Carpet History

CARPET GUIDE

● Origin of carpet :

It is as yet difficult to point out where and when did the first carpet and the art of carpet making originated, the general areas demarcated where the carpets may have been first produced are the Persia (Iran), Turkmenistan, central Asia Mongolia and China referred as "Carpet belt".

The origin can be traced back to the Neolithic age (7000 B.C.). Certain products of the era consisting of warp and weft were textile resembling flat weave kilims have been found. After that, the rugs were created by forming knots to make a pile. It is anticipated by the researchers that they may have originated in the dry steppe regions inhabited by the nomads.

he nomadic tribes of the region did carpet weaving. They instead of slaughtering their animals wove their wool into carpets. The carpets were spread on their tent floors or hung from the walls to provide protection against the creeping insects and dirt etc and insulated the tent to an extent against the cold. They were even used as seat covers or saddlebags or to sleep or to pray on. The rugs and carpets were woven with the patterns depicting flowers, animals and trees, their culture, tradition and religious beliefs.

One of the earliest carpets till date has been found in the tomb of a Scythian Prince in southern Siberia and it dates back to 5th century BC. This region is inhabited by the followers of Islam and so the carpets play an important role in Islamic culture as well as religion. From the thing of utility as floor, bed or coverings at the time of origin they have become a thing of exotic decoration and class.

Chinese and Tibetan rugs were of entirely different style and design. They featured the symbols of Buddhist and Taoist religions. In India the art of woolen carpets was there as early as 5th century BC but the more famous Persian carpet art cam with the Mogul Emperor Akbar. This art of carpet weaving was obtained from the Persian artists and modified to Indian Royal tastes.

The carpets were at one point so highly regarded and valued that they were considered better than money. According to a legend, The great Egyptian Queen Cleopatra actually presented herself to Caesar - rolled up inside a carpet. Marco Polo discovered some of the earliest fine Orientals in the 13th century whilst traveling in Persia. He can be given the credit of introducing the craft outside the carpet belt.

Different types of carpets that supposedly originated in this region are

Persian Knotted Carpets - before 6th century bc
Turcoman (Turkmenistan) Woven Carpets -before 6th century
Indian Woolen Carpets - 3rd century bc
Caucasian Woven Carpets - 8th century
Chinese Felt Carpets - 8th century
Turkish Knotted Carpets -12th century
Mughal Indian Carpets - 16th century

·History of Indian Carpets :
Woolen carpets were known in India as early as 500 B.C. References to woven mats and floor coverings can be found in ancient and medieval Indian literature. But the most famous type of Indian carpets, pile carpets came to India in the reign of Akbar in 16th century.

He in 1580A.D. brought certain Persian carpet weavers to India and established them here. The art grew and flourished here. It was modified as per the royal tastes and mixed with the Indian arts. The Persian carpets were thus Indianized. It spread to the whole subcontinent with each area having its own specialties.

From the beginning, wool or silks have been the basic material of the knotted carpets. The wool may have a variety of origins as per the type of carpet being made. Silk knots are also used in Kashmir region. The patterns varied from vines and floral patterns, animal and bird figures and geometric and calligraphic patterns.

Rugs from Akbar's reign (1556-1605) used cotton warp and wool pile and color scheme had multiple shades of blues, greens, and other colors on a red base. The patterns were an adaptation of Persian style but latter modified to Indian tastes.

Carpets of Jahangir's reign (1605-27) were more refined. Materials like silk and pashmina were used that allowed greater number of knots to be incorporated. Patterns resembled miniature paintings. Subtle gradations and shadings with yarns were themselves artistic. The patterns were a reflection of manuscript paintings. They were technically refined in both design and construction. The carpets had scrolling vines, flowering plants, and more naturalistic animals in pictorial or overall pattern.

During Shahjahan's reign (1628-58) art of carpets had reached new heights Warps and wefts of fine silk yarns allowed as many as 2,000 knots per square inch. Silk or pashmina piles gave the carpets velvet like texture. Yarn shading was as sophisticated as in Jahangir's reign. Flowers were now the primary elements of design.

