Thursday, November 12, 2015
In the truest sense of the art form, an rug from the Orient is hand woven, made of natural fibers and produced in Oriental countries such as Pakistan, India, China and Iran. These are the highest quality and should be treated with great care. Some oriental rugs are hundreds and even thousands of years old. Others can be purchased at your local department store and are fresh off the loom.
These fibers were chosen for their ability to hold various colors of dye. The rugs typically have vibrant, intricate designs that require a range of colors to produce. Some of the earliest rugs produced date back as far as 400 B. C. These are works of art that are carefully preserved and displayed in museums or homes of wealthy people. However, the age speaks to the longevity of the heavy textiles.
Wool is a strong fabric that was and is readily available. Cotton makes a solid foundation for the rug, as it can be very tightly woven. Silk may be considered the top of the line since silk is more expensive. A silk rug is beautiful but may not be as durable as a rug woven from wool. Often silk rugs are used as wall hangings rather than floor coverings. These are highly treasured possessions.
Originally, spinning wheels were used for transforming the fibers into yarn. With the invention of spinning machines the process took much less time. However, some manufacturers continue to sell only hand woven products since this may be preferred by the connoisseur.
Every component used in the early years was natural. Dyes were made for insects and other natural sources. Artisans were restricted to the colors that occurred naturally in their environment. Synthetic dyes opened up a whole new world of color and allowed for more intricate designs.
Once the yarn is created, the next step is to use a loom to construct the fabric of the rug. There are vertical looms and horizontal looms. The vertical looms allow for flexibility in the size of the finished product as one section can be moved to the back of a loom allowing the size to expand. Horizontal looms limit the size of the rug to the beam length.
There is a broad price range available. A family can go to the nearby department store and purchase a rug for a few hundred dollars to place in their living room. The highest quality rugs are typically sold in specialty stores and may cost several thousands of dollars. The lower priced products are not of the same quality as their more expensive counterparts. Your choice will be dictated in part to your budget and in part to how you intend to use the rug.
A collector purchasing an oriental rug will have a much different perspective from someone who merely appreciates the beauty of the rug. If a rug is placed in a high traffic area it may be subject to the damages of daily wear and tear. A collector will want to keep the rug in pristine condition. For both types of consumers, an oriental rug will be a beautiful addition to any decor.
These fibers were chosen for their ability to hold various colors of dye. The rugs typically have vibrant, intricate designs that require a range of colors to produce. Some of the earliest rugs produced date back as far as 400 B. C. These are works of art that are carefully preserved and displayed in museums or homes of wealthy people. However, the age speaks to the longevity of the heavy textiles.
Wool is a strong fabric that was and is readily available. Cotton makes a solid foundation for the rug, as it can be very tightly woven. Silk may be considered the top of the line since silk is more expensive. A silk rug is beautiful but may not be as durable as a rug woven from wool. Often silk rugs are used as wall hangings rather than floor coverings. These are highly treasured possessions.
Originally, spinning wheels were used for transforming the fibers into yarn. With the invention of spinning machines the process took much less time. However, some manufacturers continue to sell only hand woven products since this may be preferred by the connoisseur.
Every component used in the early years was natural. Dyes were made for insects and other natural sources. Artisans were restricted to the colors that occurred naturally in their environment. Synthetic dyes opened up a whole new world of color and allowed for more intricate designs.
Once the yarn is created, the next step is to use a loom to construct the fabric of the rug. There are vertical looms and horizontal looms. The vertical looms allow for flexibility in the size of the finished product as one section can be moved to the back of a loom allowing the size to expand. Horizontal looms limit the size of the rug to the beam length.
There is a broad price range available. A family can go to the nearby department store and purchase a rug for a few hundred dollars to place in their living room. The highest quality rugs are typically sold in specialty stores and may cost several thousands of dollars. The lower priced products are not of the same quality as their more expensive counterparts. Your choice will be dictated in part to your budget and in part to how you intend to use the rug.
A collector purchasing an oriental rug will have a much different perspective from someone who merely appreciates the beauty of the rug. If a rug is placed in a high traffic area it may be subject to the damages of daily wear and tear. A collector will want to keep the rug in pristine condition. For both types of consumers, an oriental rug will be a beautiful addition to any decor.