Oriental Rugs And Art – The Often Overlooked Connection

Oriental rugs and art? Is it even possible to compare the two?

A behind-the-scenes look at how rugs are manufactured reveals some very interesting and surprising connections between these two art forms.

Oriental rugs are beautiful creations made by only very few, very talented tribal nomads. Each rug is painstakingly hand-woven. There is absolutely no machine-made element in these pieces. Anyone who has tried their hand at hand-knotting an Oriental rug will realize that it is not as simple as it sounds. Every facet of the rug is made by hand, from the individual knots to the finishing touches. Some rugs that have elaborate designs can take a weaver several months to complete and the completed piece is so stunningly beautiful, they can even be used to decorate the walls instead of as a floor covering.

Rug Weaving
Rug Weaving

Take a closer look at any Oriental rug and you will notice that the designs are not just haphazardly executed. The motifs, the borders, the field of the rug and all other elements are thought about and placed with a great eye for detail. The colors too are beautifully paired together to make the designs stand out.

What’s more, because these rugs are woven by hand by different individuals, every single piece is unique – a reflection of the tribal’s creativity and skill.

Watching a weaver working on a rug is like watching an artist bring a painting to life. Every element of the artwork is carefully paired with colors, shapes and other elements to create a final piece that is cherished and admired.

There’s no doubt that every Oriental rug that is manufactured is a unique piece of art and just like a rare works of art, they need to be looked after so they can be handed down from one generation to the next.

Caring For Your Unique Piece of Art

Here are a few things you can do to extend the life of your Oriental rug:

  • Keep the rug protected from direct sunlight. Extended exposure to direct sunlight will fade the colors unevenly, resulting in the piece looking worn out and old prematurely
  • Rotate the rug frequently so that no one area suffers extensive damage from overexposure to the elements.
  • Regular rotation is also important to make sure that all corners of the rug are exposed to air and light frequently to prevent damage by moths. Corners of rugs and those areas that stay undisturbed under furniture provide moths with an ideal place to lay their eggs. Exposing these areas to air and sunlight regularly will deter moths from laying their eggs and keep your rug protected.
  • Use good quality padding under the rug. Padding holds the rug fast to the floor, preventing it from wrinkling and shifting around so that it looks good longer.

    Removing Stain With Towel
    Remove Stain With Towel
  • Abrasive dirt and debris that gets into the pile of the rug can damage the wool and silk fibers of the rug. To prevent this from happening, clean your rug at least once a week with a soft bristled room. If excessive dirt has collected into the pile, take the rug out in the backyard and beat it. Learn how to do this correctly before you try it.
  • Check the rug regularly for signs of tears or worn out areas. Get all tears repaired immediately before it becomes unsalvageable. Keep in mind also that large tears can be hugely expensive to repair as it is time-consuming work that can only be done by very few skilled rug-repair professionals.

Last but certainly not least, if you are planning on storing your Oriental rug it is most important to take all proper precautions so it does not get damaged by moisture or moths.

 

 

 

 

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