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Ways to Interpret Some Common Symbols Found in Rugs

Handwoven rugs depict a host of rather interesting symbols. Traditional symbols on hand-woven rugs bear witness to many of the beliefs and superstitions that are held in central Asian countries where the art of weaving was born and still thrives. A pattern has three fundamental elements, a unit, repetition, and a system of an organization which can be interpreted in a curvilinear or rectilinear manner.

The patterns in the Persian rugs bought from any reputed Persian rugs wholesaler depicts designs that were made thousands of years ago and have been handed down from one generation to the next. These hand-woven rugs are unique as you won’t find two hand-knotted rugs that look the same. People from various regions – tribes, villages, cities – use different designs and materials in the construction of rugs.

Any Oriental rug design that is bought from any reputed Persian rugs wholesaler contains certain components that remain same in all the rugs:

Borders :

There are usually two borders on a rug one is the main border which is the widest section of design around the outside of the rug, while another border is the guarded border that is usually narrow and lies inside the main border.

Field : The field is the colorful background inside the borders.

Medallion : Often, rugs feature a medallion in the center of the field. The medallion is a large shape which can be round, oval or polygonal and sits prominently in the middle of the rug.

Corner brackets, quarter panels or spandrels: These are designs that fill the corners of the field.

Some Common Symbols on Oriental Rugs

Birth Motifs

• Elibelinde : This symbol represents the mythological goddess of the same name and it looks like a figure of a person.

• Ram’s horn : A Ram’s horn symbolizes masculinity. The central part of the design represents male fertility and power.

Life Symbols

• Comb and earrings : These two symbols reflect a desire to marry. The comb is a nuptial accessory, while the earrings are a common wedding gift.

• Sandikly – hope chest/ trousseau: This symbol reflects the objects that girls weave for their trousseaus before they get married. These objects include small purses, kilims, scarfs, belts, and garments.

• Yildiz – stars: Stars are a symbol of happiness and a life full of hope.

• Ying-Yang : This Ying-Yang holds a different meaning to that of the more common Ying-Yang. It symbolizes a balanced relationship between women and men.

Afterlife symbols

Birds : Birds symbolize the flight of the soul to heaven.

Vulture : This kind of bird is particularly important as it indicates the souls of the dead.

Tree of life : This is the most widely-known symbol of immortality.

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Why a Wool Rug is Considered as the Best Choice?

Decorating with oriental rugs is a trend that has been spotted by leading interior magazines, stylists, designers, and bloggers. The way these traditional style rugs have been styled in a modern setting is rather unique and exciting. But it is not easy for normal people who are not trained in identifying rugs to know the distinction between an authentic handmade Oriental rug and a machine made a rug.

The most important thing first-time buyers must remember while buying Oriental Rugs from bespoke rugs manufacturer in UK is knowledge is the key to finding the perfect authentic Oriental rug. Many amateur buyers often fail to identify original Oriental rugs and end up with machine-made carpets. The main three factors that you must notice before buying an Oriental rug are the knot count, the fiber, and the color of the carpet.

Why are Wool Rugs the best choice?

The use of wool to make oriental rugs is a very ancient practice; nomadic tribes were the first to appreciate the advantages of wool.

Strength – Wool is an especially resistant material, which is capable of coping with wear and tear very well. Wool rugs are expensive but the additional expense is compensated by the rug’s longevity.

Color – Wool absorbs dye incredibly well so it gives all the wool rugs a very intense color.

Stain resistant – Compared to other synthetic materials from which rugs are made; wool is very stain resistant and easy to clean.

Good for all Seasons – It is a well-known fact the wool rugs are just perfect for winters as it helps to keep you warm but a lesser-known fact is that wool is actually good in summer as well. That is because it helps absorb humid air.

Old is gold – Wool rugs are one of a kind. The value of authentic Oriental wool rugs bought from bespoke rugs manufacturer in UK never diminishes, over the years a wool rug can lead to fabulous muted colors and can be easily passed on to the next generation as a priced possession.

Safety – Wool is an ideal material that reduces fire risk. If a fire breaks out on wool the flames will self-extinguish.

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Tips to Take Care of Afghan Area Rugs

Rugs immediately make a room cozier and welcoming. The quintessential Afghan rug is made from natural materials like wool with a repeated octagonal figure on a red field. An area rug will help absorb sound, stabilize temperature and make it just a little bit easier to move around the house by giving your feet a soft landing pad. Decorating with rugs from any renowned Afghan rugs wholesaler in UK is a great way to add extra color, texture, and pattern to space. The right area rug can add a huge dose of style and color to your room but when a rug is placed on a hard floor such as wood or laminates the chances to slip or trip increases.

How to keep the area rug in place?

