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As an
added service to our customers, we will continually add
information to the TheRugs.com Glossary. Here you will
find information such as biographies, definitions and
historical information as they apply to the items listed in
the catalog. We hope you will use TheRugs.com Glossary
as a valuable resource for adding pieces to your collection.
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Abrash |
The natural and unpredictable variation in color
that occurs in Oriental rugs over time when
different dyes are used. |
|
Acrylic |
A man-made fiber used as a cheaper alternative to
wool. |
|
Acaraz |
An important rug weaving center in Spain which
thrived between 15th and 17th centuries. |
|
Adam |
A design and architectural trend popular in the
second half of 18th century. Motifs used most
frequently involved oval and octagonal shapes, and
chief colors - gray, jasper, and blue. In England,
some of the rugs copied the ceilings of the rooms
for which they were commissioned. |
|
Afghanistan |
Country in South Asia, capital – Kabul. Handmade
rugs are manufactured for the local markets as well
as for exportation. Most common rugs from
Afghanistan are a Turkoman style. |
|
Afshan |
(Persian), meaning an all-over layout. |
|
Age |
The age informs how old a rug is. The three major
timelines are: Contemporary, Semi-Antique and
Antique. |
|
Agra |
Agra is the heart of the rug and carpet weaving
industry in India. Its cultural, architectural, and
rug weaving peak Agra reached during the 16th and
17th centuries. It is famous for large cotton rugs
in square formats, designed with all over floral
patterns. |
|
Ak Chuval |
Turkmen for “white chuval,” a type of chuval with
horizontal bands of pattern in pile and flat woven
bands of plain weave, the elems are usually woven in
pile with a white background color, hence the term "ak
chvual." Ak chuvals generally have five broad and
six narrow piled bands above the white piled end
panel. |
|
Albania |
Country in Southern Europe, capital - Tirana.
Albania has a minor minor rug-producing industry,
which began in the mid 1940s. |
|
Algeria |
Country in North Africa, capital -Algiers. Rugs from
Algeria are manufactured for the local markets, and
have not yet reached a Western market. |
|
All-Over Design |
A repeated pattern through the filed where no
central design is present. |
|
Amritsar |
A city in India that was known weaving center in the
late part of the 19th century because of the
powerful rug demand in the U.S. and Europe during
this time. Amritsar rugs have cotton foundation,
use good quality wool, are double-wefted, and use
the asymmetrical knot. |
|
Aniline Dye |
Aniline Dyes were first synthetic dyes used as a
cheap alternative to vegetal ones. They were first
developed in Europe in the 1850s but were shortly
discovered to poses rapid fading qualities with
exposure to light and water. They were banned in
Iran in the early 1900, and eventually replaced with
Chrome synthetic dyes everywhere else. |
|
Antique |
Rugs 60 years and older. / Finish A modern washing
procedure which give the rug an antique look. |
|
Antique Wash |
A chemical wash that replicates an antique look. |
|
Anti-Static |
Rug treatment that diminishes the effects of static
electricity build-up. |
|
Arabesque: |
An elaborate motif of interlaced branches, leaves or
flowers; can be woven in geometric or curvilinear
pattern. |
|
Arak |
City in northwest Iran, where a large quantity of
top quality rugs were woven in the late 19th
century, when European companies commissioned large
decorative rugs for the European market. |
|
Armenia |
Country in Southwest Asia, capital – Erevan.
Armenians are the earliest known weavers of oriental
rugs. A style that originated from this area is
called Caucasian because Armenia is situated neat
the Caucasus Mountains. Caucasian rugs can not be
classified the way Persian and Turkish rugs are. In
order to identify a Caucasian rug, its construction
must be examined, including (though not limited to)
the quality of wool, the way the sides are bound,
and the variance in the color of the warp. |
|
Armenian Rug |
A group of rugs with Armenian inscription which were
woven in Iran, Turkey, and the Caucasus. A typical
Armenian rug patterns consist of geometric shapes. A
large proportion of the inscribed Armenian rugs
contain cross shapes, human figures, and geometric
bird and animal figures not typically seen in other
rugs. |
|
Art Deco |
Twentieth century movement in the decorative arts.
It grew to influence architecture, design, and the
visual arts in 1920s and is characterized by
geometrical designs and bold colors. |
|
Art Nouveau |
A style in art, architecture, and design that gained
popularity at the beginning of 20th century. It is
characterized by winding flowing lines of flowers
and leaves. |
|
Art Silk |
A cheaper alternative to silk, artificial silk yarn
is made from cotton, rayon, or polyester. It is
soft and silk-like to the touch. |
|
Asymmetrical Knot |
(aka Persian knot, Senneh Knot) There are two types
of major knots used in oriental rug-weaving: the
Persian knot, and the |
|
Aubusson |
A world-renowned French tapestry and carpet center
dating back to 15th century. The origins go back to
the arrival of weavers from Flanders who settled in
Aubuson in the late 1500s. Also a style of rug.
Over time Aubusson evolved into numerous styles such
as Antoinette, Josephine, and Maison patterns. The
original style, however, was a flat-weave rug,
featuring floral elements, architectural motifs, and
pastel colors. |
|
Axminster |
A small market town on the eastern border of Devon,
England, which gave its name to a type of carpet.
