The History of the 8×11 Area Rug

There is a lot of debate and confusion when it comes to the topic of Oriental rugs and their place in Western Art Deco interior design. Most consumers are led to believe that Oriental rugs are simply an inferior substitute for a Western-style rug or worse still a cheap knock-off. However, a better understanding of Oriental rugs will enable you to appreciate their beauty and richness not just as an addition to your home design, but as an integral part of your floor covering. When comparing Oriental rugs with your usual selections, you will notice that the Oriental rug has a distinct look and feel that sets it apart. This difference can be observed both in the pattern and color variations, as well as the scale, cut and shape. When you view an Oriental rug side by side with another type of floor covering, you can quickly see and realize that the Oriental rug is not merely a scaled-up version of a common carpet.

The key difference between Oriental rugs and your common carpets lies in the weaving and the different styles that these two types of rugs exhibit. Whereas most carpets are made using one single loom which is produced by a single thread, the design of an oriental rug is composed of round woven rugs that are then bound together by a thin silk material. The silk used in the rugs is carefully chosen for its particular qualities such as its texture, its sheen and the quality of the fibers. It is this careful process of selecting the fibers that give these rugs their uniqueness, their ability to stand the test of time and their lustre.

The art of rug making began in ancient India and was initially practiced by the Buddhist monks and the palace workers. Over time, the art evolved into what we know today as the modern rug industry and was further refined during the nineteenth century by the rug makers and tailors of the Islamic, Russian and American empires. When the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century arrived and machine production became widespread, Oriental rugs saw a serious decline in sales as machines replaced the handmade carpets. However, with the advent of machinery in the twentieth century, the popularity of the oriental rug had begun to once again wax and wane but the charm of these carpets and the desire for them to be woven in larger quantities was insistent. And in the 1970’s, following the Persian Gulf War and the easing of travel throughout the Middle East, the sale of these exquisite pieces from the east began to once more surge.

With the introduction of technology in the twenty-first century, another resurgence of interest in oriental area rugs occurred as people sought to reproduce the rugs of the east. Silk production had made possible the mass production of these beautiful creations and their sale once more peaked. Today’s rugs are created using even finer and heavier silk than was once the norm. This material is still often hand woven by skilled workers who pay extra attention to the knotting of the silk. These intricate and complimentary designs create rugs that mirror the craftsmanship of the rug making cultures of the orient and are truly works of art.

Although the sale of oriental area rugs once again has rebounded in popularity, they have not lost all of their recognition in the home decorating market. They are often used in conjunction with drapes and sheers in the same room. This combination of decorative pieces allows you to bring together the rug and the decorative fabric in such a way as to create a seamless and harmonious look. This is the same concept that designers in the modern era of design are applying to their creations. The inclusion of rugs that are complementary to the colors of the walls is a much easier task than trying to coordinate the colors of the decorative items.

The history of the area rug is an interesting one that has included many different cultures and time periods. They are the product of a people and their culture before their culture and countries disappear into the mists of time. This makes them even more appealing because you get a feel for the land where the rug was made. Oriental area rugs come alive when they are put into use and this helps you to imagine that they were hand crafted by the very people who created them. This mysticism surrounding these objects of beauty makes them perfect conversational pieces.