Oriental Rugs . . . Where Did They Originate From?

Oriental rugs follow a form of weaving that has evolved Oriental rugs from being simple functional pieces to true works of woven art. They are very classic in design and tend to represent the changing ways of the people who created them. 

Value Given to an Oriental Rug:

The high-priced value of an Oriental rug comes from the rug's creator using knots to secure the fibers. Then, the lengths are cut - the shorter, the better. Also, the number of knots is important in determining the value of any one piece; generally, the rule of thumb is 'the more knots, the better;' and some area rugs are known to have up to 1000 knots in a given square inch.

Where Did These Pieces of Art Originate?

Oriental rugs making became an art that spread all over the middle East and examples of the art form were found stretching from Turkey to China, with later examples in Spain. The oldest Oriental rug to ever be uncovered dates back to the fifth century, B.C. It is believed that originally nomadic people created these artistic rugs who used the art mainly for its functionality and who preferred shape-inspired designs for their art. Their constant moving from place to place explains why the art form spread around the world, from direct contact with these nomadic tribes.

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How the Oriental Rug Has Changed Over Time:

Eventually, as the beauty of the art form became more prevalent to the people of the times, while they were still used for functionality, they also became expressions of detail in the homes of those who purchased them. Between the sixteenth and the eighteenth century is commonly known as the time period in which the art of creating the Oriental rug reached its peak. Some of the most extravagant pieces created included very expensive materials such as precious metals like gold and silver, and precious gems being woven into the pattern of the Oriental rug. This is when the Oriental rug began to find itself mainly displayed in palaces and the homes of the wealthy and highly influential members of society.

Further Expansion of the Desire for Oriental Rugs:

During the peak of the Oriental rugs' development, Italy became aware of and appreciative of the beauty and value in the Oriental rug art form. They are responsible for bringing awareness of the art itself to the world's eye, and began buying and selling rugs to the rest of the world on behalf of the countries who actually made them. Europeans and Americans became main players in the market towards the end of the 1800's and at the beginning of the 1900's. Americans in particular impacted the making of Oriental rugs by beginning to request specific changes to the original art. They desired non-traditional sizes, palettes of coloration, and newer patterns of design in the rugs themselves. And of course, the countries involved in creating the pieces were more than happy to oblige, as it was a financially beneficial arrangement to all.

Thus you can see the evolution of the art form behind the creation of the Oriental rug. The older pieces are more original to the culture and its people, yet the quality has not wavered as the newer forms have been developed for the Europeans and the Americans. Oriental rugs still hold their intrinsic value and thus are a greatly sought-after art form even in the world today.