Oriental and Tibetan Rugs

Oriental Rug Terms

 

Abrash: this term refers to the variations in color found in the background color of a rug.  This variation is a result of subtle dye changes as different lots of wool are dyed in different batches and becomes more pronounced with age.  Natural abrash is found in tribal rugs and is random in nature, but abrash can also be encouraged in modern rugs to make them appear older.   

Afshar: a Turkish nomadic tribe generally living in Southern Persia (modern day Iran).  Afshar rugs are highly valued and noted for their deep colors.

Agra: an ancient city in India near the Pakistan border that was the famous in the 16^th and 17^th centuries for its great large oriental rugs.  The term Agra large also refers to a type of rug that was produced in the city – large square rugs with overall floral patterns using the asymmetrical knot.

All-over design: this is a rug with a repetitive design that covers the entire rug with no central medallion or design. 

Aniline Dyes: the first synthetic dyes first used in the mid 1800s as cheap alternatives to vegetal dyes.  The original aniline dyes were unstable and were eventually banned in Persia because the colors ran.  The term now refers to any synthetic dye.  Today, Chrome dyes are the primary synthetic dye used. 

Antique: There is some difference of opinion about this term, but generally it refers to rugs that are more than 60 years old.

Antique-Wash or Antique Finish: A modern technique (generally a chemical wash) that tones down a rugs colors to make it appear older. 

Arabesque: This describes an ornate design of intertwined floral and natural plant patterns with geometrical figures, commonly found in rugs originating from Persia.

Art-Silk: Short for artificial silk.  This is a material (usually cotton, but can also be viscose) that attempts to create the look and feel of silk at a cheaper cost.  Over time, art-silk, unlike genuine silk, will lose its sheen. 

Asymmetrical Knot: Also known as a Persian or Senneh knot.  This knot is tied on an off-set warp.    

Bokhara (also spelled Bukhara): The capitol of Uzbekistan and the traditional trading center for Turkmen tribal carpets.  This term also refers to all Turkmen rugs.  Most of these are made in present day Pakistan.

Boteh: This floral design is the origin of Paisley.  The motif is believed to represent pine cones, cypress trees or the flame of Zoroaster. 

Carding: this is the first step in preparing sheep’s wool (or other natural material) for spinning into thread and uses two paddles with metal teeth to randomize the fibers

Carpet: Carpet and rug are used interchangeably, generally carpet refers to a rug that is larger 5 ‘0 x 8 ‘0.

Cartoon:  a pattern or map of the rug drawn on paper that the weaver uses when making the rug.  Also known as a ’design plate’. 

Cartouche: An oval shaped design that usually contains an inscription, date, or name.

Chemical Wash: this is a modern technique used to artificially age a rug, increase its sheen, or bleach out natural color.  Harsh chemical washes can strip out the natural lanolin in wool, reducing its life. 

Chrome Dyes: the modern synthetic dye that replaced aniline dyes.  Generally stable and colorfast. 

Classical: Another controversial term, generally used to refer to rugs made prior to the 19th century.

Cloudband: A stylized depiction of a swirling band of clouds.  This was originally a Chinese design, but is now often seen in Persian Oriental rugs.

Combing: This is the second step in preparing sheep’s wool (or other natural material) for spinning into thread.  This process draws the carded fibers through a set of spiked blocks in order to align the fibers.

Dhurrie: These are low cost flat-woven rugs made in India, generally of wool or cotton.  This is a specific type of Kilim rug.

Dozar: This Persian term is used to describe rugs approximately 4 ½’ by 6 ½’

Field: also called the ‘background’. The largest portion of the rug enclosed by the border.   

Flat-weave: another term for a kilim or kelim. A flat weave just contains the warp and weft, no knots, therefore no pile. 

Fold-Wear: long lines of damage that occurs when a rug has been folded over and stepped on for long periods of time.

Foundation: the warp and weft strands form the foundation.  The knots are tied onto the foundation. 

Gabbeh: In Farsi, Gabbeh means something raw or natural in it’s rough state.  The term is used to refer to coarsely woven Iranian tribal rugs.

Gul: means ‘flower’ and refers to large octagonal design or motif.

Hali: A Turkish word meaning rug.

Handle: or ‘Hand’ – the way a rug feels when handled.  Rugs with wool warps have a different handle than rugs with cotton warps.

Hand-Made: this can mean a rug made by machinery operated by human hands and may not actually mean hand-knotted.

Hand-Tufted: these are NOT hand-knotted rugs and are made with a tool that injects fiber into a backing which is then glued to a canvas backing.  These rugs generally do not age well as the glue hardens over time. 

Hand-knotted:  a rug made in the centuries old method of hand-knotting fibers onto a warp and interspersed with a weft.  Generally all natural materials are used, and a hand-knotted rug can last for generations.

Heriz: a city in northern Iran.  The term also refers to the large sized tribal rugs with geometric designs that are produced in the 30 or 40 villiages around Heriz.

Karagashli: a tribal area in the North East Caucasus that produces fine, thin pile rugs

Kashan: a type of distinct floral rug from Central Persia with mostly red fields and navy blue borders.

Kazak: also known as Cossacks.  A tribal group from the South West Caucasus that created some of today’s most collectible rugs

Kilim:  Flat woven rug with just the foundation, no knots.  Also refers to the border near the fringe of a hand-knotted rug.

Kerman: a city in South East Persia, also refers to the fine floral rugs produced there.

Loom: the structure that the warp is set on to weave the rug.

Medallion: a round or central motif that sits in the center of a rug.

Nap: this term refers to the direction in which the pile falls.

Pile: the pile is the thickness of a rug created by knots. 

Raj: this term refers to the number of knots per 7cm. (2 3/4 inches). 

Rosette: A flower design with a circular arrangement

Runner: A long, narrow rug used mostly for hallways and staircases.  Usually under three feet wide.

Sarouk or Sarough: these carpets originate from the village of Sarouk in Central Iran. Antiques were of high quality, but now these are factory woven rugs designed for export.

Selvages: this refers to the long edges of rugs where the warp threads have colored wool wrapped around them.

Semi-Antique:  as with ‘antique’ there is some debate about this term, but generally it refers to rugs between 25 and 60 years old.

Soumac Kelim: Refers to a technique of embroidering a kelim or flat-weave rug.

Symmetrical, Turkish or Ghiordes knot: a knot is produced when a strand of wool is wrapped around two warp threads.  (as opposed to the asymmetrical knot which is wrapped around one warp thread.  There is no material difference between these 2 knots)

Tabriz: a city in North West Persia near the border of Turkey and the Caucasus where floral carpets of note are created.

Tea wash: a technique of covering a carpet with a heavy concentration of tea to “antique” it or cover bad colors.  Over time the tea-dye will fade unevenly.

Tufted: a machine made rug, similar to a hand-tufted rug.  Inferior to a hand-knotted rug.

Warp: The foundation threads of a rug that are strung from the top to the bottom of a loom.  The knots are tied on the warp threads, the ends of which form the fringes.

Weft: The foundation threads of a rug that are strung across the width of a loom. These threads are passed through alternate warp threads after each row of knots is tied. They serve to secure the knots in place.