Though during the reign of Auranzeb (1658 onwards), all crafts saw a downfall of almost all crafts, carpet craft sustained. Reason may be that they were required for all religious purposes. The patterns were primarily floral all over with at times geometric or calligraphic trims.

Chinese and European patterns also influenced the art in their own way. With their mythical characters finding way in the carpets, it can be clearly seen. Calligraphy influenced the carpet craft as it did the other crafts.

Though like all other crafts, carpet making also saw a downfall for sometime, the craft sustained in the traditional families.

The Indian carpets are considered most technically accomplished classical carpets. The carpet weavers over the time have grown artistically. Indian Carpets are renowned for their exquisite designs, elegance, attractive colors and workmanship.

● Carpet Knots :

Knotted pile carpets are the most durable handmade pile carpets. Tufted carpets with different types of piles or loops are also available but knotted are the best in the category. Usually an Oriental rug quality is judged by the knots per square inch. The more the count, better the quality.

The two most common types of knots used in an oriental carpet are Persian knot and Turkish knot

Persian Knot - It is an asymmetrical single knot also called Senneh knot or Farsibaff. Here the thread forms only one loop around one of the two warps. So the pile threads vary in protruding between the adjacent warps.

Turkish Knot - It is a symmetrical double knot type also called Ghirdes. Here the pile thread forms a loop around two warps. Both ends of the pile thread come out between both warps.

There is another type called the Jufti Knot. It can be symmetrical or asymmetrical and the difference is that it is formed over four wraps.

Tibetan knot has a different formation. A temporary rod which establishes the length of pile is put in front of the warp. A continuous yarn is looped around two warps and then once around the rod. Once through with the row, the loops are cut to form the knot.

As per the experts no knot is good or bad. They give a different texture to the carpet.

Knot Density
Knot density is an indicator of quality. More the number of knots per square inch, better the quality. Kpsi is the density i.e. knots per square inch. 80 or less kpsi denotes poor quality and 120 to 330 is medium to good. 330 or more kpsi denote good to very good quality and more than that are classified as exclusively fine pieces.

● Carpet Materials:

Carpet is synonymous with luxury and warmth. While choosing a carpet the first thing one usually considers is the color and then the style. Fact is that the material of the carpet should be given enough importance. Carpet materials are decided considering the location and the purpose of the carpet and the circumstances like presence of kids, and pets etc.

Wool
Wool offers a deep, rich appearance.
· It has a luxurious hand.
· It is extremely durable.
· It is naturally stain resistant.
· It has excellent piling quality.
· It requires high maintenance.
· It dyes beautifully
· It resists flame.

Wool carpet can be used in high moisture areas as well. Its light scattering qualities give it a lustrous look. Pile woolen carpets are a little more difficult to maintain than the flat weave. Being a natural fiber chance of allergy is reduced. Depending upon the pile, they can even be used for high traffic areas. It is the most favored material for the piles of oriental rugs and carpets. They often have cotton foundation but at time the weft may be of wool. Cotton foundation provides better strength.

Silk

· Silk is luxurious. Silk is rich.
· It has high tensile strength.
· It can be dyed in brilliant colors.
· They have high artistic value.
· They have more decorative value.
· They are preferred for low to medium traffic areas.
· They require high maintenance.
· Damp spoils silk carpets

Silk again is a natural fiber and is neutral to skin. The fiber is so lustrous that weavers at times exploit the play of light in their patterns. Silk makes wonderful oriental carpets. It is also used as highlights of the pattern in woolen carpets. They are rich and expensive and have greater ornamental value. They are usually made on the cotton foundation but some may even have silk foundation.

Jute

· It is one of the finest fibers.
· It has a soft texture.
· They have a natural sheen.
· It is slippery when damp.
· It requires medium maintenance.
· It can be woven, knitted, twisted, corded, sewn, or braided.
· It can be bleached and dyed.
· They can be piled or flat woven.

Jute rugs are one of the most economic investments. They have been introduced late in the carpet and rug section but have created a niche due to jute's inherent qualities. They can be woven into beautiful patterns and weaves and are perfect area and accent rugs. Only problem that a jute rug may have is that it tends to stain in moisture and dampness and does not handle moisture and water well.

