{"id":387,"date":"2020-01-02T13:28:25","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T18:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/?p=387"},"modified":"2020-01-02T13:28:25","modified_gmt":"2020-01-02T18:28:25","slug":"hand-knotted-rugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/hand-knotted-rugs\/","title":{"rendered":"Hand-Knotted Rugs: The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Persian and Oriental Rugs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019ve looked around the Rugs.com shop and blog, you already know how much we love hand-knotted rugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Known for their durability, quality materials, and unmatched beauty, hand-knotted rugs are as diverse as the people who make them all over the world. Whether it\u2019s an Oriental rug made in Turkey, Pakistan, or Morocco or a genuine Persian rug made in Iran, every hand-knotted rug is a one-of-a-kind work of art that deserves a place of honor in your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Styles of Oriental Hand-Knotted Rugs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So what is an Oriental Rug? \u201cOriental rug\u201d is an umbrella term that covers a huge variety of handmade rugs<\/a> from across the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa. This technically includes Persian rugs as well. In practice, however, people talking about Oriental rugs typically are referring to handmade rugs from outside of Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One quick note\u2014it’s a common misconception that Persian rugs exclusively use Persian knots, or that Persian knots are only found in Persian rugs. Actually, both Turkish and Persian knots are used throughout the rug-making world. Read our full guide on the types of rug knots<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are almost endless styles of Oriental rugs on the\nmarket, but for the purpose of this article, we\u2019ll focus on some of the best\nknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kazak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While originally from the south Caucuses in the region now known as Armenia, Kazak-style hand-knotted rugs are now made all over the world including in Turkey and Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern weavers of Kazak rugs go to great lengths to preserve\nthe traditions that these rugs came from. Kazak rugs are distinguished by their\nuse of Turkish knots, natural dyes, hand-spun wool, and the stonewashing\nprocess they go through. The result is a strong, short-pile rug with a\nbeautiful antique finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kazak rugs typically have geometric designs in deep indigo\nblues, creamy ivories, and rusty reds. Though the colors and techniques used\nare quite different from those found in native North American rugs and\nblankets, the designs in Kazak rugs are still popular with people looking to\nbring a southwestern to their homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SHOP\nKAZAK RUGS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bukhara<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Originating in the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan, Bukhara-style\nrugs are made across the rug-weaving world today. They are most easily\nrecognized by their distinctive patterns and thick, lush wool pile made with\nPersian knots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hand-knotted<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The traditional Bukhara rug design is rows of stylized\noctagonal flowers called \u201cguls\u201d surrounded by a wide border of geometric\npatterns. While the colors used can vary widely from rug to rug, each\nindividual rug uses a relatively limited palette. The classic colors for Bukhara\nrugs are deep, rich reds, but they can be found in ivories, blues, and greens\nas well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SHOP\nBUKHARA RUGS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kilim<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the other rugs introduced in this article, Kilims are\nflatweave rugs. This means the designs are made with colored weft yarns woven\ninto the warp of the rug rather than by knotting in pile yarns. This results in\na rug that is flat, pileless, extremely durable, and often fully reversible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest advantages of Kilims is the price.\nBecause their construction technique is relatively simple, Kilims can be made\nvery quickly and cheaply when compared to other styles of Oriental rug. That\nmakes Kilims a great choice for almost any budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Styles of Moroccan Hand-Knotted Rugs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moroccan rugs are often lumped in with Oriental rugs but\ncould almost be considered a category all their own. The techniques used to\nmake Moroccan rugs are similar to those found in other Oriental rugs but were\ndeveloped separately by the local Berber tribes. There are several notable\ntypes of Moroccan rug. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SHOP\nMOROCCAN RUGS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beni-Ourain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cclassic\u201d and most recognizable style of Moroccan rug is the Beni-Ourain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hand-knotted<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beni-ourain rugs are characterized by their ivory hues\u2014a result of using undyed wool\u2014simple, often asymmetric lattice patterns, and shaggy pile meant to ward off the cold of the High Atlas Mountains where they are made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Azilal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Further down in the Middle Atlas Mountains, you\u2019ll find\nAzilal rugs being made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hand-knotted<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These rugs are usually slightly thinner than their\nBeni-Ourain cousins and much more densely decorated. Azilal rugs will often\nhave complicated asymmetric designs that reflect the life of the weaver\nrendered in brightly dyed colors against an ivory background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boucherouite<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Boucherouite rugs are a newer phenomenon that have quickly\ngained popularity around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These \u201crag rugs\u201d are made from recycled fabrics from a variety of sources and materials, including clothing, other rugs, and shipping bags. Their free-form designs are incredibly colorful and visually interesting thanks to the varied materials used in their construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Styles of Persian Hand-Knotted Rugs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Persian rugs are hand-knotted rugs from Iran. Persian rugs have long been prized for their beautiful patterns and unmatched quality, but today, they carry even more