An Axminster-type loom was created in the town of
Axminister during the industrial revolution. The
loom is capable of weaving high quality carpets,
enabling use of up to 70 colors, intricate geometric
or floral patterns, and offering flexibility of
design. Axminster carpets are now produced all over
the world. |
|
Azeribaijan |
Country in Southwest Asia,
capital – Baku. A style
that originated from this area is called Caucasian
because Baku is situated neat the Caucasus
Mountains. Caucasian rugs can not be classified the
way Persian and Turkish rugs are. In order to
identify a Caucasian rug, its construction must be
examined, including (though not limited to) the
quality of wool, they way the sides are bound, and
the variance in the color of the warp. |
|
Azurite |
A source of blue dye. Azurite is a deep blue copper
mineral produced by weathering of copper ore
deposits. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
| Background
color |
The
dominant color in the background of the rug. The
most widely used background colors are red, blue,
beige, and yellow, ranging in all shades and hues. |
| Berber |
Berber rug
is a term known today to describe bulky natural
off-white textured carpet. The term more accurately
refers to a group of North African tribes who
crafted rugs from handspun yarn of un-dyed wool from
local sheep. |
| Bergama |
A city in
Northwest Turkey with strong weaving traditions.
Bergama rugs traditionally have dyed wefts, are
usually red, and have a long silky pile. |
| Beshir |
The term
Beshir is conventionally referred to rugs and
carpets that were sold through Beshir. Generally,
this is a place and a generic name for colorful
weaving by urban Turkmen, although the rugs posses a
design not derived from tribal Turkmen. |
| Bijar |
Bijar rugs
are woven in the town of Bijar (an important center
of rug production) and its surrounding villages,
northwest of Iran. Bijar rugs are woven in the
houses (and not workshops). Most common patterns is
the herati pattern. Antique Bijar rugs were woven on
wool foundation and had three weft strands between
every row of knots, which made them very heavy and
exceptionally durable. Modern Bijar rugs are
typically double- wefted and have a cotton
foundation. |
| Blend |
Carpets
composed of more than one kind of fiber. |
| Border |
A design
surrounds the field of an oriental rug. |
| Border
color |
The
principal color in the border of the rug, which
range in all shades and hues of red, yellow, green,
and beige. |
| Boteh |
(Persian)
meaning “bush.” One of the most common paisley-like
motifs used in oriental rug designs in the field of
an all-over repeat layout symbolizing a leaf, a
bush, or a flame. There are countless designs of the
boteh from geometric to curvilinear. |
| Braided
Rugs |
Rugs made
from strips of yarn or fabric that have been braided
into thick ropes which are then sewn into almost any
size or shape to create a reversible rug. The
traditional way is braiding one long, continuous
braid and then wrapping it around itself in a spiral
and lacing it together, the more contemporary
technique is braiding each row separately and then
joining the ends together with a technique called
"butting." |
| Brazilwood |
The
reddish wood of certain tropical trees or shrubs,
whose wood is used for violin bows and a source of
red, purple, and black dye used in early Chinese
rugs. |
| Broken
Border |
When
border designs cross over the line and enter the
field (or vice versa) this is referred to as a
broken border pattern. Broken border design is
frequently found on Chinese rugs as well as some
rugs of French tradition weavings. |
| Bukhara |
Bukhara is
one of the most ancient cities of Uzbekistan,
founded in the 13th century B.C. During the medieval
period Bukhara was known as a seat of Islamic
scholarship. Today, commercial Bukhara carpets are
the best selling hand-knotted rugs in the world.
The authentic Turkmen rugs are given the names of
their tribes, not to be confused with their popular
reproductions. Though their surface appearance may
be similar, commercial Bukhara carpets are available
in about twenty quality gradations. |
| Bulgaria |
Country
located in Eastern Europe, capital – Sofia. Even
though Bulgarian carpet-weaving goes as far back as
16th; today rug commerce in Bulgaria is rather
insignificant. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Cartoon |
A detailed design on squared paper, demonstrating to
the weavers which colors to select for each knot.
These designs are especially useful for rugs made by
groups of people. |
|
Cartouche |
A design element with a date or inscription in a
rug. |
|
Carved Nap |
Commonly seen in some Chinese and Tibet rugs, carved
nap is a method of carving around a symbol to
improve the look of the rug. |
|
Catechu Dye |
Was commonly used in Indian rugs. The brown dyes
are derived from an Asian tree with spikes of yellow
flowers. |
|
Category |
Refers to the different settings in which handmade
rugs are produced. Handmade rugs are generally woven
in the settings of Nomadic, Village, Workshop or
Master workshop. |
|
Caucasus |
Area in the south of Russia bordered by the Black
and Caspian seas. Caucasian rugs are known for
their bright lively colors and geometric designs.
The rugs are commonly woven on a full wool
foundation or on wool warps with cotton wefts. |
|
China |
Country in East Asia, capital – Beijing. One of the
largest exporters of handmade rugs in the world.
