A rug is considered tribal if it is produced by a nomadic tribe of people who move from place to place, generally according to the seasons, in order to find shelter and sustenance. Sometimes nomads move in the search of greener pastures for their sheep; other times they move with seasonal work. Their lifestyle, journeys …
Oushak Rugs: More Popular Than Ever
Oushak rugs were first hand knotted centuries ago in what is now western Turkey. Antique Oushak (or Ushak) carpets were knotted with high end lustrous wool in subtle glowing colors in what used to be the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Their city of origin was called Usak. The designs were usually sizable floral …
Oriental Rugs: Shining a Light
“Oriental Rug” is a moniker used originally by Europeans when they became aware of and began to appreciate the art of handmade rugs across the Islamic world and beyond. Essentially, the term can be applied to rugs made in an area rug dealers call the Rug Belt, which spans North African rug producing countries, Middle …
PERSIAN RUGS – Exceptional Quality
PERSIAN RUGS: HISTORY The history of the “Persian carpet” is rich and storied, dating back 2500 years. The dawn of carpet weaving in the Persian Empire is widely thought to have been during the reign of Cyrus the Great in the 6th Century BC. In fact, historians and folklorists alike have written about the ruler’s …
Wild Interiors: The Natural World Depicted in Hand Knotted Rugs
Biological Need Humans have an innate need and desire to be close to the natural world, especially plants and animals. This may be because more than 99 percent our evolutionary history was spent out in the wild. Yet the rise of cities in the last several centuries has meant more and more humans are isolated …
Hand Knotted Rugs: The Investment Piece
There are stocks, bonds, real estate, cryptocurrency, art, vintage cars, and rugs. People around the world buy all of these items in the hope that they will not only hold, but increase in value in the years to come. Rugs fall into a handful of investment categories: collectibles, antiques, handicrafts, et. Investment in collectibles is …
Kazak Rugs: Vintage Geometric Designs
Origins and History The original Kazak rugs were not linked to a particular country or ethnic group, but rather to a general region. They were woven by women in the geographic region of the Caucasus and further south. Originally woven by nomadic Turks who arrived in the region following their western migration in the 11th …
Mashad Rugs: Embodiment of Persian Tradition
Origins Mashad rugs are woven in northeastern Iran in the large Khorasan province which borders Turkmenistan. Mashad has transformed from a small village to the second most populous city in Iran, and a popular tourist destination. The Shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth Imam in Shiite Islam, is located in the city of Mashad and …
Kerman Rugs: Flights of Fancy
Kerman rugs come in a wide range of color and design, but they all have something in common. Almost invariably, Kerman carpets evoke a sense of wonder. They weave together whimsical floral patterns in such inventive ways that they were once considered the best of Persian rugs. Ranging from the most eye-popping reds and pinks …
Sophisticated and Understated Nain Rugs
History of Nain Rugs Nain is a small town of only some 25,000 people and their initiation into rug weaving came later than in most other parts of Iran. However Isfahan, which has a long and rich history of rug design and weaving is only 85 miles away. When some artists in Nain realized how …