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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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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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Things to Keep in Mind before Cleaning a Persian Rug

Persian rugs are valuable possessions that have been decorating our homes for thousands of years. Soft hand-woven wool Persians rugs once graced the floors of palaces but now you can own one from Persian rugs wholesalers at a reasonable price and make your home look chicer. Many consider Persian rugs as a unique piece of art that brings life to the interior decorations of a room and add comfort to make it more welcoming. It doesn’t matter how exotic your Persian rug looks but it is not spilled or stain proof. Occasional spills result in stains if not dealt with immediately.

Check the material used to make the Persian rug

Persian rugs are mainly made from wool, silk, and cotton. The material of the rug will determine the cleaning method of the rug. Persian rugs made from silk are expensive and difficult to clean at home so it is better if you take it to professional rug cleaners. Many Persian rugs wholesaler provide cleaning and repairing services so you can always avail their services with the least hassle. Rugs made from wool are most durable and can be cleaned quite easily. Cotton Persian rugs are also very easy to clean but take precaution before using harmful chemicals in it as the fabric dyes may bleed.

Consider the age and present condition of the Rug

Persian rugs are delicate antique things that are usually of high value so consider the age and condition of the rug before making it go through the rigorous cleaning process. If it is an emergency situation where the rug might get damaged then you can go to expert rug cleaning professionals to ensure the least damage to your rug.

Don’t use harsh chemicals

The most preferred way to clean a Persian rug is to vacuum the rug on both sides. In the case of spills use paper towels to soak as much liquid as possible and then use a wet rag to blot the stain. In the case of acid or alkali spill, flush with water and sponge the extra water. Use mild carpet shampoo to clean any other kind of stains and dry it thoroughly. Use vinegar, water, and mild detergent to remove coffee or pet stains.

Do you still need help cleaning the Rug?

If the rug is expensive, in poor condition, made of silk or has sentimental value for you then it is best to contact professional rug cleaners as accumulated dirt can cause structural damage to the rug. Yarash Oriental Rugs is one of the leading Persian rugs wholesalers in the UK who offers excellent cleaning, repairing and restoration services of Oriental rugs and kilims in the UK.

Feel free to contact them on 020 8800 3307 and stop worrying about your expensive rugs.