China has been producing hand-knotted rugs for
centuries, some of the early ones dating back to
late 1600 hundreds. Chinese, Persian and French
Aubusson designs are produced in Chinese workshops. |
|
Chemical Dyes |
Rugs woven after 1935, using modern synthetic dyes. |
|
Chemical Wash |
In order to improve the luster of the pile or
soften the hues, chemical wash of lime, chlorine, or
wood ash is applied to a rug. |
|
Chenille |
Fabric often used in rugs, known for its luxurious
pile. |
|
Classical |
Elaborate rugs woven before the turn of the 19th
century. |
|
Cloud Band |
Frequently associated with Chinese rugs, also often
appearing in Persian rugs, cloud band is a pattern
which resembles a swirling band of clouds. |
|
Color |
Derived from natural or synthetic dyes, color is one
of the most important elements of the rug. All
handmade rugs are recognized by their background
border colors. |
|
Color run |
Bleeding of the dye into yarn of the surrounding
area. This may occur because the dyed yarn has not
been washed properly after the dyeing process or
because the chemical dyes are not stable. Several
chemical treatments exist, however, which can remove
the bleeding. |
|
Color Symbolism |
Refers to the symbolic importance of color in the
East. The traditional meaning of color can affect
the choice of colors used in handmade rugs. |
|
Condition |
There are three conditions in the handmade rug
industry—Fine, Average, and Worn, specifying the
quality of the rug. |
|
Contemporary |
Rugs which are less than 25 years old. |
|
Cotton |
Soft fiber derived from cotton plants, one of the
chief materials used in the foundation of handmade
rugs. |
|
Colorfast |
If a rug has colorfast dyes, the colors will not run
when washed. |
|
Contemporary |
Describes rugs which are less than 25 years old. |
|
Cross-woven |
Rugs made on Wilton loom. This technique allows the
use of more colors as well as a more elaborate
detail. Cross-woven rugs are done side to side as
opposed to top to bottom. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Density |
Density is measured by the quality of rug’s
assembly, and is determined by the number of knots
and the height of the pile. |
|
Dhurrie rugs |
Indian flat-woven rugs made of cotton or wool,
typically lower-cost. |
|
Dozar (Persian) |
Describe carpets approximately a 4.6 x 6.6 size. |
|
Dobag |
(Turkish) Acronym meaning “Natural Dye Research and
Development Project, which began in 1981. This
program was implemented by the Turkish government to
improve the quality of the rug industry by
reintroducing the use of natural dyes after years of
using only chemical colors in carpet manufacturing. |
|
Donegal |
An Irish rug manufacturing factory established in
1858. |
|
Dragon and Phoenix |
Some of the most popular motifs in Chinese rugs,
representing happiness and good fortune. |
|
Dragon Rugs |
A rare and much prized by rug collectors group of
Caucasian rugs (16th -18th century) decorated with
large S-shaped dragons. |
|
Drugget |
A non-pile rug made of goat hair or cotton, this
type of rug comes from Indian and the Balkans. |
|
Dyes |
There are two types of dyes—natural and synthetic.
Dyes are used for coloring pile materials such as
wool, cotton, and silk. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Eastern Turkestan |
An area of
western China. Common motifs for rugs from this area
include pots with flowers, three medallions, and
geometric elements throughout the field. Rugs from
this region are sometimes referred to as Samarkand |
|
Egypt |
Country in
North Africa, Capital – Cairo. Although
contemporary Egyptian rugs are of great quality,
only a small number of them are exported. |
|
Embossed |
A process
of carving pile around the design or symbol to
enhance the look of the pattern. |
|
Emroidery |
Decorational needle-work embellishments |
|
Erivan |
One of the
oldest towns in the world, Erevan is a famous
Armenian rug center |
|
Ezine |
Town in
Turkey known for elegant simple small rugs |
|
Elem |
(Turkmen)
An additional border in pile rugs |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Fabricated (Inlaid) Rugs |
Tufted broadloom carpet which is cut and inlaid on a
patterned form to create a customized rug. |
|
Fars |
A region in southwestern Iran, main city – Shiraz.
This area is known for exceptional tribal rugs,
woven on wool foundation and made on horizontal
village looms. |
|
Faux Silk |
Silk imitation, usually made from synthetic fibers,
such as polyester, or cellulose fiber such as
viscose/rayon. |
|
Ferahan carpets |
An area in western Iran. This area is famous for
late 19th century rugs with cotton foundation and
pink or blue wefts. Popular designs are Herati,
Mina Khani and Gol Hinnai. |
|
Field |
The central part of an area rug surrounded by the
border, and containing central motifs. |
|
Fine |
Fine rugs are those in excellent shape without tears
or previous repair. Since most handmade rugs are
very durable, they are considered to be in fine
condition. |
|
Flat Weave rugs |
Weaving in such a way that no knots are required.
The weft strands are passed through the warp
strands. Good examples of flat woven rugs are
Kilims, Shurries, and the original Aubusson. |
|
Flattening |
Carpets with
pile flatten due to heavy traffic. Cleaning and
vacuuming can restore the height of the pile. |
|
Flokati |
Traditional
Greek rugs woven from sheep’s wool, Flokati rugs can
weight from 1400 grams to 4000 grams. The higher the
gram count, the more expensive the rug will be. |
|
Foundation |
The basic
structural components of handmade rugs, which
consist of Warps and Wefts. |
|
Foot |
A unit of
length. One foot is equal to 12 inches or
approximately 30 centimeters. Foot and inch are the
measurements used in the United States and England
for measuring the length and width of rugs. |
|
France |
A country in
Western Europe, Capital – Paris. Even though
France was a chief rug production country in the
17th and 18th centuries, presently, the rug
production is not significant. However, French
designs such as Savonnerie and Aubusson are still
heavily imitated by China, India, and Pakistan. |
|
Fringe |
Warp threads
that extend beyond the end of the rug. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Gabbeh |
Gabbeh are coarse rugs with a long pile made by
Nomads of the central Zagros Mountains. They are
known for simple colorful patters which were once
considered unsophisticated, but have |
|
Gauge |
Ends of pile yarn per unit of length across the
width of the carp. |
|
Garden Design |
Floral motifs throughout the field predominantly
found in a Persian Bahktiari. |
|
Geometric |
Patterns created with straight lines. |
|
Georgia |
Country in Southwest Asia, near Caucasus Mountains;
Capital – Tbilisi. The styles originated from this
area are called Caucasian. The market is presently
limited, as the new product has not adapted to the
Western taste. |
|
Gol |
(Gul)(Persian) word meaning flower, rose, a name
etc. Gol/ gul is a popular symbol found in Turkoman
carpets, typically an octagon motif, elongated and
divided into four. |
|
Ground |
Background color that accents the rug's design
motif. |
|
Guard Stripes |
Stripes of color around the main border, separating
it from the field. |
|
Gul Farangi |
A design consisting of all-over repeating
naturalistic roses. |
|
Gul Hannai |
The henna flower used as a motif in Persian rugs.
