 The
Oriental rug is revered and treasured for its great beauty. There is a
great deal of confusion as to exactly what an Oriental rug is. It is
not just any patterned area rug. An Oriental rug is a work of art that
is piled or flat woven fabric hand-knotted in one of the traditional
weaving areas of the Middle or Far East. It originates from
Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet, Turkey, some
of the southern territories of the old Soviet Union, Balkan countries,
and some North African countries. You will never find an Oriental rug
made anywhere in Western Europe or the United States.
When the first Oriental rug was woven is not known although there are
many theories. The earliest surviving hand-knotted rug dates from the
4th or 5th century B.C. It was discovered by a Russian archaeological
expedition to the Altai Mountains in 1949. Known as the Pazyryk carpet,
it was used as a saddle cover for a horse. Some believe that the
Oriental rug originated with the nomadic tribes of Central Asia. They
produced a small Oriental rug decorated with geometric motifs inspired
by plant and animal forms that they used as floor covering, wall
hangings, curtains, and saddlebags. These nomadic people took the art
of Oriental rug making with them as they traveled to far off lands.
Some of the greatest Oriental rug making centers developed in Persia
and Turkey from the 16th century to the first half of the 18th century.
Italian merchants are credited with introducing the Oriental rug to
Europe and by the early 16th century Oriental rug collections could be
found in the great courts of Europe, including those of Catherine de
Medici, Charles V, The Lord Chancellor of England, and Cardinal
Wolsey’s palace at Hampton Court.
Interest in the Oriental rug continues to grow today. As the trend
moves towards wood and ceramic flooring, the Oriental rug becomes more
important in home décor.
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