What are Persian Rugs?
Persian rugs are a quintessential part of Persian culture, with a rich history, and nothing short of an art form. It is a woven quilt of sorts that covers a section of a floor or the ground. Often, a color pattern is created in the threading of the rug, and can be sewn either with the assistance of a machine or by the more traditional method using the hand, a needle, and quilt threads. Weaving rugs is an important part of Persian and Iranian culture.
Their styles and craft are recognized as the best in the world, and their methodologies and Persian rug design have been replicated far and wide by other weavers throughout the continents. There is a hierarchy for where each of the rugs fall, in a Persian rug classification system of sorts. When you seek buying Persian rugs, you should also research how to keep them pristine, because proper Persian rug care can help maintain their prestige and value. Decide on which Persian rug design you prefer before you look for quotes on pricing, material lists and the like.
Authentic Persian Rug
A History on Persian Rugs
The Persian rugs date as far back as the Bronze Age. The earlier known instance of Persian carpet weaving is dated back to ancient Iran. There exists a Pazyryk carpet that is 2,500 years old, and was created from around 500 B.C. Early Chinese manuscripts depict evidence of Persian carpeting from the Sassanid period from 224 to 641 A.D. The Safavid dynasty, from 1501 to 1736, marks the first intact corpus for one, which was around the 16th century.
The only reason we cannot find any from earlier periods is because the materials used during those times in the creation of the carpets have decayed. Before of this, there are no significant archeological finds with regards to ancient rugs, but there is adequate evidence to show that they have been created since antiquity.
Persian Rugs: Weaving and Materials
These are weaved much like any rug or carpeting, but the Iranians have their own specific looping and knotting methods that are distinctive to them. They also know exactly the way to mesh together beautiful depictions and color collages, which in itself requires a lot of skill to perfect. Each of the quilt threads becomes folded and laced together in separate overlapping sections. Materials include wool most commonly, but cotton can be used for certain types.
Silk Persian carpet are considered high-class, and they are expensive, adorned as tapestries rather than floor mats.
Difference between Oriental and Persian Rugs
The main, and really, the only difference is the way in which they are made. Persian varieties tend to be woven by hand in a difficult and often tedious process, which makes them authentic to the method and craftsmanship of the Iranian people. Oriental rugs are primarily made in a factory, with several machines that lace the threads together in repeated fashion. If you get your hands on an authentic Persian rug, you can be certain it is a unique pattern.