Gul Hannai ornament may be both an all-over and
medallion layout design. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Hand Hooked/ Hand Tufted |
A process of making rugs wherein weavers push loops
of yarn through a canvas backing. Latex glue is
applied to the back of the rug and another layer of
cloth is added to protect the stitches. The rug is
then finished by turning under the ends. Hooked rugs
are an affordable alternative to authentic knotted
rugs, because they are far less laborious in the
making. |
|
Hand Knotted |
Conventionally made with wool or silk, hand knotted
rugs are the most expensive and take the longest to
weave. They are created by knotting pile yarns
around the warp fibers that run the length of the
rug. The more knots there are per square inch, the
more expensive the rug is. |
|
Hand |
Tactile qualities of a fabric including softness,
stiffness, scratchiness, etc. |
|
Hand-made |
Rugs that are hand knotted, hand tufted, hand
hooked; Also needlepoint, Aubusson, and hand loomed
rugs. Naturally, hand-made rugs are more expensive
than machine-made. |
|
Hand-Woven |
Rugs woven on a hand loom. |
|
Hard Twist/ Cut Pile |
Type of cut-pile carpet that minimizes flattening
with its durable stiffness. |
|
Harshang |
Popular Caucasian rug design, 18th century. |
|
Heatset |
Process of using heat to treat twisted yarns to
maintain their strength. |
|
Herati/ Fish Pattern |
One of the most common motifs consisting of a flower
centered in a diamond with curving leaves outside
the diamond and parallel to each side. The leaves
sometimes look similar to a fish, so the term can
also be referred to as “Fish Pattern,” or "Mahi" - a
fish design in Farsi. |
|
Hereke |
A Turkish town known for finely woven silk rugs with
the design of classic Persian
motifs, frequently includes border inscriptions.
Rugs woven in Hereke are known to have high knot
densities. |
|
Heriz |
Area in northwest Iran, and one of the chief centers
for rug production. Even though Heriz rugs have a
low knot count (about 30-80); they are still much
admired. These rugs are usually large, double wafted,
use a symmetrical knot, and include a square
medallion motif with pendants attached on both
ends. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Indigo |
Indigo is the color of blue between blue and violet.
Different blue shaded dyes are derived from shrubs
or herbs of the indigo plant (in the pea family).
Indigo was chemically synthesized in 1880. |
|
India |
Country in South Asia; capital – New Delhi. India
has been one of the main rug manufacturing countries
since 16th century, and currently still holds the
status of one of the largest producers of handmade
rugs. India produced handmade rugs for exportation
only. |
|
Indo-Esfahan |
A rug made in India in Esfahan style. |
|
Iran |
Country in Southwestern Asia; capital - Tehran. It
is estimated that Iran produces approximately
three-quarters of all the handmade rugs in the
world. |
|
Ireland |
Country in Northern Europe; capital - Dublin.
Currently one of the very few European countries
that still has a rug-weaving industry. |
|
Isfahan |
Located in Western Iran, Isfahan was the Persian
capital in 16th and 17th centuries, during the
golden age of Persian carpet production. It is one
of the most famous cities in the production of
Persian rugs. |
|
Islimi |
A common motif based on arabesque forms of
intertwining leaves, stems and vines. |
|
Islimi Medallion-and-Corner |
The field of this design is designed with an islimi
motif. This common motif is often used in
combination with the shah abbasi motif, in which
case the design is called shah abbasi and islimi
medallion-and-corner. |
|
Istanbul |
Major city in Turkey which is a crossroads and
market place of the carpet world. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Jaipur |
A city in north central India known for having their
prisoners weave commercial rugs based on 17th
century Indian Mughal designs. |
|
Jufti/ Junti Knot |
A false knotting technique in rugs of Khorasan,
Iran wherein a knot is usually tied over four warps
instead of too, making the weaving process faster.
The knot can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical. |
|
Julykhyrs/ Julkhir |
(Uzbek) meaning bearskin. Julykhyrs are a type of
sleeping rugs made by the Kirghiz and Uzbek weavers,
usually with long pile. |
|
Joshagan |
A town and a weaving center in north central Iran,
known for the design of an all over lozenge pattern
- each consisting of a geometric floral motif,
typically woven on cotton with a knot count of
100-200 per square inch. |
|
Jute |
Jute rugs are woven out of natural plant fibers and
were originally used as doormats. Jutes are long
shiny vegetable fibers grown in areas of southern
Asia and are second only to cotton in the amount
produced and the variety of uses. The fibers are
taken from their stalks and spun into yarn or rope.
