119 terms
A
- AbrashNatural color variation visible across the surface of a hand-knotted rug, caused by differences between wool batches or dye lots. Abrash is ...
- AfsharA Turkic-speaking tribal group historically settled in southeastern Iran near Kerman. Afshar rugs are typically smaller, often squarish in f...
- AgraA historic city in northern India and major center of Indian carpet weaving for five centuries, from Mughal imperial workshops in the 16th c...
- Anatolian RugA hand-knotted rug woven in Anatolia (modern Turkey). Anatolian rugs typically use the symmetric (Turkish) knot, all-wool construction, and ...
- Antique vs Vintage vs OldIndustry terminology for the age categories of rugs. Antique generally means 100+ years old, semi-antique 50-100 years, old/vintage 30-50 ye...
- AubussonA French flatweave tapestry tradition from the town of Aubusson in central France, with major production from the 16th century onward, chara...
- AzilalA Berber tribal rug tradition from the central High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, characterized by improvisational colorful designs layered ov...
B
- BakhtiariA formerly nomadic tribal confederation of southwestern Iran, now largely settled. Bakhtiari rugs are best known for their distinctive 'gard...
- BaluchA people inhabiting the Baluchistan region spanning eastern Iran, southwestern Afghanistan, and western Pakistan. Baluch rugs are small, dar...
- Beni M'GuildA Berber tribal rug tradition from the western Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco, characterized by plush thick pile and deep moody palettes ...
- Beni OurainA confederation of 17 Berber (Amazigh) tribes in the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco and the rug tradition associated with them, character...
- Berber RugA broad category term for rugs produced by Berber (Amazigh) tribal communities of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and elsewhere in North A...
- BergamaA town in northwestern Anatolia (ancient Pergamon) known for distinctive village rugs woven in bold geometric patterns. Bergama rugs are typ...
- BijarA town in Kurdistan province in northwest Iran, known for producing some of the most densely woven and durable rugs in the entire Persian tr...
- BotehAn almond- or teardrop-shaped motif with a curved upper tip, used throughout Persian, Caucasian, and Indian rugs. The boteh is the visual or...
- BoucherouiteA Moroccan rag rug tradition that emerged in the mid-20th century, woven from recycled fabric strips into wildly colorful asymmetric composi...
- BoujadA Moroccan rug tradition from the central plains near Boujad, characterized by warm pink and red palettes and freely composed abstract geome...
- BukharaAn ancient city in Uzbekistan, historically a major trading hub for Turkmen rugs. In the U.S. retail trade, 'Bukhara' is a widely-used (ofte...
C
- Carpet vs Rug (Terminology)In the Oriental rug trade, 'rug' typically refers to smaller pieces (under 8 by 10 feet) and 'carpet' to larger ones. The terms are also use...
- Caucasian RugA hand-knotted rug woven in the Caucasus region between the Black and Caspian seas — primarily modern-day Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and ...
- Chinese RugHand-knotted rugs produced in China. Chinese rug weaving developed independently from the Persian-Turkish tradition and uses distinct design...
- ChobiA contemporary commercial rug type produced primarily by Afghan refugee weavers in Pakistan and Afghanistan, reviving the soft palette and l...
- Cotton FoundationThe use of cotton thread for the warp and weft structure of a hand-knotted rug. Cotton foundations are characteristic of most Persian city-w...
- Cypress MotifA stylized depiction of the cypress tree, used as a symbolic motif across Persian, Turkish, and Central Asian rugs. The cypress represents i...
D
E
F
G
- GabbehA type of coarse, thick-piled tribal rug originally woven by the Qashqai and Luri peoples of southwest Iran. Modern Gabbeh rugs are widely p...
- Garden DesignA rug design in which the field is divided into a rectangular grid of square or hexagonal panels, each containing different stylized floral,...
- GhiordesA town in western Turkey famous for prayer rugs woven from the 17th through 19th centuries. Ghiordes prayer rugs are among the most influent...
- GulThe repeating central medallion that defines Turkmen tribal rugs. The word means 'flower' in Persian, but in the rug context, a gul is a geo...