Place a nonstick, rubbery rug mat underneath the rug to keep it in position. Make sure that the rug mat is a few inches smaller than your rug. If the rug mat is too small then it won’t be able to anchor the rug above and if it is too large then the mat will protrude from the rug’s edges.

If the rug bunches on top of the carpet, you anchor at least one edge of the rug with furniture or try two-sided rug tape strips underneath the problem areas.

How to keep rugs in good shape?

Vacuuming– It is very important to vacuum the rug on regular basis to get rid of dust particles and maintain the beauty of the rug.

Rug Pad– You can use a rug pad as that provides a foundation for longer rug life and also prevents premature wear and tear caused by having a rug on an uneven surface.

Cleaning– To avoid strains quick action is required in handling spills. For liquid spills remember not to rub as that might ruin the rug, firmly press a clean cloth to absorb as much as possible.

Shedding– Don’t get alarmed if the expensive rug bought from Afghan Rugs wholesaler in UK starts shedding. It is normal for the rug to shed for the first six months if you vacuum it daily.

Remove Creases– Reverse rolling helps to flatten rug creases with time. Give the rug some time to settle to get rid of rug creases.

Sunlight– It is important to position the rug away from direct sunlight as it causes your rug to fade over time. Rotate the rug regularly so that it fades evenly.

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Buy an Authentic Afghan Rug and Keep It for Generations

When someone says Afghan rug, the inevitable picture comes into our mind is the authentic tribal rug. These rugs are the result of a wide array of sophisticated designs and techniques. With the advent of globalisation, it is now hard to find out which Afghan rug is actually made in Afghanistan and which are manufactured in somewhere else in the world by Afghan refugees. However, it is all possible to locate the authentic Afghan rugs wholesaler in UK so that you can pick a rare kind of Afghan rug for your home.

Features of Authentic Afghan Rugs

The craftsmanship of an authentic Afghan rug can only be traced in the handmade rugs, not in machine-made rugs. Some features like the knot count, source of the dyes and expertise of the artisans determine the quality of Afghan rug. Even the price of those handmade rugs is also influenced by those factors. Let’s have a look on some determining factors for buying an Afghan rug and shop like a pro –

• Craftsmanship of Authentic Afghan Rug

Don’t expect to evaluate the true craftsmanship of authentic Afghan rug as it takes several years of knowledge. But as a beginner, you can use some basic knowledge. Firstly, a perfect Afghan rug must lie flat and straight. There should not be any crooked or raised corner. Secondly, you should focus on the edge of the rug. Make sure the edges are tight and even. Then, you should also observe the knots at its back. If you find the rug’s back absolutely perfect in line, you should consider it as machine-made rug.

• Natural Dyes

Traditional Afghan rugs must be made of natural dyes where the colours are mostly derived from the plant and animal sources. Artisans bring a rich look to those handmade rugs by mixing colours for a harmonious blend of shades. Natural dyes often bear the variation in colours so that the artisans can add the right charm and warmth to the rug.

• Knot Count

The number of knots found in one square inch of a rug is called its knot count. Don’t think that lower knot count always means lower quality of a rug, though many times it is true. Sometimes, tribal Afghan rugs may have as low as 50-knot counts that make them coarser in quality. These rugs usually have geometric patterns with bold colours. On the other hand, the city made rugs may have more than 1,000-knot count with intricate curved designs and tighter weave.

Follow these basic features to identify an authentic Afghan rug once you contact an Afghan rugs wholesaler in UK and purchase a genuine Afghan product that would pass down from generation to generation.

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Three Different Types of Knots that are Common in Hand-Knotted Rugs

Hand- knotted rugs in UK are prized for their beauty, craftsmanship, and durability for centuries. Hand-knotted rugs are one of the most cherished and luxurious possessions that are passed down the generations. Only a highly-skilled Weaver is capable of creating authentic hand-knotted rugs which are considered as pieces of art.

The number of knots per square inch can start at 40 knots and go up as high as 2000 knots. An expensive and excellent rug will have about 160 knots per square inch and 400 knots-per-square-inch rug is considered remarkable. You can rarely find rugs with 1000 knots or more as they are very expensive and known for their state-of-art design.

Mainly there are two types of knots that are used by Oriental rug weavers when weaving their creations. One is the Senneh knot and the other is the Ghiordes knot but there is another knot that is not commonly used known as the Jufti knot. This Jufti knot is considered as substandard and is not used in better quality Oriental rugs.

Persian or Senneh Knot

The Senneh knot is a type of asymmetric knot or double knot that is quite popular among rug weavers in Iran, Central Asia, India, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The yard is draped around two warp strands but only one of these warps is completely encircled to create this kind of knot. The yarn is then passed open behind the adjoining warp in such a way that the two ends have only a single warp dividing them. The knot could be wrapped in either direction and are said to be open either to the right or open to the left. Rugs that have very fine detailing usually use Senneh knot.

