribe. Rug experts can usually identify a Persian rugs origin by its design, material and dye. The the nomads would use a much coarser material and their dyes are usually brighter and often change midway through the piece as many tribes cannot afford to keep large batches of dye as they are traveling and must make do with what they have at the time.
This is one of the particularly fascinating elements of tribal rugs as they reflect the lives of the people that made them more directly than that of the Persian rugs made in large, controlled environments.
The materials for Persian rugs are all natural and are mostly wool, cotton and silk.
Some rugs are sold as silk, but are in fact rayon which looks like silk to the untrained eye. Ask your dealer or someone familiar with the Persian rug business to look for you. Be wary of fraudulent dealers offering something too good to be true, it often is exactly that.
The essential element in a Persian rug is that it is hand made. This may seem like an obvious point but it is one which cannot be stressed enough, machines cannot tie knots!
Buy a hand made Persian rug and enjoy it for a lifetime.