Synthetic fibers

Nylon is the most preferred synthetic carpet material. Other fibers are polyester, olefin and acrylic. Nylon is the most durable of all, resilient, and easy to clean and maintain. Olefin is preferred for outdoors due to its resistance for water damage pilling and static. Polyester is not so durable but easy to maintain. It offers a vide variety of textures but susceptible to pilling and shedding.

CARPET BY DESIGN

There are several designs using while Carpet has made.

Afshar Carpets
Antique Carpets
Bakhshaish Carpets
Bakhtiari Carpets
Baluch Carpets
Bidjar Carpets
Gabbeh Carpets
Hamadan Carpets
Heriz Carpets
Indian Carpets
Iranian Carpets
Isfahan Carpets
Kashan Carpets
Kashmar Carpets
Kashmir Carpets
Kerman Carpets
Mahal Carpets
Nain Carpet
Nepalese Carpets
Oriental Carpets
Oushak Carpets
Persian Carpets
Sarough Carpets
Tabriz Carpets
Tibetan Carpets
Turkish Carpets

Indian Carpets:
Indian carpets often reflect the influence of Persian rugs yet they have made a unique place for themselves by their exquisite patterns, attractive colors and elegance. The typical knotted Persian carpet weaving reached India during the 13th -14th century and was treated as a royal craft. The craft flourished the most in Kashmir and parts of Uttar Pradesh. Knotted carpets are either of silk or wool piled with cotton wefts generally. The patterns can be traced to have a Persian origin and so do the color schemes. By and large the Indian carpets color schemes are considered subtler than their Persian or Turkish counterparts. Namda or the felt wool carpet making flourished in Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir and Rajasthan and is known for intricate chain stitch embroidery and applique work. Traditional Indian carpets are called dhurries. They are the Indian counterparts of Turkish kilims. They are flat weaves and may be woolen or cotton. Patterns vary with the region and can be geometric, floral or traditional ikat patterns.

> Hand knotted carpets
> Tuftted wollen carpets
> Gabbe wollen carpets
> Handmade wollen durries
> Pure silk carpets
> Stapple/synthetic carpets
> Chain stich Rugs.

Hand Knotted Woolen Carpets

Regions
Hand knotted woolen carpets are made in Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Khamaria, Ghosia, Varanasi and Agra in Uttar Pradesh; Amritsar and Pathankot in Punjab and Jaipur in Rajasthan. Each place has a varying degree of expertise and style.

Patterns and Colors

The Indian woolen carpets are inspired by the classical Persian motifs transformed to the most contemporary style. Bright glowing colors, hand-knotting technique allowing high number of knots per square inch and exquisite design sense have made Indian Hand knotted woolen carpets a cherished products in a home decor apart from the fact that they spread warmth.

Their design and colour schemes have the artists' own independent logic. The art of weaving carpets has percolated through generations and the Indian craftsmen have been creating the greatest of specimen since the medieval period.

Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Khamaria, Ghosia, Varanasi are influences with the Buddhist and Tibetan motifs Amritsar and Pathankot for geometric mixed with floral and Agra and Jaipur for modified Persian and Turkish Styles.

Technique
The wool used in carpets varies with the quality, design and style and so do the colors. Usually the best grade of Indian wool is used for medium quality carpets. For the best grade woolen carpets, imported and best grade Indian wool are blended. A fine woolen Kashmiri carpet uses worsted yarn. The high grade wool with gradual wear develops a luster. The get the effect immediately, the wool is washed with special chemicals.

The process of hand knotting involves
» Stretch warp threads on a loom and knotting the pile to them.
» Insert a weft thread.
» Shorn the pile

The quality depends upon tightness of the knot and shortness of pile. These two features also contribute to the design quality. Number of knots per square inch indicates the quality of the rug. More the number of knots, better the quality. Best Kashmiri carpets can have upto 400 knots per square inch.

Tufted Woolen Carpets:
Tufted carpets have made the carpets affordable to common man's pocket. Furthermore apart from the handmade tufted carpets the process has been fully mechanized successfully. Tufted carpets have created affability in color, design and texture. Uneven scapes can be created with ease. Tufted carpet is produced 15 times faster than woven carpet.

