What is an “Oriental Rug”, exactly?
Put simply, Oriental Rugs are carpets that are hand-woven out of natural products – most commonly wool, cotton, or silk. (Wool is the most common because of its durability). These rugs all have unique patterns or designs on them – each very reflective of the region of which they are from.
Making carpets is an ancient art. Each region or country that produces these rugs will have their own distinct style. And, of course, because they are all made by hand, every single carpet produced is unique.
These carpets are produced primarily in the Near East or Central Asia. However they are also common in the Middle East. Countries of origin include Nepal, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and, of course, China.
Oriental Rugs are special in that their pile (usually wool) is hand-tied to their foundations. That is why they are referred to as hand-knotted carpets, and that, more than anything else, accounts for why they last so long – often 50 to 80 years.
Oriental Rugs are timeless works of art. They are both useful as a beautiful, decorative and functional area rug, as well as being a collector’s item that can actually go up in value. A 5 foot by 8 foot oriental rug can take hundreds of hours to make, and the attention to detail of these Master Weaves can be quite staggering.
Of course, rugs can vary in quality based on the skill level of the weaver. Which makes seeking out and purchasing the best quality carpets a bit of an art form in itself. The carpets that Teas and Weaves sources come from nomadic people for whom the carpet is a symbol of utility and wealth. Many of their secrets to making such excellent carpets is passed down from generation to generation. Families and villages are often involved in the complete process from shearing the sheep, dying the wool, and then following the ancient tradition of knotting.
Come in and browse our collection of these hand-made rugs. Every single rug is very unique. Even if you have been by before, remember we are constantly bringing in new rugs as our inventory is taken home by happy customers.
