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 D...
- 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...
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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 Ja...
- 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...
- MafrashEverything You Need to Know About Mafrash
- 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 arc...
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 o...
- 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...
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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...
About the rug glossary
This glossary defines the terms used across the rug and carpet trade, from rug types and weaving regions to knots, motifs, fibers, and dealer vocabulary. Each entry is written in plain language for retailers, designers, collectors, and buyers. Use the A to Z navigation to jump to a letter, or select any term for its full definition.
Frequently asked questions
What is a rug glossary?
A rug glossary is a reference that defines the terms used across the rug industry, including rug types, weaving regions, knots, motifs, materials, construction methods, and dealer vocabulary. The RugIndustry glossary explains these terms in plain language.
What kinds of rug terms are covered?
The glossary covers rug and carpet types, weaving regions and origins, knot and weave structures, motifs and symbols, fibers and materials, dyeing and finishing, sizes, and common trade and dealer terminology.
How do I use the glossary?
Use the A to Z navigation to jump to a letter, then select any term to read its full definition. New terms are added regularly.
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