Technique
The tufted woolen carpets are made using special needles called the tufting guns. They may be hand tufted or machine tufted. A good quality woven fabric is required as a base. The fabric is selected on the basis of required pile density. While hand tufting, each pile is tufted individually. Dyed yarns may be used for tufting at time the tufted carpet is printed.

The base is then coated with latex or some other adhesive on the backside to anchor the tufts. A secondary backing is needed to add dimensional stability and mechanical strength to the carpet. The carpet can be given textured finishes by using pile cutting techniques and patterning techniques. The mechanized tufting is just like sewing machine with many needles.

The process is so versatile that from very intricate to very bold patterns can be created with much more ease than the woven carpets.

Regions
Panipat is main tufted carpets producing center of India. Amritsar and Agra belt have also developed tufted carpets production to cope up with the rising demand.

Pure Silk Carpets:
Silk carpets are known for their elegance, grace and characteristic luster that forms an inherent part of silk fiber. Silk as it is, is considered one of the most valuable natural fibers. Pure silk carpets are known for intricate artistic patterns and bright colors.

Origin
Initially the carpets were made of either wool or cotton but when the silk was introduced in the carpet belt, the finer carpets were made of silk. Apart from the fact that the yarn was fine and lustrous, the silk provided the necessary strength to the carpet. The exotic Persian carpets were usually made of silk yarn. The same art when reached India during the Mughal period, developed in Kashmir. Kashmir had available the finest wool and silk to make the classic carpets.

Handkotted pure silk Carpets are known for suppleness and softness and fine workmanship

Technique
The silk is basically a strong fiber. The fiber is often used for the piling in a cotton or wool base but silk itself forms a fine wrap and weft. The number of knots per square inch defines the quality of the carpet. Bokhara Carpets are one of the finest with about 125-500 knots in a square inch.

The silk yarn is first dyed in required colors. The loom is set and each pile is hand knotted. After finishing carpets are washed and dried.

Patterns

Since number of knots per square inch of pure silk carpets is very high, very fine patterns can be created in them. The designs vary from intricate motifs and patterns of nature, hunting scenes, bird and animal motifs or thematic designs like historical romances. Buddhist and Taoist symbols such as the swastika, the yin and yang motif and patterns of Persian tradition can also be seen.

Another unique quality of silk is that silk colors appear differently on different sources of light. Some weavers have been able to capture this property rather beautifully.

Regions
Pure silk carpets in India are made only Jammu Kashmir and Laddakh Region.

Persian Carpets:

Persian Knotted Carpets and rugs form an intrinsic part of Iranian culture. They have existed for a long time and have rather become synonymous with the good quality artistic carpets. The oldest knotted carpet existing dates back to 5th century BC, though the craft was at its peak during 1502 - 1736 AD in terms of artistic value and exports.

Persian carpets are known for their intricate elegant patterns in brilliant colors. The patterns can range from floral motifs to mehrabas and calligraphy to depiction of stories and flowers and vases and animal figures. They are hand knotted in wool or silk yarn on cotton or silk wraps and wefts. The pile is lush and lustrous that enhances the beauty of the pattern.

The patterns and the style depend on the weaving tribe or the village and so do the colors. Each area and each tribe has a distinct style and a unique texture. The quality is judged by the tightness of the weave, knots per square inch and pattern and color usage.

Iranian Carpets:

The Iranian carpet is called a Gelim and it happens to be the oldest form of floor covering. Iran earlier known as Persia has become synonymous with rugs and carpets. The traditional gelims are the Iranian counterpart of the Turkish Kilims. They are woolen rugs with cotton wrap. The patterns are created using the colored woolen weft and at times pile similar to carpets. They are Iranian flat weaves.

They are made on horizontal or vertical looms in urban and rural areas respectively. The patterns and sizes differ with the region just like in case of carpets. The designs are the representatives of the regions. Unlike carpets the patterns of a gelim are the artistic representations of the weaver, woven by memory and without a previous sketch.

Persian Knotted carpets are also classified as a type of Iranian Carpets that developed from the gelim with time and innovations. The pile may be of silk or wool and wrap and wefts of cotton, silk or wool depending upon the style and utility. Patterns are distinct to the tribe of origin.