Jute yarns are very durable. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Kabul |
Afghan and mogul capital. |
|
Kalaleh |
(Persian) One of the extensions which is a part of
the pendant further away from the medallion in the
centerpiece. |
|
Kashmir |
Silk or mercerized cotton carpets from the Islamic
region of India. Kashmir rugs are woven with Persian
knots and have coloration and ornate patterns unique
to India. |
|
Kayseri |
Commercial weaving center in Turkey. |
|
Kazak |
A district in the west of Azerbaijan. Kazak rugs
are distinguished by their coarse long-pile rugs
with energetic designs. |
|
Kilim |
(Kelim, Gelim, Gilim) A group of flat-woven rugs for
which no knots are used— the weft strands are simply
woven through the warp strands. |
|
Knot |
A knot is formed when wool, cotton or silk yarn is
looped around the warp threads. The two main types
of knots are Asymmetrical and Symmetrical. Both
types differ depending on the region and the tribe. |
|
Knot Count |
The number of knots in a square inch of a rug. |
|
Knot Density |
Knot density is the general number of knots used in
making of a rug. It is measured in the Imperial
System in square inch and in the Metric System in
square decimeter. |
|
Kork Wool |
The very finest quality wool obtained from the belly
of sheep. |
|
Kuba |
A city in the Caucasus. Most |
|
Kufic |
A border design which originated from an Arabic
calligraphic script. |
|
Kerman |
A city/ province in southeastern Iran with history
of rug production dating back to 16th century. The
chief manufacturing began in the later 1800s with
Keman’s rugs exportation to America. The foundation
of Kerman rugs is of cotton, and the knot count is
typically high (150-400 per square inch). |
|
Khotan |
A city in Eastern western China which produced
quality rugs in the 18th and 19th centuries. The
motif typically includes three medallions on a red
or purple field. Some of the older carpets have
metallic threads in them. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Lachak |
The four corner elements in a medallion and corner
layout. |
|
Lachak-o-toranj |
(Turkish/ Persian) word meaning
medallion-and-corner. Lachak-o-toranj refers to a
design, where a medallion is quartered into four
corners of the rug, plus an extra full medallion is
in the center. |
|
Lapis Lazuli |
A striking blue, violet-blue or greenish-blue
semiprecious gemstone used as a source of blue dye. |
|
Layout |
The overall arrangement of motifs or objects woven
into a rug. |
|
Ladik |
A Turkish carpet production center, famous for small
wool prayer rugs with triple arch mihrabs, stepped
mihrabs, or two column mihrabs. Main colors are red
and blue. |
|
Lahore |
A city in northern Pakistan where Turkoman design
rugs are produced. A major rug center for the
British East India Company in the 17th century. |
|
Line Count |
Number of horizontal knots in a foot of rug. The
greater the number of knots, the higher the quality
of the rug. |
|
Loom |
A structure firmly holding warp strands for weaving
and knotting. Looms can be vertical, horizontal,
fixed or mobile. Horizontal looks are small and
used for nomadic weaving. Vertical looms are used
for weaving of large rugs. |
|
Lotto |
A design which appears on rugs in the paintings of
Lorenzo Lotto, a sixteenth-century Venetian painter.
These rugs were woven between 16th and 18th
centuries are usually seen in Ushak rugs from
Turkey. Lotto rugs are typically recognized by a red
field with all-over yellow branching lines. |
|
Lenkoran |
A medallion in a shape of a geometric crab with two
or four arms. Named after a town on the Caspian Sea
and is commonly used on Kazaks and Talishes. |
|
Lesghi Star |
A popular design in Caucasian rugs, lesghi star has
eight points with four radiating arrows. It can be
frequently found on rugs from Daghestan. |
|
Lozenge |
A diamond-like shape. |
|
Luser |
Brightness and sheen of the rug fibers or yarns. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Machine made |
Rugs woven on an electrically powered machines, now
usually computer controlled. |
|
Madder |
A Southwest Asian long lasting plant. A red root of
this plant was (and in some places still is) an
important source of red dye. |
|
Manufactory |
Made by hand in a factory. |
|
Mahi |
Persian for “fish,” this term refers to the Herati
design which at times can resemble a fish eye
design. |
|
Make |
Determines where a rug is made. |
|
Mamluk Carpet |
Large format rugs with complex geometric design and
large medallions, woven in Cairo, Egypt from the
13th to the early 16th |
|
Maintenance |
Preservation of the rug by assuring graceful aging,
such as wash, vacuuming, and rotation. |
|
Malachite |
A green mineral used as a source of green dye. |
|
Mashad |
One of the key rug weaving centers in Iran, where
production began in the late 19th century. Mashad
rugs are large, double-wafted, have a red
background, and are woven on a cotton foundation. |
|
Medallion |
The large centerpiece of the rug, a central point of
the design. Most common shapes of medallions are
diamonds, octagons, and hexagons. |
|
Medallion-and-corner |
A particular design of the rug, wherein a medallion
is quartered into the four corners of the rug, plus
one full medallion in the center. |
|
Memling Gul |
Diamond-shaped medallion surrounded with small
hooks. |
|
Mina Khani |
An allover design consisting of two or more flowers
connected by a diamond lattice. |
