Kerman Rug
Kerman Rug ...
Kerman Rug
How are Persian Area Rugs Made?
A Persian rug adds a touch of class and beauty to any room in which it is placed. The tradition of hand knotted area rugs began in Persia more than two thousand years ago when skilled artisans used to spend months making a single intricate rug. There is a lot of artistic skill and patience involved in making Persian rugs. Today, a significant portion of Iran's export money comes from rug and carpet weaving. These are considered some of the best-quality rugs and have a high demand across the world.
Both hand-knotted and machine made Persian rugs are available on the market, but the former variety is considered much more valuable as it reflects the artistic skill and hard labor put in by talented rug weavers.
Materials used in Persian rugs
Wool and cotton are most commonly used to make Persian rugs. Silk is also used, though rarely, as it is not very durable. However, silk rugs can be quite expensive. Such rugs are usually used as wall décor instead of as floor coverings.
Designs and patterns
Most rugs consist of a main pattern and secondary patterns. Some of the commonly used patterns include tree, fish, flower, geometric, Islamic structures and tribal patterns. The rug can have patterns all over the surface, one centre medallion or a unidirectional pattern. Traditional weavers usually commit the patterns to memory and specialize in particular designs. To make a Persian rug using more contemporary patterns, the weaver will first make a blueprint on graph paper with each square representing one knot. After the complete design has been graphically drawn, the weaver will start work on the rug.
Methods
The weaving process of Persian hand knotted area rugs is laborious and it may take many months to finish one such rug. First the foundation/base is hand-made by passing wefts (threads) under strong warps of wool and cotton. Then the dyed silk, cotton or wool knots are wound around adjoining warps to make the patterns. The greater the number of knots, the more intricate and valuable the rug will be. A Persian rug has anywhere between fifteen to over five hundred knots for every square inch. These rugs can be made using symmetrical and asymmetrical knots.
A horizontal or vertical frame consisting of pegs on vertical beams is also often used to weave Persian rugs. This is a less laborious process and helps to maintain the correct tension across the entire rug. The tools used to make such rugs include a knife, a steel comb and shears.
There are many different types of Persian hand knotted area rugs such as Afshar, Kashan, Tabriz, Baluch, Shiraz, Kerman and Wiss rugs. Colors ranging from yellow, blue, ivory, red and turquoise are used in these rugs. If you want to buy an authentic Persian rug, you should only approach a reputed carpet seller. You can also go through rug catalogues at reliable online stores to compare prices and to look for discounts.
About the Author
For more information on Persian area rugs and to help choose an eco friendly rug that is right for your home, contact Korhani Rugs.