MondArt - Persian & Oriental Rug Warehouse

There are a variety of carpets and rugs manufactured today.  While there are many ways to classify carpet types, one way is by looking at the pile.

The pile is the softer, raised part of the rug located on the top surface. Some rugs do not have any pile at all, such as kilims and dhurries, however the majority of traditional Persian and Oriental rugs do. Here are the common categories that classify piles:

Woven

At our Toronto area rug gallery showroom, you’ll notice that the vast majority of rugs on display feature this type of pile.  A woven pile is constructed by knotting pieces of yarn onto the foundation of a rug (the warp and weft). The manner in which knots are constructed depend on the region in which the rug was made, along with other factors such as artistic background and ethnicity.

Woven piles tend to create a flat and overall even surface that is denser and firmer, both visually and tangibly. Some consider this type of pile to be superior, believing it to be more resilient. When speaking about the archetype  of Persian rugs, you would only think about a woven pile.

Tufted

There are two main types of tufted piles: looped and cut.  Both are created by inserting each yarn forming the pile into the base of the rug with a needle or gun, then keeping it in place with adhesive and/or a backing on the underside of the rug.

Tufted rugs have become popular in recent times, particularly when manufacturing wall-to-wall carpeting. The manufacturing process tends to be mechanized, enabling mass production.

Looped: Regular and Cord

A pile that is looped creates a pile that is smoother than its woven counterpart, although it can be made coarser depending on the material, if the yarn has been twisted and the size of each loop. Each yarn that forms the pile is in the formation of a loop.

A cord pile is essentially a looped pile, except the size of the loops is smaller. This creates a very tight pile.

Cut: Regular, Velvet, Saxony and Shag

The loops inserted into the base of the rug are cut to create a cut pile. The length of the pile is what determines whether it is velvet, regular, Saxony or Shag: velvet is the shortest and shag is the longest.

The most common material used to construct the pile, warp or weft of a traditional Persian Rug is sheep’s wool. As a naturally sourced material, it is sturdy, durable and absorbs dyes well.

Less common, but still prevalent, are rugs woven from goats’ hair. Yarn produced from goat hair makes a remarkable material for weaving and is frequently used in more traditional and tribal rugs, particularly of Kurdish origin. It can be used to construct the foundation of the rug or for the binding of the edges to prevent unraveling (selvedge). Though coarser and stiffer, it is longer than sheep’s wool and tends to be far shinier, creating pieces with a vivid appearance and attractive sheen. Processing can help it become finer and silkier. In fact, some of the finest and softest yarns are of goat hair, including cashmere (taken from the inner hair of the cashmere/kashmir goat) and mohair (taken from the Angora goat). Pashmina (another term for cashmere) and mohair rugs are truly luxurious pieces that can bring warmth that ordinary sheep’s wool cannot.

Goat hair, much like sheep’s wool, is believed to have been used for thousands of years, beginning at roughly the same time as when both goats and sheep were domesticated (circa 8000BC).  Goat hair yarn does not have to be dyed, maintaining the original colour as it was on the animal.

A common rug that is woven from goats’ hair is the traditional kilim. This flatwoven floor cover has no pile. Traditionally hand woven goat hair kilims are thick and extremely durable, making them an ideal choice for heavily trafficked areas of the home.

If you’re interested in purchasing a goat hair Persian Rug, please contact us. We can help find the perfect Persian rug for your home.

Abrash is an industry term used to describe  the “streaks” visible in a section of one colour of a Persian rug, usually in a horizontal line. Yarn of a single colour may not appear uniform, with slight mottling in the form of streaks. Variations in colour can be lighter or darker or even range in warmth.

This phenomenon is usually the result of the application of dyes derived from a vegetable source. A common feature in even rugs of the highest quality and craftsmanship, abrash occurs when dye is not equally distributed to each of a yarn’s fibre. It is most noticeable in larger areas of a single colour.

Why Does Abrash Occur?
Reasons may include yarn that is hard or is very tightly twisted (loosely twisted yarn tends to absorb dye more easily), traits which can inhibit the absorption of dye. Abrash may also be the result of the weaver using yarn that was dyed in the same vat, but at different times and rinsed in different water. Wool is a natural material and lacks the consistency that synthetic materials possess, therefore it can only be expected that variations in dye absorption exist.

Abrash is not a defect or flaw. If one were to perceive it as such, it would detract from the unique beauty of a Persian Rug since it enriches colours, making them more “alive”. As long as the colour is not totally different (for example, streaks of green in a section of red), it should be perceived as a distinctive trait of a rug that gives it more personality.

However, when all is said and done, abrash is really a matter of personal taste. No matter what others say about variations in colour, whether positive or negative, it is entirely up to you to decide whether you like it or not.

The photo shows an example of abrash in the field of red around the central medallion. Notice a slight variation in the red in certain areas.

What’s the difference between a hand tufted rug and a hand knotted rug?

This is a difference that lies in the pile of the rug.