|
Minor Border |
One or a few narrower bands on each side of the main
border are known as the minor border. |
|
Mir boteh |
(Persian) A design of small rows of botehs
throughout a field. |
|
Moharramatt Ghakanadaani |
A pattern which consists of vertical stripes of
equal width. Each stripe is different in color from
the neighboring stripes and, typically has a
different motif (although sometimes the motif may be
repeated.) Often seem in Qum rugs. |
|
Morocco |
Country in North Africa, capital - Rabat. Moroccan
rugs are mostly woven for local use or sold to
tourists, and have not yet reached the Western
markets. |
|
Motifs |
Any single form or a group of forms which together
constitute an overall design of a rug |
|
Mughal Carpet |
Indian carpets produced in the 15th-18th centuries
during the ruling of the Mughal dynasty. This
period is considered the golden age of carpet
production in India. |
|
Multi-Level Loop Pile |
Yarn loops of different height which create a
three-dimensional effect. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Nap |
The direction which the pile of the rug faces. |
|
Natural Dyes |
Dyes derived from plants, animals and insects, or
from the earth, such as madder root, indigo,
pomegranate, etc. Until the late 19th century only
natural dyes were used for coloring weaving yarns. |
|
Natural Rug |
Rugs made of natural fibers. Texture is the main
feature of these rugs. |
|
Nepal |
Country in South Asia, capital - Katmandu. Important
weaving centers in Nepal include Katmandu, Pokhara,
and Patan; stands among the major rug exporters to
Europe. |
|
Nomadic Rugs |
Nomadic rugs are woven by sheepherders who migrate a
great deal; thus the rugs are typically small in
size because they have to be finished in time for
the next migration. |
|
Nylon |
Durable synthetic fiber good dyeing ability. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Oltenian |
A superior type of kilim rug, featuring ornate
flower and leaf patterns. |
|
One-sided |
Layout of the rug where the design is woven in one
direction. |
|
Overcast Sides |
Technique of over-rounding wool on the non-fringe
sides of a rug. |
|
Overtuft |
A process wherein an already tufted and dyed carpet
has another yarn system tufted through the back of
the fabric to produce a design on the face of the
carpet. |
|
Oxidizes |
Exposure to excess sunlight which causes the rug
color to change to a brown or black color. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Pakistan |
Country in South Asia, capital - Islamabad.
Rug-weaving traditions in Pakistan go back to
sixteenth century. Presently, Pakistan manufactures
handmade rugs exclusively for exportation. It is the
fourth largest exporter of rugs in the world. |
|
Pattern |
The use of lines that form figures and shapes on a
rug. The categories of patterns are: Curvilinear,
Geometric, and Pictorial. |
|
Persian knot |
(aka Asymmetrical Knot, Senneh Knot) There are two
types of major knots used in oriental rug-weaving:
the Persian knot, and the Turkish knot. In the
Persian (or asymmetrical) knot—used in Iran, India,
Turkey, Egypt, and China—is tied onto two warps; it
can be either looped over a left warp and opened up
to the right, or looped over a right warp and opened
up to the left. A finer weave is created with this
type of knot. |
|
Pendant |
A small flower extensions or a cluster of flowers at
the top and bottom of a medallion. |
|
Pictorial |
A design portraying people and animals. |
|
Pillar Rug |
A Chinese rug which is made for wrapping around
pillars in temples, typically long and narrow with a
dragon design motif. |
|
Pile |
The nap of the rug remaining after the knotted yarns
are clipped. The main pile materials are wool, silk
and cotton. |
|
Plain Weave |
A weave wherein the warp and weft are of equal
tension and spacing. The warp and weft are equally
visible on the surface. |
|
Pile Weave |
Pile weave (aka knotted weave) refers to the method
of weaving by creation of knots. This method is
used in most rugs. |
|
Polyester |
Synthetic fiber most often used in staple spun yarns |
|
Primary Backing |
The Backing into which the tufts are placed in
tufted carpets. This backing is then strengthened
with latex to hold the tufts in place. |
|
Programmed Rugs |
Handmade rugs of popular traditional designs which
are woven with the same design in different sizes.
They are the considered to be same quality of rugs
as the unique designs from the point of
manufacturing (as the same amount of work is
involved). |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Quatref |
A round design
with four symmetrical lobes. |
|
Qum |
A city in
central Iran, famous for finely knotted rugs. Major
rug manufacturing place which began in the
1930’s.The popular designs are floral medallions,
botehs, and all over designs. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Resilience |
The way rug pile regains its original thickness
after having been subjected to compression. |
|
Rollakans |
Flat woven rugs designed in Sweden and produced in
Portugal, rollakans original purpose was for the
walls of Scandinavian cabins to prevent the wind
from blowing between the logs. |
|
Re-fringe |
Renovating the fringe of the rug. |
|
Rhubarb |
A plant of the Rheum family, which have edible long,
green or reddish, stalks. Copper reds or yellow dyes
are derived from rhubarb. |
|
Romania |
A country in Eastern Europe, capital—Bucharest.
