Rugs and Carpet- Types of rugs and Recommended Uses(Terrence Charles)

Types of Antique Rugs: Europe & Asia

The main rug production area throughout time has undoubtedly been Central Asia from which the handloom, weaving, and knotting techniques originated. Whether for daily use or religious/ceremonial function these products have become prized and very expensive design elements due to their enduring quality and style. After the West discovered these treasures, great imitations and improvements on traditional methods have flourished up into modern times. While the pace of contemporary carpet production is rapid, the time-honored tradition of intricate weaving is still sought for carpets manufactured out of the finest materials that last a lifetime if properly maintained.

Central Asian and Turkish Rugs(Predecessors)

Khotan/Samarkand

Oushak/Ottoman Court Carpet

European Rugs(Innovators)

Axminster

Savonnerie

Aubusson

Central Asian Rugs

Produced in Turkey, Iran, Uzbekistan,Kazhakastan, India, and surrounding countries

Crafted in time consuming manner on a loom whether vertical or horizontal in which each individual knot is tied to create on overall pattern

Generally constructed out of a wool or cotton warps with the same material used for wefts. However, the finest are silk on silk construction in which the delicate threads are used for both

            Sericulture

The process of silkworm farming in which the Bombyx mori moth lays eggs which hatch and form cocoons after consuming large amounts of mulberry leaves. These cocoons are harvested by boiling in water, which, kills the larvae before it completes metamorphosis and has a chance to break the singular thread of silk. These fibers are harvested and 43 a generally spun into one thread. It takes about 5,500 silkworms pupas to produce 1kg of silk.

The Persian and Anatolian Rugs can be separated by a general difference in knotting technique.

            The Persian rug uses a Senneh knot(a single looping knot)

                        Results in a very fine quality rendering of pattern

The Anatolian/Turkish rug uses a Ghiordes knot(double looping knot

            Results in a more blocky depictions

The Persian style rug is of a better quality due to the greater time commitment needed to weave more knots per sq cm

                        Wool carpets have 60-65 knots pers sq cm

                        Silk have 80-100 knots per sq cm

Senneh/Persian Knot

Ghiordes/Turkish Knot

Khotan/Samarkand

Produced in Chinese Turkistan formerly known as Samarkand when it was a trade centre along The Silk Road in the past

Typical designs feature patterns organized within a lattice framework with a rosette or medallion pattern in each repeatable unit, while surrounding border frame usually incorporates a scrolling fret pattern of Chinese inspiration.

Typically brightly colored, but antique versions are muted due to fugitive natural dyes and sun discoloration.

Many formerly used as prayer rugs

Generally made out of silk or wool

Oushak/Ushak/ Ottoman Court Carpet

Produced in Usak in Western Turkey from 15^th-17^th century during the Ottoman Empire, and again after a spike in interest in the 19^th century

Transitioned from a more naturalistically rendered depiction form into a more geometric abstraction during its revival due to lack of original craft skills

Most of the layers of rugs in mosques are derived from this area

The originator of the medallion and star pattern organization types

Are woven in a lustrous quality wool that maintains the muted red, brown, gold, blue, green, ivory, saffron and gray coloration well

European Rugs

Axminster

Founded in 1775 by Thomas Whitty in an effort to imitate a Turkish carpet seen at market

Graced the halls and rooms of many of the English landed gentry’s country estates and city houses up until the 19^th century

Constructed in a method in which the individual carpet fiber is looped once underneath through the cotton warp and jute weft, compressed by a shuttle, then cut to the appropriate pile length.

Jacquards and multilevel patterns can be easily created with this technique

            5-14 rows per inch of tufts is standard

            Typically made in a velvet or twist pile

Savonnerie

            Produced in France by the Savonnerie manufactory in the 17^th century

Made up of orphans apprenticed in the technical and design aspects of carpet and tapestry making

A dense pile carpet constructed with the Ghiordes(Turkish) knot at 90 knots per square inch

These where royal carpets only presented as diplomatic gifts

Initially modeled after Persians forms but virtually developed into their characteristic French manner with pictorial designs featuring armorial crests, dense swirling foliate patterns, and multiple offset borders on deep blue, black, or brown grounds

However styles changed frequently due to constant changes in fashion, and it was revived in the 18^th century under Percier and Fontaine’s Empire style headed by Napoleon.

The manufactory was absorbed eventually into the Gobelins manufacture

Aubusson

Produced only in central France in the city of Creuse in the 17^th-18^th centuries primarily

It is a flat woven non-pile usually wool and/or silk blend carpet created on a hand-loom on top of a scenic cartoon that produces a similar effect to the look of needlepoint. Loose strings will be present on the back where the pattern color hangs

It is the same as an Aubusson tapestry just with an overall thicker thread for a coarser weave and increased durability