How Persian Rugs Are Made?
Creating a Persian rug is a labor-intensive process that involves meticulous craftsmanship and a deep understanding of traditional techniques let’s learn the process and techniques of the Persian rugs.
Pile: Material and Preparations:
The handmade rug lies in its pile, the soft, textured surface that defines its character. Traditionally, wool and silk, or a luxurious blend of both, are the materials of choice. You’ll never find synthetic fibers in the pile or foundation of an authentic handmade rug.
Wool, often sourced from Merino sheep, is often used in most tribal rugs. The quality varies significantly depending on the region, but it’s the wool’s natural properties that give the rug its durability and warmth. There are three primary types of wool used: white, pearl, and multicolored. Unlike popular belief, black wool cannot be dyed and is therefore absent from traditional rug making.
To assess the quality of wool, you look for a thick, even texture, a natural curl, and a certain oiliness. This oil content is crucial as it protects the fibers from breakage, ensuring a longer, more resilient pile. The finest wool comes from the sheep’s head, neck, back, and underbelly. Wool from the feet, arms, shoulders, and sides is considered second-best.
While Oriental rugs are renowned for their exceptionally soft and fine wool, Turkish and Indian rugs tend to have a coarser texture. Silk, on the other hand, takes center stage in many Chinese rugs, reflecting the country’s historical prominence in silk production and a cultural aversion to wool. Today, silk is coveted for the most luxurious rugs, with some Persian rugs even incorporating threads of pure gold for unparalleled opulence.
Warp and Weft: The Foundation
The essence of a hand-knotted rug is its structural integrity, provided by the warp and weft. These are the sturdy threads that form the vertical and horizontal framework upon which the intricate artistry is woven. Traditionally, nomadic and Turkish rugs relied almost exclusively on tightly spun, undyed wool for both warp and weft.
A shift towards refinement is evident in contemporary Oriental rugs, where cotton has become the preferred material for the foundation of many pieces. Silk, a luxurious and resilient fiber, is reserved for the most exceptional Iranian rugs.
The warp, a series of parallel threads stretched taut on the loom, determines the rug's density. A higher warp count signifies a finer weave. For example, while an Isfahan rug may contain 30 to 40 warp threads per inch, an Afghan rug typically has a coarser structure with 8 to 12 warps per inch.
The Tools That Are Used in Making of Persian Rugs
To craft a Persian Rug on the loom, the weaver employs a specialized toolkit. A sharp knife expertly severs yarn as knots are secured, while a comb-like instrument diligently packs down the weft, creating a dense foundation. Shears, with their precise blades, trim the pile to a uniform length, enhancing the rug’s texture.
In the Persian rug making process, Tabriz weavers have elevated these tools to an art form. Their knives, uniquely fused with hooks, allow for the creation of exceptionally fine rugs, a feat impossible with mere human fingers.
A small, steel comb often follows each row of knots, tightening the weave and illuminating the design's intricacies. Packing the weft requires a versatile array of tools, with certain regions employing specialized instruments. Kerman weavers wield a saber-like tool horizontally within the shed, while Bidjar artisans opt for a heavy, nail-shaped implement.
Renowned for its exceptional density and strength, Bidjar rugs owe their character to a meticulous wet loom technique. By saturating the warp, weft, and yarn with water, weavers achieve a finer, tighter weave. As the rug dries, the fibers expand, resulting in a masterpiece of unparalleled durability and richness.
The Fringes
The fringe of a rug is crafted from the remaining warp threads. Weavers decide on styling the fringe, often braiding or knotting them. Fringe style is an aesthetic choice, unrelated to rug quality. The type of fringe can vary widely within the same rug-making region.
The Dyes: Process of Dyeing
Persian rugs are renowned for their vibrant colors, historically derived from natural sources like plants, insects, and minerals. This time-consuming process yielded rich, symbolic hues, but inconsistency and fading were challenges. Today, chemical dyes dominate, offering consistency, brightness, and colorfastness. However, natural dyes persist in Persian tribal rugs, where the dyeing process involves scouring, mordanting, and boiling wool with the dye. While natural colors fade gracefully over time, creating a desired antique look, chemical dyes maintain their intensity.
Techniques and Construction
The Long Weaving Process
Rug weaving is an art form that demands immense skill, patience, and time. The creation of a single pile rug can span from mere months to several years, depending on its size and complexity.