About Kilims:

Kilims are woolen carpets sans piles. They are pure wool Turkish carpets with a flat weave. The patterns and texture though flat are rich as a carpet. The colors are bright and catchy. Themes are same as Turkish carpets. The same motif language is used in Kilims as in carpets.

Apart from being a flat weave, the uniqueness lies in the use of the weft thread. The weft passes through the wrap such that the wrap hardly shows. If the pattern involves another color, the two yarns of the weft are not joined. This creates a slit where the different color starts and ends creating a unique appearance.

They are further of different types depending on size and utility.

Taban - larger than 9 X 6 ft. in size are used for floor decoration.
Karyola - smaller than 9 X 6 ft., larger than 4 X 8 ft, used for floor and wall decoration
Seccade - prayer rugs are the most popular type, typically 2-4 ft wide and 4-8 ft. Long, adorned with religious motifs.
Runner: 2-3 ft wide and about 6-20 ft. in length for corridors and stairways.
Mini - Not more than 2 feet, serve as the tray covers.
Yastik - These are smaller size kilims for pillow covers.

CARPET BY FABRICS

Carpets have always played an indispensable role in giving our homes perfect make over. In this segment we introduce you to carpets manufactured in combination with a variety of fabrics. The experimentation of this felted textile with various fabrics such as jute, silk, coir, wool and other synthetic fibers such as nylon, oefin, polyester etc. has lend us some of the finest creations in this regard. The beauty has been achieved through combination of vibrant colors and varying textures coupled with diverse patterns of designs that give the most exclusive look to the tapestry.

• Jute Carpets - Jute carpets have gained great popularity owing to their soft-silk like luster and unique look because of their natural shades.

• Silk Carpets - These form the most widely used carpets in households as they not only represent a gleaming look but also display remarkably traditional and decorative patterns.

• Coir Carpets - Coir carpets are made of heavy weight fiber such as coconut husk which provides them high durability to withstand the rigors of day to day use.

• Wool Carpets - Wool carpets are known for their exotic workmanship in varying styles and particularly their Turkish and Persian patterns.

• Nylon Carpets - Nylon carpets are incomparable when it comes to features such as crush resistance, abrasion resistance, stain resistance, maintenance and durability. All these coupled with its affordability at reasonable prices make those most commonly used rugs.

• Bamboo Carpets - Rarest layouts in the genre of floor covers, Bamboo carpets present the most unconventional form of tapestry. Their economic value and eco-friendly attributes lead to their varied uses not only as floor covering but also as wall drapes.

• Staple/Synthetic Carpets - These are the most contemporary class of floor covers exhibiting a rich and sophisticated look because of their blends with high performance fibers such as polyester, acrylic etc.

Silk Carpets

Silk carpets are the most exotic carpets amongst all types. Lustrous appearance, bright colors, detailed patterns and dense knotting make them pieces of art. Silk carpets are most commonly the hand knotted carpets. China, Persia, Turkey and Kashmir in India are famous for high quality silk carpets.

Yarn & Weave
Usually silk carpets are called 80% silk carpets because the wrap and weft are of cotton. At times, keeping the strength of silk in mind even the wrap and weft are of silk. Elaborate patterns are created using hand knotting on the wrap. Each row of knots is followed by a weft thread. The tighter the weft, the more the durability. Even the most adept craftsmen avoid making big sized carpets, as the process is very laborious and time taking. A usual 9' by 12' silk carpet takes about six years to complete even when worked on in teams.

Designs and Styles
Weavers realized quite early that silk has a typical lustrous quality that shines differently with the play of light. Be it the Persian patterns or the Chinese, this particular quality is kept in mind along with the coolness of silk while making the carpet.

The Chinese silk carpets

Are greatly influenced with Buddhism and Taoism. The symbols of swastika, dragon, yin, yang and fu (bat, a symbol of luck) form an integral part of the Chinese carpets. These symbolic designs were created with colors like black, blue, red, white, beige and yellow.