Ghiordes or Turkish Knot

Ghiordes are single or symmetrical knots that are common among the Anatolian and Caucasian weaving groups in Turkey. Several other Turkish and Kurdish tribes in Iran also practice this type of knot in their rug making. The yarn is wrapped across two adjoining warp strands and it is then pulled back through the inside of both warps and drawn through the center so that both ends emerge from between the same warps in this kind of knot. A very secure pile construction is created by this type of knot.

The Jufti Knot

Jufti knot is very common in Khorasan. The yarn is wrapped around four warp strands at a time instead of around two strands. This technique of wrapping across 4 strands results in less number of knots per square inch. The time required to complete the rugs using the Jufti knot is also very less. The technique is detrimental to the fineness, strength, and durability of the weave, resulting in a rug that does not have the structural integrity that is expected from Hand knotted rugs in UK.

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Hand Knotted Rugs and Hand Turfed Rugs – Where The Difference Lies?

The similarity between a hand-knotted rug and a hand turfed rug starts with the fact that both are made by hands. However, it is also fact that the dissimilarity between these two kinds of rugs starts exactly from the same point. There are immense differences lying in the process of manufacturing these two rugs – from complexity to required level of expertise, from time to value.

Let’s focus on the crucial differences between hand knotted and hand turfed rugs in the following discussion –

Manufacturing Process

A hand knotted rug is the result of great deal of skill and several days of labour. Usually, the quality of weaving depends on the numbers of knots per square inch. It means that higher density of weaving indicates superior quality.

When a manufacturer weaves a complex pattern, he needs to knot very densely. Obviously, the process needs a long time. A weaver may produce about 10,000 knots in a day. It clearly indicates that the entire rug will take much longer time than a hand turfed rug.

On the other hand, the process of manufacturing a hand tufted rug does not need the same level of skill and time as the hand knotted rug. Usually, the strands of wool are punched into a stretched frame with a hand-operated tool. After removing the rug from the frame a coarse fabric is attached to its back.

Difference in Longevity

A hand knotted rug usually lasts longer than a hand tufted rug. Sometimes, the former becomes a family inheritance since it lasts for generations. However, it does not happen with the hand tufted rugs.

Difference in Pricing

Since a hand knotted rug takes a lot of time, skill and effort to manufacture one, it is quite obvious that these exclusive pieces are expensive. The wholesaler of hand knotted rugs sells the exquisite ones at much higher price than other kinds of rugs. Hand tufted rugs cost lesser than the former as they don’t take that much skill, time and labour as the hand knotted pieces.

Remember that a superior quality hand knotted rug can be an asset of a collector. But before purchasing one, you need to make sure that it is an original piece sold by an authentic seller.

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What are the Processes Involved in Manufacturing Bespoke Rugs?

 

Whenever someone talks about rugs, the obvious name that comes first into our mind is the famous rugs from Iran, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Turkey and China. These rugs are also known as oriental rugs. There is no denial of the fact that the hand-made rugs, especially the Persian, Indian and Afghan are tremendously famous all over the world because of their bespoke designs, exclusiveness, elegance and classy look.

 

But every piece of these hand-made rugs is the result of long-time effort and labour as the manufacturers involve their best effort and strength for preparing one rug. Once you get to know the process followed by a bespoke rugs manufacturer, it will definitely amaze you.

 

Step#1 Design

 

Of course, the basic step of manufacturing an oriental rug is the perfect designing. Each piece of these rugs is different from others. So, there is no question of purchasing the same design or finding the same design like yours in the house of your friends and relatives. Do you have any preference for any customised design or personalised message on the rug? Then while contacting a bespoke rugs manufacturer in the UK, you need to convey your message to the manufacturer to bring your idea to life.

 

Step#2 Shape, Size & Quality

 

After design, the rug manufacturers focus on the shapes and size of the rugs. Whether the customer has a special request for the bespoke rug as per the size of his room or he prefers to purchase the popular low-cut circular design, they manufacture the rugs accordingly. They also consider the budget of the customers to choose the quality of materials and fabric to be used for the rug.

 

Step#3 Implementation

 

After confirming the design, shape, size and material from the customer’s end, the bespoke rug manufacturers involve the process of implementation. Usually, an oriental rug takes several weeks to months to be completed. Usually, the customers are required to wait for a long time to get their one-of-a-kind bespoke rug.

 

Step#4 Delivery

 

Although the best kind of oriental rugs including the Persian, Indian and Afghan rugs are imported from the East and Middle-East countries. The cost of those bespoke rugs raises much higher because of their excessive delivery charge. Thanks to bespoke rugs manufacturer in the UK that has made it possible to purchase such one-of-a-kind rug within your budget. Once you finalise the design and other details and deposit its cost, all you need to do is to wait for the rug to be delivered to your doorstep.