H
- HamadanAn ancient city in northwestern Iran and the major collection center for hand-knotted rugs produced in over a hundred surrounding villages. ...
- Hand-Knotted vs Hand-Tufted vs Hand-LoomedThree distinct rug construction methods widely confused in retail: hand-knotted (individual knots, most durable), hand-tufted (yarn punched ...
- Hand-Spun vs Machine-Spun WoolHand-spun wool is twisted into yarn by hand using a drop spindle or spinning wheel, producing uneven yarn that varies in thickness and takes...
- Herati (Mahi)A classical Persian field pattern consisting of a central rosette inside a diamond, surrounded by four curved leaves that resemble fish. Com...
- HerekeA town near Istanbul where the Ottoman Imperial Manufactory was established in 1843. Hereke produces some of the finest hand-knotted rugs in...
- HerizA district in northwest Iran near Tabriz, famous for room-sized rugs with bold geometric medallions, copper-red and ivory color palettes, an...
I
- Indian RugHand-knotted rugs produced in India. Carpet weaving was introduced to India by the Mughal emperors in the 16th century and remains a major i...
- IsfahanA city in central Iran historically considered one of the finest Persian rug weaving centers. Isfahan rugs are renowned for their high knot ...
J
- Jaff KurdsA large Kurdish tribal confederation living along the borderlands of western Iran and northeastern Iraq. Jaff Kurd weavings — particularly J...
- Jaldar BokharaA premium subcategory of Pakistani Bokhara rugs characterized by double-warp construction, often wool-and-silk blends, and more elaborate ge...
- JosheganA town in central Iran famous for rugs featuring a distinctive all-over diamond lattice design composed of stylized floral elements. Joshega...
- Jufti KnotA knotting technique in which each knot wraps around four warps instead of the standard two. The jufti knot speeds up weaving significantly ...
K
- KarabakhA historical region in the western Caucasus (modern Azerbaijan and Armenia) known for rugs that bridge Caucasian geometric and Persian flora...
- KashanA historic city in north-central Iran and one of the most prestigious Persian rug weaving centers. Kashan rugs are known for their fine knot...
- KashmirA mountainous region in the northern Indian subcontinent with a documented fine carpet tradition since the Mughal period, specializing in ve...
- KayseriA historic city in central Anatolia with a documented rug weaving tradition from the late 19th century to the present, focused primarily on ...
- KazakA category of bold, large-scale geometric rugs from the south and southwestern Caucasus. Antique Kazak rugs are among the most prized and re...
- KermanA major city in southeastern Iran and one of the most prestigious Persian rug weaving centers. Kerman rugs are known for refined floral desi...
- Khal MohammadiA high-quality Afghan Turkmen rug type associated with master weaver Khal Mohammadi, produced primarily in northern Afghanistan, characteriz...
- Khorjin (Saddle Bag)A pair of woven bags joined by a connecting woven strip, traditionally thrown over the back of a pack animal or worn over the shoulder. Khor...
- KilimA flatwoven, pile-less rug produced across the Middle East and Central Asia. Kilims are woven using the slit-tapestry technique and are typi...
- Knot Count (KPSI)The number of knots tied per square inch of a hand-knotted rug's surface. Higher knot counts allow finer design detail but are not the sole ...
- Knots (Asymmetric vs Symmetric)The two primary knot types used in hand-knotted rugs. The asymmetric (Persian) knot allows finer detail and curvilinear designs; the symmetr...
- Knotted PileThe construction method used to create the plush, dense surface of a traditional Oriental rug. Each knot is tied by hand around the warp thr...
- KonyaA historic city in central Anatolia with one of the oldest documented rug-weaving traditions in the world. Konya is also the seat of the Mev...
- Kork WoolThe finest grade of wool used in Persian rug weaving, taken from the underbelly, neck, and shoulder of the sheep. Kork wool is soft, lustrou...
- KubaA region in northeast Azerbaijan known for finely woven Caucasian rugs with intricate, densely packed designs. Kuba rugs are among the most ...