prestige due to their relative scarcity in the West. Because of various embargoes over the years, the supply of Persian rugs is limited, encouraging many collectors to keep them as investment pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Persian rug styles are usually named for the city, region,\nor ethnic group that makes them. There are dozens of variations, but we\u2019ll\nfocus on some of the most popular and well known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tabriz<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the far northwest corner of Iran is the ancient city of\nTabriz. As one of the historical capitals of Iran, and thanks to its proximity\nto Turkey and Azerbaijan, Tabriz has long been a center of trade and rug\nmanufacturing in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hand-knotted<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are no defining patterns for Tabriz rugs, with\nmedallions and all-over designs being just as common. Their most distinguishing\nfeature is a dense construction and fine quality, with many rugs having a\ndensity of well over 100 knots per square inch. Tabriz rugs typically use\nTurkish knots but will occasionally use Persian knots or even a combination of\nthe two for more intricate patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SHOP\nTABIRZ RUGS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heriz<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Only 50 miles east of Tabriz is the village of Heriz, home\nto some of the most popular village and tribal rugs made in Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s sometimes speculated that Heriz rugs as they currently are were the result of enterprising merchants from Tabriz seeking a way to produce affordable room-sized Persian rugs for export. Weavers from the Heriz region then adapted the ornate patterns of Tabriz rugs to the more geometric designs they were familiar with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hand-knotted<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Today, Heriz rugs are easy to spot by their large, diamond-shaped medallions, oversized corner ornamentation, and occasional Tree of Life motifs. Heriz designs have a lot in common with Kazak rugs, which shouldn\u2019t be surprising given the proximity of Heriz to the Caucus mountains where Kazak rugs are made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like other rugs made in the western parts of Iran, they are typically made with Turkish knots, but are typically have a lower knot density (less than 100 knots per square inch) that lends to their rustic charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SHOP\nHERIZ RUGS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kerman<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located in east-central Iran, the city of Kerman and its\nnearby villages has long been an important center of both rug trading and\nweaving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hand-knotted<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kerman rugs are especially notable for their colors. In\nKerman, wool is dyed before it is spun, allowing for a more consistent color\nthroughout. Also unlike other styles of Persian rug, a single Kerman rug can\nuse a huge variety of colors, with many having 15-30 different hues. The\ndazzling colors and curvilinear designs made possible by using Persian knots\nmakes Kerman rugs highly prized around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SHOP\nKERMAN RUGS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even if it wasn\u2019t a historic center for rug weaving, today\nthe city of Nain in central Iran is known around the world for crafting some of\nthe finest rugs available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hand-knotted<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nain rugs are especially notable for the high percentage of\nsilk they use, giving the rugs a characteristic shimmer. Patterns and designs\nare heavily influenced by rugs made in nearby Isfahan, with beautiful and\nelaborate floral patterns made possible by using Persian knots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SHOP\nNAIN RUGS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabbeh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Among the most popular and revered tribal Persian rugs are\nGabbehs. The simple designs and thick, plush texture has earned Gabbeh rugs\ndie-hard fans around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word \u201cgabbeh\u201d comes from Farsi and means \u201cuncut,\u201d \u201cnatural,\u201d or \u201craw.\u201d Despite the connotations of those words, Gabbeh rugs are anything but rough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hand-knotted<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first Gabbeh rugs were made in similar conditions to Moroccan Beni-Ourain rugs, to ward against the cold in the Zagros mountains of Iran. Made with hand-spun wool and natural dyes, these rugs are far thicker than most other Persian rugs, with some even being close to having a shag pile. Their designs are typically very simple, relying on large fields of solid colors and occasional agricultural symbols. This simplicity lends to their rustic charm and makes them very popular in modern homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SHOP\nGABBEH RUGS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding the Right Style of Hand-Knotted Rug for You<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you start looking, you\u2019ll likely be surprised by the\ndepth you find in the world of hand-knotted rugs. Rest easy\u2014you can\u2019t really\nmake a bad choice. Hand-knotted rugs, especially Persian rugs, maintain their\nvalue well with many even increasing in value over time. As an investment, a\nhand-knotted rug will always be worth what you put into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When buying your first Persian or Oriental rug, start with\nwhat you\u2019ve learned here. Decide if you prefer traditional, floral, and rounded\ndesigns or geometric tribal patterns. Then, find one of the styles listed here\nin the collection on Rugs.com. Every hand-knotted rug is one-of-a-kind, so\ndon\u2019t be afraid to compare different rugs or reach out to our 24\/7 support line\nif you have any questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shop hand-knotted Persian and Oriental Rugs<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve looked around the Rugs.com shop and blog, you already know how much we love hand-knotted rugs. Known for their durability, quality materials, and unmatched beauty, hand-knotted rugs are as diverse as the people who make them all over the world. Whether it\u2019s an Oriental rug made in Turkey, Pakistan, or Morocco or a …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-design","category-weave"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=387"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":406,"href":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/387\/revisions\/406"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}