Carpet industry in Romania is rather considerable,
and traces back as far as 16th century. |
|
Rosette |
A design that resembles a round flower. |
|
Rug Pad |
Also referred to as “cushion” or “underlay,” a rug
pad is any type of material placed under a rug for
softness and additional support. Carpets usually
gain a longer life wear if a rug pad is placed
underneath. |
|
Runner |
Also referred to as “corridor rugs,” runners are
long and narrow rugs, between 2.5 and 3 feet wide
and 6 to 20 + feet long. They are used as carpets
for hallways, stairways, an entrances. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Safflower |
A plant with orange flowers which are a source of
yellow dye. The flowers also produce seeds
containing oil, which are used for cooking,
medicine, and cosmetics. |
|
Saffron |
A plant with purple or white flowers with orange
stigmas. Saffron may have been used to dye some
early rugs of China, India and the Balkans. |
|
Samarkan |
A city in Uzbekistan, which was a major marketplace
for rugs. Also, the oldest city in central Asia. |
|
Savonnerie |
A French hand-knotted pastel rug with a floral
medallion atop an open field with broken borders,
this rug was produced until the late 1800’s and is
currently the model for many of today's Indian and
Persian rugs. |
|
Sarouk |
A village in central western Iran, notorious for it
floral rugs, manufactured for export. Sarouk
carpets were especially prevalent on the US market
in the 1920’s-1930’s. |
|
Saxony |
Rugs made with dense cut pile and heavy yarns. |
|
Semi-Antique |
Rugs between 25 to 60 years old. |
|
Semi-Worsted |
A process of combing of a rug whichgets rid of
shorter fibers, resulting in a glossier-looking
yarn. |
|
Senneh Knot |
(aka Asymmetrical Knot, Persian Knot). There are two
types of major knots used in oriental rug-weaving:
the Persian knot, and the Turkish knot. In the
Persian (or asymmetrical) knot—used in Iran, India,
Turkey, Egypt, and China—is tied onto two warps; it
can be either looped over a left warp and opened up
to the right, or looped over a right warp and opened
up to the left. A finer weave is created with this
type of knot. |
|
Shag Rug |
Modern rug style with long and usually synthetic
pile. |
|
Shah Abbasi Motif |
A group of fan-shaped ornaments used for all-over
layouts, medallions, and in borders. Shah Abbasi
motif can often be found on rugs which produce—and
copy—Persian styles. |
|
Shah Abbasi Medallion-and-Corner |
A circular or diamond-shape medallion design with
Shah Abbasi motifs and pendants. If the design
includes corners, these corners are also filled with
Shah Abbasi motifs. |
|
Shedding |
One of the popular modern Persian rug designs
featuring feather and lotus motifs. |
|
Sheen |
A rug with high luster produced by a special
chemical wash. |
|
Sheikh Safi Medallion-and-Corner |
Sheikh Safi medallion-and-corner consists of a
medallion surrounded by 16 leaf-like pendants with
two lamps connected at the top and the bottom. The
corners resemble the medallion itself. |
|
Silk |
Expensive fiber derived from the cocoon of
silkworms; it is used less often as a pile material
for handmade rugs because of its high cost. |
|
Soumak (Soumac) |
Flat-woven carpets created in the soumak technique
practiced in the eastern Caucasus. |
|
Spain |
Country in Southern Europe, capital – Madrid;
considered to be the oldest producer of handmade
rugs in Europe. Spain still makescarpets; though
due to a limited number of items, they reach the
foreign markets rather poorly. |
|
Spanish Knot |
A variation of the Turkish knot - a knot is tied on
every other warp thread with knotted warps
alternating on each row. |
|
Spinning |
A method of creating an uninterrupted thread by way
of twisting together different fibers. Spinning may
be done by hand or a machine. |
|
Static |
Build-up of electric charge created by walking upon
a rug; and isaffected by humidity. |
|
Style |
Character of a rug defined by different patterns and
colors. |
|
Symmetrical Knot |
(aka Turkish knot). There are two types of major
knots used in oriental rug-weaving: the Persian
knot, and the Turkish knot. The Symmetrical
(Turkish) knot—used by Turkish and Kurdish tribes—is
made by passing the yarn over two neighboring wrap
strands, and then wrapping each end behind one warp
and brining it back between the two warp strands. |
|
Synthetic Dyes |
Dyes which are made chemically since the mid-19th
century for dyeing yarns used in rugs. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Tabriz |
A city in Iran which was a major rug-producing
center with roots going back to the 15th century.
The city had experienced a decline of rug production
lasting for several hundred years, but in the 19th
century the market bloomed again, reestablishing the
prominence of Tabriz carpets on the world market. |
|
Talish |
A region in the southeast of Caucasus, with rugs of
long formats and empty fields (typically red, blue
or green.) |
|
Tapestry |
Weft face weave with complicated designs. |
|
Tea Wash |
A method used for creating an “antique look” to the
colors of the rug. |
|
Teheran |
Modern Capital of Iran as well as a prime market for
Persian rugs. Typically asymmetrical knots and
cotton foundation are used. |
|
Tibet |
Region in southwest of China, bordering with Nepal,
Bhutan, Burma, and India. Tibet has held presence on
the commercial rug production since late 18th
century. Tibetan rugs have been influenced by China
and East Turkestan. The traditional designs include
tiger motifs and folk motifs; the colors depend on
the function of the rug. Orange and gold are used
for religious ceremonies; reds are used for covering
floors of the monasteries. Since Chinese occupation
of Tibet, many weavers escaped to neighboring
countries, but continue producing traditional
Tibetan rugs. |
|
Tibetan Knot |
A unique weaving technique, wherein a temporary rod
establishing the length of pile is put in front of
the warp and a continuous yarn is looped around two
warps and then once around the rod. When a row is
finished the rod is removed and the loops are cut to
construct the knots, creating the pile. |
|
Tiger Rugs |
A group of Tibetan rugs with a tiger motif, greatly
favored by Tibetan nobles and officials. |
|
Tone-on-Tone |
Two or several shades of the same color created by
mixing yarns of different shades or by using the
same color of yarn in a rug with both cut and looped
pile. |
|
Toranj |
(Persian) Name for the centerpiece in a medallion
layout. |
|
Tip Shear |
Rugs where the yarn of a number of loops is left
uncut, minimizing the effects of flattening. |
|
Tone-on-Tone |
Two or several shades of the same color
accomplished by either merging two ends of different
tones, or by using the same color in a rug with
cut and looped pile. |
|
Traditional |
Designs of the European and Oriental schools of
weaving. Contemporaryrugs imitate the classic
styles, patterns, and colors of the traditional
rugs. |
|
Transitional |
An extensive range of carpet styles between
traditional and contemporary. Many floral patterns
are included in this category. |
|
Tree-of-Life |
A rug ornament typically covering an entire surface,
exhibiting a tree with branches and leaves. This
motif can appear both realistic and abstract. |
|
Tribal Rug |
A type of rug which is made by—or displays the
styles and colors of the—North American or Middle
Eastern tribal people. |
|
Tufted Rug |
Made as an alternative/ replication of a
hand-knotted rug, tufted rugs are created by the
technique of punching tufts of wool through the base
fabric. |
|
Turret Gul |
A gul in the shape of an octagon and another small
octagon in the center. |
|
Turkmenistan |
Country in Central Asia, capital - Ashgabat.