Persian silk carpets primarily spoke of the richness and had more decorative value than any other style of carpets. Vases, trees, mehrabs, flowers and animals, twines and wines, Seljuk, star; seven mountain flowers and geometrical representations were the common motifs. The motifs were in great harmony in terms of colors and shapes thus giving warmth to the decor.

Turkish silk carpets spoke life of the weaver. The carpet designs though had motifs similar to the Persian carpets they were so arranged by the weaver that they spoke of the agony and the happiness of the weaver. They described the beliefs and the life of the common man. Though now the designs and motifs are primarily keeping in mind the beauty factor, the Turkish patterns are said to have a human touch.

Kashmiri silk carpets hold a special place in the arena. They are made in the Persian style and are known for their intricate patterns and high knot density reaching upto 400 knots per square inch. Though the craft here has been inherited from Persia, the Kashmir carpets have over the time developed original style.

Using Silk Rugs and Carpets

The silk rugs are used as accent carpets in the rooms. They may be used as a wall hanging or floor decor. They are colorful and lustrous and should be used in low traffic areas. Smaller silk rugs are used as throws or prayer mats.

Wool Carpets

Wool carpets are an instant recognition to the word carpet. Wool carpets are the most recognized, and the most prevalent ones at that. They are made of different types of wool like sheep, goat, camel etc. depending on the region of carpet origin and availability. Wool carpets are further of different types based on the technique used to weave them and their final appearance.

Quality of wool varies with the place and the quality of the carpet with the wool. The best quality Indian wool is said to be suitable for a medium quality carpet. For very good quality carpets, very fine wool is required.

Hand Knotted Carpets - They are the original Oriental Turkish and Persian carpets. They are hand knotted on the stretched weft and fastened with a weft. They are colorful and give a rich feel.

Kilims - Kilims are woolen flat weaves with slits where the pattern begins or ends in a different colored yarn. They are traditional Turkish flat weaves with elaborate patterns in bright colors.

Wool Durries - Wool durries is an Indian counterpart of the Kilims. It is a flat weave traditionally woven in all Indian families. Though colorful patterns are created, the yarns are joined during the weave so as not to create the gaps and slits

Hand tufted - Tufting was a process that evolved in America in 1930s. The pile appearance is similar to the knotted carpets but with lesser durability as the pile yarn is not knotted and simply anchored in the base material.

Namdah - It is a felted wool carpet commonly made in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. The namdah are very minutely decorated with chain stitch and applique. This type of carpet separately evolved amongst the nomads of Turkey and Persia

Hooked Rugs - Hooked rugs are made of narrow strips of woolen cloth drawn by a pointed hook through a canvas foundation on which a design is indicated.

Designs
Designs can be numerous. They range from most trendy patterns to the most traditional Persian and Turkish patterns. They may have tribal motifs or the most sophisticated ones
Using Wool Carpets and Rugs
Wool carpets are the most versatile carpets that can give the required accent to the room. They are colorful and patterned to suit different settings. They can be used as area rugs, accent floorings, wall coverings or bed and sofa throws.

Staple/Synthetic Carpets

Staple/Synthetic carpets are synthetic hand knotted carpets with a silk feel. They may be designed and patterned in the same way as a silk carpet and present the same aesthetic values. They may be finely knotted with 250 or more knots per square inch. For the purpose of making carpets, six types of synthetic yarns may be used:

Nylon: This is the most popular synthetic carpet fiber. It offers tremendous value, performance, and ease of maintenance. Nylon provides brilliant colors and handles soil and traffic well. They can be acid dyed or chemical dyed. Once converted to fiber

Polypropylene (Olefin): This fiber is extremely popular in Berbers and level loops. These carpets are highly stain, static, mold, and mildew resistant and can be easily used as indoor or outdoor carpets. Their resistance to matting and crushing are not as good as a nylon fiber.

Polyester: Though polyester lacks the durability of nylon, it offers better color clarity and a soft feel to the carpet. They should be avoided in high traffic areas. They don’t have high pile heights. It is manufactured in staple fiber only.

Acrylic: It gives a real wool appeal. It is used mainly in level loops, bath mats, and some velvet carpet styles. It offers good mold and mildew resistance with low static levels. Due to its tendency for pile reversal it is not much used in carpets now a day. Another problem with the fiber is that it burns quickly.

