Rug History

Carpet weaving has been a staple in cultures for centuries. The oldest rug ever discovered was the Pazyryk, said to have been woven in 500 B.C. It was found in the frozen tomb of a nomad, deep in the Altai Mountains. Surrounded by Russia, China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia, this carpet is the perfect symbol of rug weaving throughout history.

Persian rugs are considered the gold standard of weaving. The Silk Road allowed for the expansion of these expertly crafted carpets, which made them highly coveted throughout the world. Rug weaving was not isolated to the east however.

As European countries developed, so did their carpet weaving. France began weaving the famous Aubusson and Savonnerie rugs, used as symbols of status, often including a coat of arms and other floral symbols.

Persian

Typically have regional designs named after the cities in which woven. This includes Tabriz, Sarouk, Qom, Kerman, Kashan, etc. Many of these designs have pure silk reproductions as well.

Turkish

Starting with various Turkish tribes, rug weaving continued throughout the Ottoman Empire. Flat weaves, or Kilims, were prominent in this region.

Moroccan

Rugs have been woven by Moroccan tribes for a long time, typically for utility rather than decoration. This is shown through their simple designs and very thick pile.

French

Woven for the elite of French society, these rugs were extremely ornate, laced with coats of arms and various floral prints.

Egyptian

The Mamluk Dynasty ruled over egypt in the fifteenth and sixteenth century, expanding the rug weaving culture in the area. This is an example of a Mamluk rug, very dense and patterned.

Rugs Today

The majority of high end hand-knotted rugs that are being woven and sold today are from Pakistan and India. Weavers from these countries have adopted designs from around the world and woven them in their own styles and qualities. Some of this production is to fill the void of rugs due to western tariffs being imposed on Iran.

India in particular has been producing the majority of modern, contemporary, and transitional rugs that are being sold. These rugs are created by designers, often with the use of computer software, to create a more randomized and asymmetrical patterns. They typically have more "trendy" colors and tend to change in style every so often.