Turkmenistan produces carpets known as Turkoman. |
|
Turkey |
Country in Southwest Asia, capital - Ankara. Rug
production in Turkey goes as far back as thirteenth
century, and is still considered a major exporter of
handmade rugs. |
|
Turkish Knot |
(aka Symmetrical knot). There are two types of major
knots used in oriental rug-weaving: the Persian
knot, and the Turkish knot. The Symmetrical
(Turkish) knot—used by Turkish and Kurdish tribes—is
made by passing the yarn over two neighboring wrap
strands, and then wrapping each end behind one warp
and brining it back between the two warp strands. |
|
Turmeric |
A source of yellow dye, turmeric is an Indian plant
with yellow flowers and an aromatic root; also a
popular spice. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Usak |
(Ushak)A town in Turkey where rug production dates
to the 15th century. It gained fame for the 16th
century designs of star, medallion, and prayer
rugs. Since 19th century became a major commercial
rug manufacturing, producing both high and low
quality carpets. |
|
Uzbekistan |
Country in Central Asia, capital -Tashkent. The rugs
from this country are known as Turkoman. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Vegetable Dyes |
Natural dyes derived from insects or from the earth. |
|
Velour |
Cut-pile with a velvet surface. |
|
Verneh |
A motif typically portraying the "S" shaped dragon
or interlocking birds. |
|
Village Rugs |
Rugs made by dwellers of the villages. Typically
all members of the village family are working on the
same project, and their home is also their place of
work. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Warp |
Wool, cotton, or silk strands of fiber attached to a
Loom vertically for the entire length of a rug.
Warps comprise the main structure of the rug, and
are the yarns upon which the knots are tied. |
|
Washing |
A treatment which a rug undergoes to tone down its
color and gain a softer texture. Sometimes washing
imitates the effects of aging. |
|
Weave |
Technique used in weaving. Pile weave and flat weave
are the two |
|
Weft |
(Woof) Wool, cotton, or silk strands of fiber that
are woven through –and run parallel to—the warps.
The weft threads hold the pile knots in place. |
|
Weft-Faced |
A rug where the weft yarns spaced more closely than
the warps. |
|
Weld |
A source of yellow die, this European plant has long
spikes of small yellowish-green flowers. |
|
Wilton |
A British center manufacturing machine-loomed rugs,
dating back to 19th century. Modern Wilton rugs were
the first type to be made on a computerize
machine. |
|
Wool |
Wool is the most frequently used material in
handmade rugs. It is obtained from the hair of
sheep, goats, and other domesticated animals. |
|
Worsted |
Key sign of a worsted yarn is straightness of fiber,
which is achieved by blending, combing, and then
tightly twisting (worstening) the fiber, before
spinning the wool into yarn. This process greatly
improves yarnquality, and is used for the more |
|
Woven Carpets |
Rugs made on the looms, where the pile and the
backing thread are woven simultaneously, creating
strong tufts and anchors. Examples of woven carpets
are Wilton and Axminster. |
|
Worn |
Rugs with discoloration, foundation damage, pile
wear, or fading are considered worn. Worn rugs,
however, may have antique value, and thus, a solid
resale value. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Yuntdag |
Yantdag West Anatolian rug type typically depicts a
central medallion pendant with triangular amulets. |
|
|
Term |
Definition
|
|
Zakatala |
A region in Azerbaijan famous for its antique rugs.
All wool rugs have bold geometric motifs and are
woven with the symmetrical knots. |
|
Ziegler and Co. |
An English company which exported rugs to Europe
from Iran in the mid 19th and early 20th century.
The rugs were designed to European liking, and so
Tabrizes, Mahals and Sultanabads made during that
time under Ziegler and Co.’s supervision are known
today as the Ziegler Carpets. |
|
Zili-i-sultan |
A south Persian rug design consisting of all-over
repeating vases with floral arrangements. Qum rugs
are an example of zili-i-sultan design. |
|
Zilli |
Traditional name for large simple flatweaves. |
|
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