The main carpet producing centre of Staple/Synthetic carpets are Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir), Agra and Gwalior.

Technique
Bulked Continuous Filament or BCF is normally twisted with another yarn and bulked to fluff it up and give more coverage with the same weight. The yarns must be heat-set for cut pile carpet

Just like for natural fibers, synthetic fibers there are several ways to make carpet from yarn: Tufting, weaving, knitting, needle punching, fusion bonding, and flocking.

CARPET BY WEAVERS

Carpets by Weave
Carpets have always adorned households since decades but with the emergence of new techniques, newer and more economical styles have evolved, establishing their use for commercial applications as well. Composition of floor coverings using various types of weaves has brought about a revolution in the tapestry industry. Its varied patterns such as floral depictions, images of epics and diverse geometrical and ikat arrangements of weaves have gained great popularity in the urban market. Besides, blends with various fibres have ensured more life and durability to these carpets.

Hand Knotted Carpets - Most commonly known as Kashmiri or Persian carpets, these belong to the most ancient art of manual carpet making. The density of fine knots on this loomed textile has fascinated people worldwide since ages.

Though origin of hand knotted carpets dates back to more than 2000 years, in India, the art was introduced in 15th century. Hand knotted rugs are often called oriental rugs owing to the region of origin. Since the craft established and flourished more in Kashmir, in India, they are often referred as Kashmiri carpets or Persian carpets. It is perceived that carpet knotting developed as a nomadic craft and spread with nomads.

Material
As a nomadic craft, carpets were made of sheep and goat wool. As the craft developed and its intricacy was realized, it was further refined. Cotton was used as base of wrap and weft and even the pile at times. These blends allowed the creation of finer designs. Finest wool comes from Persia and Turkey. Wool from Khorasan and Kirman is famous for being fine and velvety, while wool from the Caucasus and Central Asia is prized for being strong and lustrous. Introduction of silk yarn for piles was the cause of major shift in terms of intricacy, color, luster and the richness of carpet. The richness of the silk yarn made the carpets look attractive. Furthermore the fiber was strong yet appeared delicate and attractive. Usually for wool as well as silk carpets, the wrap and weft of cotton are used though in pure silk carpets they may be of silk itself.

Process
The process of making knotted carpets is long and tedious. Sheep are washd in spring before cutting the wool. They are then shorn and the wool after being re washed is converted to yarn. For a silk carpet, the silk fiber is converted to yarn. The yarn is finally dyed in required colors.

The wrap threads are stretched on the loom vertically.

» Each pile is knotted manually to the wrap threads following the design.
» The weft thread is inserted when a row of knots is completed.
» After knotting the whole carpet, the pile is shorn to the required length.
» The carpet is finally washed or treated with chemicals as and when requires.

The precision of the pattern depends on how closely the carpet has been knotted and how short is the pile. Skillful artisans can tie about 15 knots a minute. Turkish and Persian knots differ slightly. It takes about 2 months for and adept craftsman to finish a carpet of about 10' by 6'.

Quality

The quality of a rug is judged by its density. The more the number of knots per square inch, better the quality. Dense carpets are more durable and have finer and more detailed patterns. A very good quality knotted rug may have 350 to 1000 knots per square inch depending upon the material.

Patterns

The patterns of the carpets have varied with time and people. The nomadic patterns depicted the animal and plant surroundings and geometrical patterns. The Persian and Turkish carpets are famous for floral depiction and images of the epics. Calligraphy and mehrabs are an integral feature of spiritual carpets or prayer mats.

Hand Tufted Carpets -

Often mistaken as oriental rugs, these piled carpets present the most exclusive range of contemporary designs at competitive prices.

Tufted carpets offer the same versatility in terms of color, pattern and texture as the knotted carpets. They are the ones that can be easily mistaken for the oriental rugs. They are a type of piled carpets that do not involve any knotting but simple tufting of the pile. They are much more economical than the traditional knotted rugs.

