Introduction
“When someone beats a rug, the blows are not against the rug, but against the dust in it,” Rumi, a 13th-century poet, is cited as saying. Rugs and their dust have been there for a great many years, but few people are aware of their origins. You may uncover some information about rugs that you already know when you go to buy rugs. There are countless types of various rugs, all decorative elements and motifs, hundreds of colours, sizes, and forms, but whether you’re buying your first rug or trying to brush up on your knowledge of these rugs, there’s always something new you can learn. We’ll go over some facts regarding rugs and carpets that you might not be aware of.
Facts about Hand-made Rugs & Carpets
Rugs are one of the most popular decorative accessories. Rugs brighten up every place, from entry halls to living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, stairs, kitchens, and even bathrooms! That is why every homeowner desires to get a decent handmade bargain rug for sale. But do you know when the first hand-knotted rug was created? Or which is the world’s oldest rug? Continue reading to find out!
1. 7000 BC – Birth of the First Rug
The precise year or date when the first handmade rug was created is unknown, however, rug weaving is a long-standing practice. It is considered that the earliest floor covering, rug, or carpet was made as early as 7000 BC. Handmade carpets may now be purchased from any part of the world over the world wide web. If you’re lucky, you might be able to discover high-quality discount carpets for sale at a reasonable price.
2. World’s Oldest Surviving Rug
Handmade carpets are well-known for their exceptional resilience and potential to last for millennia! Did you know that the oldest hand-knotted rug dates back more than 2000 years? It’s a Pazyryk style rug that was discovered in 1947 and recovered from one of the Scythian tombs in Siberia.
3. World’s Largest Handmade Rug
Qasr-al-Alam, the world’s largest rug, was designed by Ali Khaliqi and created in Iran. What is the size of this rug you ask? It’s the size of a football field. This rug was created by a team of weavers who created nine separate pieces, which were then joined and put in an Abu Dhabi mosque. We’re excited to watch this!
4. World’s Most Expensive Handmade Rug
What is the cost of the most costly rug in the world? $33.8 million, to be exact! This rug set the record for the most expensive rug ever sold when it was auctioned off in 2013! However, if you shop for discount rugs online, you won’t have to break the bank to get a rug.
5. Cork Wool Carpets are the Finest of All
What exactly is cork wool?
It’s the wool clipped off the sheep’s neck, and it’s noted for having a greater fat content than typical sheep wool. As a result, carpets or rugs manufactured entirely of cork wool have a finer and softer texture. Additionally, cork wool rugs are much glossy.
6. Europe Was Introduced to Handmade Rugs in 3rd Century BC
Alexander the Great introduced the first handwoven rug to Europe in the 3rd century BC. And it was then that the narrative of carpets began in Europe when merchants began importing rugs from Persia. Later, carpets like the Ziegler rugs were made to be marketed in the Western market. These carpets featured floral patterns rather than geometric motifs and had more subdued hues than all the other Oriental rugs.
7. Most Oriental Carpets are Named After their Place of Origin
Anyway, we enjoy how Oriental rugs come in such a wide range of styles and patterns, and how simple it is to select the perfect rug in an online rug clearance sale.
8. Rugs Are Safer Than Room-Sized Carpets
As debris collects beneath the floor covering, wall-to-wall carpet is more difficult to clean and preserve. Rugs, on the other hand, are smaller and may be lifted and washed easily from both sides. You won’t have to worry about attempting to keep the area under the rug clean.
9. Oriental and Persian Rugs Are Not the Same
The names Oriental and Persian carpets are frequently used interchangeably, yet many people are unaware that these two rug varieties are not the same. Persian carpets, as the name implies, are created exclusively in Persia, which is now known as Iran. Oriental carpets, on the other hand, refer to all floorings created in China, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Nepal, or any other Asian country.
10. Hand-Knotted Rugs Have Irregularities in Pattern
It is one of the handmade rug characteristics that help you distinguish a hand-knotted rug from a machine-made one. As these carpets are fully handmade, they aren’t faultless, and certain imperfections in the design are unavoidable.
11. The Value of Handmade Rugs Increases as They Age
Do you have an antique hand-knotted rug in your home? Or are you considering purchasing one? Whatever the situation may be, we would advise you to treat the item with care because it will undoubtedly become a valuable asset over time. That is why antique handmade rugs are sometimes more expensive than fresh handcrafted rugs. Even if you purchase one of those low-cost handcrafted clearance carpets, the carpet will appreciate as it ages.
12. All Handmade Rugs are Naturally Dyed
Handmade carpets have been manufactured with organically dyed wool since the beginning. During the procedure, no chemicals or hazardous materials are employed. Furthermore, the high quality of handmade carpets ensures that their colours stand out and stay true to their original hue for many years. Wool carpets that have been coloured naturally do not bleed! However, keep your rug out of direct sunlight to avoid colour fading caused by UV radiation! Now is the time to get the ideal handcrafted rug!
Apart from these 12 interesting facts about handmade rugs and carpets, there are a few more to adorn this list:
- Camel and goat hair were two of the most prevalent rug materials utilised in the early years. However, currently, these materials are rarely used in the production of rugs, and camel hair carpets are rather expensive
- Red is a common colour in Persian and Oriental hand-knotted rugs. The colour red has its special beauty, from dark red Bokhara rugs to classical red Jaldar rugs and Red Mahal carpets. However, did you know what red means in Persian rugs? Red carpets are symbolic of bravery and attractiveness!
- Handmade rugs from Persia are very significant. And it’s not only about the rug’s colours; the design patterns and forms on a handcrafted rug have a lot of history and significance. In Persian and Oriental rugs, the “tree of life” is a common shape. Rug weavers have employed the emblem for years, and it has a variety of meanings. The tree of life is a global symbol that represents immortality, resurrection, and longevity. For Christians, it represents the Garden of Eden, whereas, in Islam, it represents Paradise.
So, the aforementioned characteristics of a handmade rug are some interesting information to know if you are considering purchasing a handmade carpet or if you currently own one.