- KulaA small town in western Anatolia with a documented prayer rug weaving tradition from the 17th through 19th centuries, characterized by narro...
L
- Lattice DesignAn all-over rug field design composed of interlocking diamond or diagonal grid lines, with small motifs filling each diamond cell. The latti...
- LuriA people inhabiting the Zagros mountains of western and southwestern Iran. Luri rugs and bags share design conventions with Qashqai and Bakh...
M
- Machine-Made RugA rug produced on a power loom or automated machinery, in contrast to hand-knotted or hand-tufted work, typically using synthetic fibers and...
- MafrashA large rectangular bedding-storage bag woven by nomadic peoples of northwestern Iran, the Caucasus, and eastern Turkey. Mafrash bags are ty...
- MahalA rug-weaving district in the Arak (Sultanabad) region of west-central Iran. Mahal rugs are known for bold floral designs, large scale, and ...
- MalayerA town south of Hamadan in western Iran, producing village rugs that bridge the Hamadan single-wefted style and the more refined Sarouk work...
- MashadA major city in northeastern Iran and the holiest city in Iranian Shi'a Islam. Mashad is also a significant rug-weaving center and the regio...
- MauriA premium category of Afghan Turkmen rugs, typically very finely knotted with classic gul medallion designs in deep saturated colors, combin...
- Medallion DesignA rug design organized around a large decorative element at the center of the field, typically with quartered echoes of the medallion in the...
- MihrabThe arched niche depicted at one end of a Muslim prayer rug. The mihrab represents the architectural niche in a mosque that points toward Me...
- MilasA town in southwestern Anatolia in the Muğla province of modern Turkey, with a distinctive rug weaving tradition from the 18th century to th...
- Mina KhaniA classical Persian field pattern consisting of four round flower blossoms arranged in a diamond shape, repeated across the rug's field. Par...
- Mori BokharaA subcategory of Pakistani Bokhara rugs characterized by single-warp construction and broader color range, featuring the classic Turkmen gul...
- Moroccan RugA hand-woven rug produced in Morocco, primarily by Berber tribal communities in the Atlas Mountains, with major production regions including...
- Mughal CarpetA hand-knotted pile carpet produced under the Mughal emperors of India from roughly 1580 to 1707, characterized by naturalistic floral desig...
N
- NainA small town east of Isfahan in central Iran, known for fine workshop-quality rugs with predominantly ivory and pale blue color palettes. Na...
- Nichols RugA category of hand-knotted Chinese carpets produced in Tianjin between roughly 1920 and 1940, named after American entrepreneur Walter Nicho...
- NingxiaA region in north-central China and the rug tradition associated with it, the most important antique Chinese carpet category, woven since at...
O
- Oriental RugA broad term for hand-knotted rugs produced across a large area stretching from Turkey and the Caucasus through Iran, Central Asia, India, a...
- OushakA city in west-central Anatolia and one of the most historically important Turkish rug weaving centers. Antique Oushak rugs are highly colle...
P
- Pakistani BukharaHand-knotted rugs produced in Pakistan (primarily around Lahore) in styles adapted from Turkmen 'Bukhara' tribal designs. Pakistani Bukharas...
- Pashmina WoolThe fine fiber harvested from the underbelly of Himalayan goats grazed in Kashmir and adjacent regions, enabling the highest knot densities ...
- Persian RugA hand-knotted rug woven in Iran, historically known as Persia. Persian rugs are renowned for their dense knot counts, natural-dye color pal...
- PileThe raised surface yarn of a knotted or tufted rug, formed by the visible portion of each knot above the foundation, varying significantly i...
- Pomegranate MotifA symbolic motif depicting the pomegranate fruit, used across Persian, Central Asian, Turkmen, and Caucasian rugs. The pomegranate represent...
- Prayer RugsSmall, portable rugs used by Muslims during the five daily prayers. Prayer rugs feature a directional design — most commonly a mihrab, or ar...
Q
R
- Rug AppraisalProfessional evaluation of a rug's age, origin, construction, condition, and market value. Appraisals are used for insurance, estate plannin...