Material

The base materials in the tufted rugs are pre woven cloth, usually canvas that provides a strong base. In the contemporary times jute base is also frequently used. Pile can be silk, wool or any of the synthetic yarns. They are pre dyed into the required colors. Apart from the base fabric and pile yarn another backing needs to be stuck to the base on which the piles have been anchored. This backing holds the pile to the base and gives certain amount of strength. Thus in all the material required for a hand tufted carpets are:

• Pre woven fabric
• Pile yarn
• Latex glue
• Backing material.

Process
Though the process involves tufting individual tufts in the anchor material the process of tufting is not even half as tedious and lengthy as involved in woven carpets.

• The yarn in required colors is acquired.
• The anchor material is printed with the desired pattern and stretched on frame.
• Tufts are individually inserted in the anchor material.
• The anchor is coated with latex glue on the backside to fix the anchorage.
• Secondary backing is added to give dimensional stability and mechanical strength

A skillful person can tuft a carpet of 10' by 6' in about a week's time.

Quality
A tufted carpet is not as durable and strong as the knotted one. Since it is a cheaper option, one must judge the kind of backing material and glue are used. Apart from this, the tightness of the tuft is the only thing that can ensure some life of the hand tufted carpets.

Hand Woven Carpets - These carpets address the intricate traditional motifs in an extensive range of colors. They are known for high tensile strength and neatness in patterns.

Hand woven carpets are a rather broad category that includes hand knotted carpets as well as flat weave carpet. Knotted carpets include the traditional Persian carpets and the flat weaves include wool and cotton dhurries and kilims. Flat-weaves occupy a very important place in our cultural heritage. Durries weaving was once a part of every household.

The flat weaves could be cotton or wool. At times even colorful rags were woven to form a rug. In the normal basket weave durries, the patterns were such that depicted the life and the times of the age. They could be geometric, animal and plant figures or the traditional ikat patterns. Color dyes were mostly vegetable colors and carpets were woven on the traditional looms. Though now the household craft has changed to family businesses, the patterns still speak the times.

Knotted carpets arrived quite late in the Indian scenario. They came with the Mughal and the craftsmen were supported by the ruling class for quite some time. Since the craft had a rich appeal it initially developed in an aristocratic manner. Initially the patterns followed were typically Turkish and Persian but gradually got Indianized. The nomadic patterns of the Middle East were quite similar to the Indian tribal patterns and were easily adapted by them. The Persian style craft flourished in Kashmir where the finest quality silk and the finest quality wool were available. The patterns were to an extent adapted to the Kashmiri art.

In Eastern India, jute weaving is quite common due to easy availability of jute and in Southern coastal regions, coir. Carpets of jute and coir are flat weave with different weave patterns. The carpet could be of these fibers or blend with cotton. These fibers can also be dyed in required colors but the original color is more in demand these days. This also insures more life of the carpet. Braided rugs also form a part of this category.

Quality

The quality of the hand woven carpets can be judged by the tightness of the weave and the density of the knots. Tight weaves and dense knotting ensures durability and neatness in patterns.

Braided Carpets
- Braided carpets have found myriad uses not only as floor covers but also as embellishments for walls and tables.

Namda (Felted Wool)
- Namda is synonymous with the finest assemble for floor covers as it specializes in rarest form of traditional art practiced only in a few states in India.

Traditional Carpet manufacturing process
Traditionally, all the designs that were used in the carpet were made manually. It was entirely dependent on the designers’ creativity to produce a range of colorful designs. Design outline is prepared on white paper and then filled with appropriate colors to make them different from existing designs. The same design was used to be converted into different graph papers to enable weavers understand them clearly so that while interlocking of wool into cotton they could interpret the designs accurately. After the finalization of design a reduced graphical format of the complete Design was prepared and given to weavers. The whole designing process used to take around 20-25 days depending on the compactness and size of the carpet.

Carpet manufacturing Process - Jaipur Rugs Foundation
While weaving one translates verbally the graphical design into their own weaving language called “Boli” and concurrently other person interlocks the woolen threads into a net of cotton threads called as “Tana-Bana”. Time taken for interlocking the wool varies according to their knotting compactness. Thus the higher the compactness the greater is time spent by the weavers. At the end of the process a tough carpet made by weavers goes through several chemical processes and final product comes out as a soft and colorful floor covering.