Underground Journal

The History Of Rugs

You can date rugs all the way back to the fifth century B.C. Archeologist, Rudenko, was examining a burial site in the Altay Mountains in Siberia around the northeastern borders of Mongolia in nineteen forty nine where he discovered a frozen rug. The sole importance of this rug which is called Pazyryk is that it proved weaving is an ancient craft.

Most rugs in this time were only six feet by six feet and were made up of knots of about two hundred to two hundred and twenty five per square inch.

Throughout history we have come across some very unique and important designs showing very different times as well as cultures.

Rug weavings greatest period can be linked during the Safavid Dynasty ( 1502-1722 ). Rulers established workshops filling them with very skilled weavers. What was once known as a nomadic craft is now what we call a very sophisticated art. Rug weaving was finally introduced in India in the sixteenth century. During this time period Iran was flourishing in the weaving of rugs. Iran was strongly influenced by the Indian designs during this time period.

Synthetic dyes were finally introduced during the eighteen fifties. Not long after this first die was made there came synthetic aniline dyes.

Rug weaving in Europe was introduced between the eighth and thirteenth centuries. In the twelfth centuries Spain became known as a very important rug producer. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries European styles became very popular and important. Under the direction of the artists of the royal courts were most of the designs originated. The French revolution interrupted production where in eighteen twenty five production workshops were moved to the Gobelins.

Large rugs are now made in several different was such as these: machine, hand, hand tufted, hand loomed, and hand knotted.

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