Area rugs have a rich history in the new and old worlds, but
the oldest surviving knotted rug is the Pazyryk carpet found in the Altai Mountains
of Southern
Siberia. Dating to the 5th Century BCE (about 2500 years ago), the Pazyryk
carpet was discovered by archaeologists in 1949 and is currently displayed
in St. Petersburg, Russia at the Hermitage museum. The practice of hand-knotting
rugs today continues in contemporary area rugs as well as more traditional
styles.
Throughout history, area rugs and various construction techniques have
spread throughout the world. Large-scale Persian and Oriental rugs have been
widely
produced and used in Asia and the Middle East for centuries, but were not commonly
available to average European and American households before the onset of mass
production. With the relatively recent production of man-made carpets and area
rugs using synthetic and natural materials, floor coverings are available to
fit any budget.
Hand-knotted rugs are often judged by the number of knots per square inch.
On average weavers tie between 5000 to 6000 knots per day. More detailed designs
typically have a fine weave, i.e. a greater quantity of smaller knots. Very
fine weave is 180 or more knots per square inch, fine ranges from 90-180, medium
is between 40-90 and less than 40 knots represents a coarse weave.
Weavers require
a full-size chart on graph paper, called a cartoon, to assess the rug design.
The design is a reference map of yarn type and color, where
one graph square equals one knot.
Looms are strung in two directions. The
warp is the base of the rug and is strung vertically. The weft yarns are woven,
knotted, or tufted horizontally
through the warp creating the pile.
Asian rug weavers typically come from
families that have been weaving for generations and are usually males in their
mid-twenties.
Natural dyes are produced from plant sources such as ochre, indigo and madder.
Historical animal sources include cochineal and shellfish. Natural dyes vary
widely by nature, and can be inconsistent if one rug is created from multiple
batches. Natural dyes fade easily in sunlight.
Chrome dyes are modern synthetic
dyes used to manufacture rugs today. They produce a wider range of color and
are more colorfast. These dyes are blended
with potassium bicarbonate to dye wool, which helps resist fading.
Silk is a natural fiber that looks beautiful, produces a fine hand, and possesses
a vibrant sheen but is difficult to clean. Consider a faux silk fiber such
as rayon blended with wool to achieve the same effect.
Choose an area rug that
fits the space. Consider the amount of traffic and use a space receives in
addition to the shape, size and color of the area rug.
If the area rug has a fringe, make sure it is well constructed and use
care when vacuuming around the rug edge.
Do not use the vacuum beater brush when cleaning hand-knotted, looped, or tufted area rugs.
Area rug underlays can be used on bare surfaces and carpet to help secure the area rug and absorb impact.
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