Archives: Rug Styles
HEREKE RUGS
FORMAL, PRECISE HEREKE SILK AND WOOL RUGS A town in Turkey around 40 miles from Istanbul producing the finest of silk rugs. It is believed that the Imperial looms were established in Hereke around 1840. These finely weaved rugs are still produced in the town to this day. Modern weaves are extremely fine, all silk, and more wall hangings than floor coverings. Large Antique Hereke Turkish rugs are in light colors and in European styles. These are rare and highly decorative and are a true treasure.
HERATI RUGS
HERATI PATTERN IN RUGS This is unquestionably the most popular allover repeating field pattern on antique Persian (and other types of) rugs. Four curving leaves resembling fish (mahi) are set around a rosette centered diamond. This pattern may be diminutive and precise as on Tabriz rugs, medium scaled and elegant as on antique FerAghan rugs, or boldly semi-geometric as on Heriz rugs. Antique carpets, vintage rugs, anywhere and everywhere, on any colored ground, you will find the Herati pattern. By the way, Herati (“from Herat”) does not really refer to the source of this supremely versatile motif.
HAMADAN RUGS
UBIQUITOUS ANTIQUE & VINTAGE HAMADAN RUGS Hamadan town in western Iran is the ancient Persian city of Ecbatana. Around the town are located hundreds of mostly Kurdish villages weaving an incredible variety of rug designs, color palettes and weave qualities. Antique Persian Hamadan rugs are often in runner formats with wide camel tone borders, semi-abstract patterns and top quality local wool. RUG SIZE & WEAVE Scatter rug sizes, for example, are in geometric, semi-geometric and floral styles. The knot is always symmetric and the foundations may be all wool, all cotton or a combination of the two. Weaves are medium
GOLFARANG RUGS
GOLFARANG PATTERN IN RUGS Not a rug type, but Persian for “foreign flower”. It refers to bunches of flowers repeated as an allover field pattern. Many types of antique Persian rugs display this design. The pattern is most striking on a navy or ivory background.
GABBEH RUGS
MINIMALIST GABBEH RUGS NOMADIC QASGHAI GABBEH RUGS Gabbeh or “unclipped” rugs are principally woven by the seasonally nomadic Qashgai tribe from Fars Province (SW Persia). Only in the 1980’s did Western dealers discover these thick pile, boldly abstract geometric rugs as true folk art. They work well with the most modern décor, anywhere, from sitting rooms to children’s rooms. Some employ dyed colors while others use only natural sheep wool tones of old ivory, grey and dark brown. Gabbeh rugs are one-of-a-kind, never made in series. They are real, authentic rustic art treasures. FROM OTHER AREAS In the olden days,
FERAGHAN RUGS
FINE TRADITIONAL STYLE ANTIQUE FERAGHAN RUGS Now in Markazi Province, west Persia, the Feraghan district has woven a variety of styles and textures from good to truly exceptional quality from the 18th century onwards. The most recognizable are the dark blue gallery rugs with allover repeating Herati designs. These antique Persian rugs are subtle and elegant, refined and urbane, restrained and sophisticated, the perfect accompaniments to traditional furnishings. FERAGHAN RUG COLORS However, other antique Feraghan rugs often possess extraordinary color palettes, especially in smaller sizes. There is a transition to more compact and denser weaves in the medallion rugs, often
DOROKHSH RUGS
DOROKHSH KHORASAN RUGS Known for producing large rugs that often have a European influence the rugs from Dorokhsh were very popular in France during the late 19th century. The name comes from the town in the Khorasan region of Iran, in northern Persia.
DONEGAL RUGS
DONEGAL RUGS, CELTIC MASTERPIECES Killybegs, in County Donegal, Ireland, was the home of the esteemed Scottish textile firm of Alexander Morton & Co. whose factory, beginning in the 1890’s wove Arts and Crafts rugs with thick, soft pile often in the Oushak style These lush antique European carpets have remained popular on both sides of the Atlantic for over 100 years. Morton was the only successful follower in the British Isles of the trend begun by William Morris.
DISTRESSED RUGS
DESIRABLE DISTRESSED RUGS A distressed rug is not an abused one, but one that has been artfully recreated to follow current decorating style trends. Lida Lavender’s distressed rugs are durable, quality creations with plenty of life in them and are ready to enhance any up-to-date room. Contemporary interiors are all about crisp lines with everything sharp and precise, whether it be in overall design, furniture, artwork or secondary decorations. Distressed rugs are seemingly just the opposite and this contrast really works well. In a modern apartment or loft chrome furniture on a distressed rug looks great. In current lingo, they
CHINESE – NICHOLS RUGS
ELEGANT AND EXOTIC CHINESE CARPETS Rug weaving in China goes back to the 2nd century AD and the Ming Emperors decorated rooms in the Forbidden City palaces with thick, coarse carpets in dramatic designs. Antique Chinese rugs woven in Ningxia go back to the 17th century. Rugs for the western market started to be produced towards the end of the 19th century. There are numerous production centers including Peking (Beijing), Ningxia, Tientsin (Tianjin), Bao Tou and various cities in Xinjiang Province. PEKING WEAVING Weaving in Peking began around 1900 during the revival of Chinese carpet manufacturing when the other weaving