The journey begins with wool preparation. Traditionally, wool was spun by hand, resulting in softer, more durable, and lustrous yarn. While modern tools have replaced this method in many cases, some artisans still swear by the old ways.
Once the loom is set up, the meticulous process of knotting commences. Weavers create each knot individually, forming intricate patterns with a variety of colors and knot densities. To secure these knots and maintain their alignment, weft threads are inserted and beaten down using a heavy comb. This combination of knots and wefts builds the rug's structure.
To finish the rug, a border known as kilim is woven at both ends. Typically, urban rugs have kilim borders ranging from 1.5 to 38 millimeters in length. However, in tribal rugs, these borders can be significantly longer, often serving as decorative elements.
Weft threads, passing horizontally through the warp, are crucial for rug construction. They not only secure the knots but also influence the rug's density and durability. The number of weft threads per knot row determines the rug's vertical knot count. While wool is the most common weft material, cotton, silk, and even wool-cotton blends are used in various regions and historical periods.
What is the History of the Persian Rug Weaving?
The history of Persian rug weaving dates back to the Neolithic period, around 5000 BCE. While there are no surviving examples from this era, it is believed that early rugs were simple, utilitarian floor coverings made from natural fibers.
How The Total Weft Thickness Is Determined?
The total weft thickness is determined by it Number of weft passes, Weft thickness, Weft material, and its weaving techniques.
A number of weft passes: The more weft threads inserted between rows of knots, the thicker the rug.
Weft thickness: The individual thickness of each weft thread impacts the overall thickness.
Weft material: Wool, cotton, or silk have different thicknesses, affecting the result.
Weaving technique: Some techniques, like those used in Persian rugs, involve multiple weft passes, and increasing thickness.
Degree of Depression in Persian Rugs
The degree of depression in a Persian rug refers to the depth or height difference between the pile and the foundation of the rug. This is largely determined by the number and tension of weft threads used in the weaving process.
What is the Recommended Degree of Depression for Persian Rugs?
Multiple Weft Shots: Many Persian rugs, particularly those from regions like Kirman and Bijar, employ three weft shots. The outer two wefts are often tensioned differently from the inner one, creating a two-level "depressed" foundation.
Knotting Technique: The type of knot used (Persian or Turkish) also influences the degree of depression. Persian knots tend to create a more pronounced depression due to their structure.
Securing the Sides of a Rug: The Selvedge
The edges of a rug are reinforced and finished through a process known as creating a selvedge. This is a crucial step in rug making that ensures the rug's durability and aesthetic appeal.
The Selvedge Process
There are primarily two methods to secure the rug's sides:
Warp Thread Selvedge:
One or more warp threads are twisted together to form a "cable."
The weft threads are then woven around this cable, creating a strong and sturdy edge.
This method is commonly used in many traditional rug-making cultures.
Figure-Eight Selvedge:
The weft threads are woven in and out of pairs of warp threads in a figure-eight pattern.
This creates a flat and wide finish for the rug's edges.
While strong, it might not be as robust as the warp thread selvedge.
The Loom:
The loom is the essential tool upon which a rug is created. While various types exist, vertical looms have become the preferred choice for many weavers due to their comfort and efficiency. There are three types of looms Fixed village room, Tabriz or Bunyan Loom, and Roller Beam Loom.
The Knots:
A knot in rug weaving is the fundamental unit that creates the pile. It is formed by interlacing yarn around warp threads to produce the textured surface of the rug. The type of knot used significantly impacts the rug's appearance, durability, and value.
What Knot Techniques are Used to Make Persian Rugs?
The knot techniques are used to make Persian rugs which are Persian Knot and Turkish knot. Let’s learn more and understand these Types of knots.
Persian Knot (Symmetrical Knot): This knot encircles two warp threads, creating a denser and more compact pile. It is commonly found in Persian and Indian rugs.
Turkish Knot (Asymmetrical Knot): This knot encircles only one warp thread, resulting in a generally looser and softer pile. It is prevalent in Turkish and Caucasian rugs.
Other Knot Variations:
Farsi Knot: A refined version of the Persian knot known for its precision.
Spanish Knot: A less common knot where the yarn is looped around single alternate warps.
Jufti Knot: A rare knot that encircles four warp threads.