The art of weaving a rug is a gift passed down over many years from generation to generation.  The masters of this art come from places such as  Iran,  India,  China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Caucus, Turkey, Armenia, Romania and Russia. Rug designs are inspired by the world around the artisan. Most designs are taken from nature such as animals, gardens, mountains, or shrubs. They may also include everyday tasks and war scenes in their more contemporary designs. Some designs are done from memory and are passed down through the generations, but today the designs are done to scale on a graph of paper called a "Cartoon". The weaver constructs the rug one knot at a time by following the cartoon. The finest sheep’s wool is sheared, washed and bleached. Then the fibers are straighten and spun. Once this process is finished, it is dyed by one of the master dyers. The dyes are provided by nature, which hold it’s own store of colors. Everything from soil to flowers to fruit can be used to make these colorful dyes. The wool is dipped into large vats of color and then hung unrung to dry evenly. Wool or cotton is stretched vertically across the loom, this is called the "warp thread" and the weaver begins the tedious job of taking the dyed wool and knotting it around each of the warp threads. After the completion of each row, a thread called the "weft thread" is inserted horizontally and then the process is repeated row after row. A metal comb is used after several rows have been completed to beat down the knots. Due to the fact that the rugs are knotted by hand the pile tend to be very uneven and scissors are used to trim the pile before it is cut from the loom and washed. The excess warp threads at each end form what we commonly refer to as the fringe. Once the rug has been washed, it is shaved evenly one more time and now you have a wonderful new piece of art and history. It all sounds very simple, but this process can take even the most masterful artesian months and sometimes years to create.

RUG CARE Rug wear is inevitable, but frequently rotating your rug 180 degrees will help equalize the effects of wear. Dampness can cause mildew or deterioration of the threads and fabrics of your rug. Avoid soaking your rug when cleaning a spill. Moths are another threat to a rug's longevity. To protect it, move your rug from time to time, and keep it exposed to air and light. Continual exposure to sunlight will eventually cause a rug's colors to fade and make the fabric brittle. Display your rug in such a way that it is protected against too much sunlight. If you intend to store a rug for an extended length of time, make sure that the rug is clean. It should be treated with moth repellent prior to storage and should be rolled tightly. Wrap the rug in a cloth or a sheet, do not use plastic because the rug needs to breathe. Store in a dry, cool well ventilated area to avoid mildew or heat damage. Pile crushed by heavy furniture can be restored by spraying the area with a little water and brushing with a soft brush. Always vacuum your rug in the direction of the nap (to determine the nap, run your hand across the pile towards the fringe, the light side is the nap). Avoid using the vacuum on the fringe as the fringe may break or tear. Sweeping your rug with a broom weekly is highly recommended to remove dirt and bring out the sheen. Oriental rugs should be washed on a regular basis. Depending on the type of traffic your rug receives it is a good idea to wash your rug every three to five years. It is best to have your rug cleaned by a professional who specializes in oriental rugs. NEVER steam or chemically clean your rugs as these cleaning methods deplete the natural oils of the pile. Also, do not put your rugs in the washing machine. Deal with spills immediately. Use a spoon to scoop up as much of the spill as possible. Dilute smaller spills with water. Blot, but do not rub, the area with a paper towel until all moisture is removed. Always blot from the outer edges towards the center to prevent the spill from spreading. Not every stain should be attacked with water. Common food or beverage stains can be treated with the same mild detergent used to wash delicate clothes, diluted with a small amount of water. An ink stain from a ballpoint pen can be removed by spraying the area with hairspray, letting it dry and brushing the area with a water and vinegar solution. Oil-based stains are best treated with dry cleaning solvents. If you have other questions about stain removal, contact RugsRugs.com or a rug cleaning professional experienced with oriental rugs.

RUG STYLES
While most people associate oriental rugs with traditional pile rugs, there are actually many styles of rugs that are produced and sold as oriental rugs. The style of rug generally refers to the type of construction that is employed to make the rug. One broad distinction is flat-weave rugs versus pile rugs. Within these two categories, there are several further divisions. (In fact, there are many, many small variations, but we will focus only on some of the major categories.) When selecting a rug, keep in mind that flat-weave rugs tend to be thinner, while pile rugs are usually thicker and lusher.