- Rug CleaningSpecialized cleaning of hand-knotted and other handmade rugs, requiring techniques and equipment different from standard carpet cleaning. Im...
- Rug PadA non-slip cushioning layer placed between a rug and the floor surface, serving four functions: preventing sliding, protecting the rug found...
S
- SalorThe oldest and most prestigious Turkmen tribal weavers. Authentic antique Salor rugs are extremely rare and considered the finest examples o...
- SarabA town in the Azerbaijan province of northwestern Iran famous for producing long-format wool rugs and runners. Sarab rugs are highly regarde...
- SaroukA rug-weaving village near Arak in west-central Iran, and the trade name for a broader category of rugs from the surrounding region. Sarouk ...
- SarykA Turkmen tribal confederation historically located in the Merv oasis region of Turkmenistan and northern Afghanistan, producing among the f...
- SavonnerieA French hand-knotted pile carpet tradition established under royal patronage in 1627, characterized by symmetric knots, very high knot dens...
- SelvedgeThe reinforced left and right edges of a hand-knotted rug, formed by the weft threads wrapping back around the outermost warps. The selvedge...
- SennehThe historical name for Sanandaj, the capital of Iranian Kurdistan. Senneh is famous for exceptionally fine Kurdish knotted rugs and for hig...
- SerapiA trade name for the finest grade of antique Heriz-region rugs, characterized by larger scale, more refined drawing, and softer color palett...
- ShahsavanA Turkic-speaking nomadic tribal confederation of northwestern Iran and southern Azerbaijan. Shahsavan are particularly known for their flat...
- ShirvanA region in eastern Azerbaijan that produced some of the finest Caucasian rugs, particularly prayer rugs and boteh-patterned weavings. Shirv...
- Silk RugsRugs woven with silk pile, typically on a silk foundation. Silk rugs achieve very high knot densities and luminous color shifts, but are far...
- SoumakA flatweave technique in which colored weft yarns are wrapped around the warp threads to form decorative patterns, rather than being interla...
- SultanabadThe historical name for the Iranian city of Arak and the surrounding rug-weaving region. Sultanabad rugs are characterized by large scale, o...
T
- TabrizThe capital of East Azerbaijan province in northwest Iran and one of the most important Persian rug weaving centers. Tabriz rugs are known f...
- TekkeThe largest and most prolific of the Turkmen tribes, historically based in southern Turkmenistan. Tekke rugs are characterized by small, fin...
- Tibetan RugA hand-knotted rug produced in the Tibetan cultural region, divided across Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Nepal, India, and adjacent area...
- Tree of Life MotifA symbolic motif depicting a stylized tree — often a cypress, palm, or weeping willow — appearing across many rug-weaving cultures. The Tree...
- Tufted RugA rug produced by punching yarn through a stretched primary backing using a tufting gun, secured with latex adhesive, with a 5-10 year typic...
- Turkoman RugA hand-knotted rug woven by the Turkmen tribes of Central Asia. Turkoman rugs are characterized by repeating tribal medallions called guls, ...
U
- Ushak RugsHand-knotted rugs from the city of Ushak (also spelled Oushak or Usak) in west-central Anatolia, Turkey. Ushak is one of the most historical...
- Uzbekistan (Uzbek Rugs)A country in Central Asia with a long textile-weaving tradition. Uzbekistan is particularly known for embroidered suzanis, julkhyr sleeping ...
V
W
- Warp and WeftThe two structural thread systems of any woven textile. Warps run vertically (lengthwise) and are stretched on the loom; wefts run horizonta...
- Wool (Rug-Grade)The most common material in Oriental rug pile. Rug-grade wool varies enormously in quality based on the breed of sheep, the climate, the par...
X
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Z
- ZieglerA German-Swiss-British trading firm that established workshops in the Sultanabad (modern Arak) region of Iran in the 1880s, commissioning la...
- Zili SultanA repeating Persian rug field pattern featuring vases of flowers, often with bird motifs, arranged in a vertical column or columns. Named af...
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