Back to Basics

Identifying and understanding the structure of Islamic carpets

In preparation for Paige’s lecture to the textiles students at the University of Alabama, we at PAO have been on a deep dive on what the basics of creating rugs really means.

What is it?

Pile or flat weave? The type of knot identifies the origin. Ghiordes knots indicate a Turkish origin while Senneh knots indicate a Persian origin typically but not always.

Where was it made?

Begin with the country of origin. By identifying the color, pattern and weave (which are unique to each region) you can begin to determine the type of rug. Geography and topography differ between north and south in almost every country. City production versus village production versus nomadic production are the differences between dressy florals, stylized motifs & tribal symbols.

When was it made?

The structure and pattern of rugs differ over time. Look for clues such as pattern scale, dye variants & subtle changes in structure. For example, Serapi vs. Heriz rugs. Older pieces (Serapi) are more stylized and open and in younger pieces (Heriz) the pattern is more dense. Sultanabad (pre 1920) has a red weft vs. Mahal (post 1920) has a blue weft. Color intensity of a rug can show what time period the rug was woven. Natural, aniline, and chrome dyes offer different intensities.Often a charcoal dye will oxidize over time creating a high low texture. The pefect patina can only be achieved as dyes age naturally.

How was it made?

Old and new rugs of high quality are handmade on loom. Slow-making is a way of life and a lost art. Master weavers, typically men, traveled from town to town influencing an evolution of motifs and pattern.

With what was it made?

Rug are made with Indigenous materials such as cotton ,wool, silk & natural fibers (goat & camel hair). Higher elevations lend themselves to longer wool while desert, arid regions are prone to shorter haired animals. Indigo is prevalent in Persian rugs because it grows in the region. It is not usually found in Turkish rugs where poppy & saffron grow instead of indigo, creating the traditional Turkish reds and yellows.