First produced during the 17th century in France, Aubussons are flat-weave rugs, similar to kilims. The colors are usually soft and delicate with detailed floral and architectural designs. While antique Aubussons are quite rare and expensive, manufacturers today create beautiful Aubussons using the same techniques developed by their predecessors.

A hooked rug is a cross between a needlepoint and a pile rug. The weaver starts with a piece of burlap fabric and sews the design through the material, leaving a short loop on the finished side. By varying the height of the loops, a sculptured effect can be produced.

Kilims are flat-weave rugs originally produced in a village or tribal environment. The designs tend to be geometric, often incorporating various symbolic motifs. A prominent characteristic of kilim rugs is the slits along the warp of the rug wherever there is a change of color. Since older kilims were usually woven on smaller, portable looms, it is difficult to find them in large sizes. Today, new kilims are produced in a full range of sizes at very affordable prices.

A needlepoint rug is a flat-weave rug produced by sewing the design into a large piece of fabric. Various stitches can be used to produce different patterns and appearances. When the artisan changes thread color, the excess is left hanging long on the back side.

These rugs are produced using a flat-weave technique where the weft (horizontal) threads are wrapped on the warp (vertical) threads, creating a chain stitch brocade look. This process creates a rug which is reversible and which has no dark or light side. The Sumak name is taken from the Caucasian rugs that were made using this technique. Today numerous designs have been copied from original Caucasian rugs and are produced with a worn or antique look.

A tapestry is a flat-weave rug or wall hanging that generally incorporates a very detailed design or picture. Many different colored threads are woven into the piece requiring an inordinate amount of time and skill. A light fabric backing is often sewn to the back of a tapestry to cover the loose ends of the threads.

We have created this category to describe knotted pile rugs. These rugs are produced by tying the pile to the warp threads and then trimming the final rug to produce an even surface. As each knot must be hand tied, these rugs take a lot of time and effort to produce. Some rug designs, such as a Tabriz, utilize very fine wool or silk pile, and contain hundreds of knots per square inch. Tribal or village pile rugs may employ thicker yarn and fewer knots, but still have a charm all their own.

A tufted rug is a pile rug where the pile yarn is wrapped around the warp threads, but is not tied. Rather, the pile is secured in place by coating the back of the rug with a latex type adhesive. This greatly reduces the time and expense of creating a rug that often looks very similar to a traditional knotted rug.

SELECT A RUG

What criterion does one use to choose the perfect rug Perhaps the most succinct advice is simply, 揃uy the most beautiful and best crafted  rug  you  can afford.

For starters, know your budget. Depending on the rugs that you find most appealing as you search our collection, you may decide to spend a little more or may even spend less, but your initial budget will help guide your choice. Next, be realistic about your lifestyle. Bear in mind that handmade rugs are utilitarian objects, much like furniture, as well as works of art. For a room that's used by small children or animals or has heavy foot traffic, choose a durable rug rather than a soft, delicate or museum-quality rug. Once you've determined the type and group of carpets you can afford, look to beauty and craftmanship as the most important factors. This cannot be stressed enough. A lovely carpet that is well made and affordable is always a good buy, and will bring you continuing pleasure for years to come. Beauty is subjective but one can learn a great deal by looking at all different types of rugs. By looking at many different types of rugs, you "train your eyes." You also learn about what is available in your price range and what you can expect to find. If a rug is beautiful, well crafted and within your budget, then it is probably a good choice for you. What determines the price of a rug In a nutshell, beauty, craftsmanship, age, condition, rarity and demand determine price. Handmade rugs are much like furniture in that they come in many degrees of quality and beauty. Carpets range from copies that are handcrafted but somewhat mass-produced, to carefully crafted replicas of exquisite masterpieces, to good "old" carpets (some with worn charm), to museum quality antiques that are rare, exquisite, in perfect condition and very costly. There is a market for all of these carpets. A rug from any of these categories can be a pleasant addition to your home.