Hand Knotted Persian Rugs
After the warp and a certain number of weft are woven, the “plush” of the rug is added onto this structure. A small piece of material, usually wool yarn (but can also be silk or cotton), is woven through a specified number of warps and wefts, forming a knot. It is the ends of this knot that form the pile. Different coloured pieces of yarn are used to achieve the predetermined design. The formation of this knot depends on the weaver creating the rug, and can be symmetrical or asymmetrical in appearance. Once knots cover the desired amount of warp and weft, the warps are wrapped with yarn at the edges to bind them. Fringes may be made by simply gathering bundles of warp ends together and knotting them.

Generally, a hand knotted rug requires much more time and is more labour intensive than its tufted counterpart. As a result, these aspects are reflected in the price.

Hand Tufted Rugs
Most of the world’s hand tufted rugs are from China and India. Traditional rugs of Iran and the surrounding area are almost always hand knotted. One may be able to find hand tufted Persian rugs, but these are usually not actually from Iran. The only “Persian” thing about these rugs are the designs.

To create a hand tufted rug, we start with a piece of cloth attached to a frame that serves as the backing. Pieces of yarn are then inserted into the cloth backing by a handheld tufting tool, creating a pile that is comprised of looped yarn.The backing is coated in latex and then another secondary backing is attached. The surface of the pile is sheared and the edges of the rug are bound to prevent unraveling.

Hand tufted rugs are far less time consuming to make, since there isn’t any warp and weft structure or attaching the pile by knotting it on. They tend to be mass produced since they easier to make. As a result, they are generally less expensive.

A defining characteristic of any rug or carpet is the type of knot used to form the pile.  It is typical that the country/region from which a weaver is located determines the type of knot used, although it can also depend on the traditions of the weaver. For example, craftsmen in Iran and Turkey may use either knot, depending on their ethnicity, traditions and area of habitat.

The Turkish and Persian are two of the most widely used knots in rug weaving. The finest quality of rugs may be created by either type of knot.

Turkish Knot

The Turkish knot,  or symmetrical double knot, is common of rugs that are produced in Turkey and the Caucasus region. The Caucasus region includes countries that form the border between Europe and Asia and include Azerbaijian, Armenia, Georgia, as well as a part of Southern Russia. This type of knot is also known as the Ghiordes, named after the city in northwestern Turkey.

The Turkish knot is characterized by the forward appearance of both ends of a yarn in a symmetrical manner woven through the warp threads.

Persian Knot

The Persian knot, also known as the asymmetrical knot, is commonly used in countries such as Egypt, India, China and Pakistan. It is characterized by an asymmetrical appearance that involves a yarn woven entirely around one warp, and only partially around a second. Both ends of the yarn are visible. (Some believe that this technique creates a rug that is less durable than those made with other knot types, since it it is just a “loop” rather than an actual “knot”. We beg to differ. It really depends more on the quality of craftsmanship!)

The discerning buyer will flip over the rug to see the underside; if a single knot has two bumps, it is Turkish, while only one bump is apparent for Persian knotted rugs.  However, this is difficult to do and takes great practice!

Wool is an essential material of any fine carpet/rug. It may be used to create the warp, weft, and/or pile, being the only material or woven in combination with other materials (such as silk and cotton). Adding beauty, durability and longevity, this naturally sourced fibre is one of the most commonly used materials to construct floor coverings, whether they originate in Iran, Tibet, China, or any other part of the world.

Sheep, from which wool is acquired, are typically indigenous to the areas in which rug weaving exists. Because there are different types of sheep, the wool that is used is also different, resulting in the unique traits of a single rug. For example, wool from sheep indigenous to northern Iran is known for its coarse and thick texture, and these traits contribute to the quality of rug produced in the region. However, there are several other factors that contribute to the quality of wool. Such factors include the climate of habitat, age, diet and area from which the wool is taken.

After a sheep is washed, it is shorn. The wool is washed well, sometimes with a detergent to remove all impurities, then thoroughly dried under the sun before being teased and carded (this removes debris, frays and straightens). This takes place before summertime. Once this is complete, the wool can be spun into yarn at the desired thickness, as determined by its intended use. The dyeing process follows.

Kurk Wool

The finest type of wool is known as Kurk, also referred to as Kork. This wool is taken from the chest and shoulders of lambs aged anywhere from 8 to 10 months  old. From sheep that live in mountainous areas, Kurk wool is prized for its silky and soft texture. It is used for finer rugs that are to be prized for generations.

Persian rugs handwoven with Kurk wool are available at Mondart. Just ask us if you’d like to see our selection of Persian Kurk Wool rugs!

KPSI. When it comes to rugs, many believe it’s all about KPSI. But if you’re new to the Wonderful World of Persian Rugs, then you probably aren’t very familiar with the acronym. So here’s a little overview.

Knots Per Square Inch
KPSI stands for Knots Per Square Inch. A general guideline is the higher the knots per square inch, the higher the quality since more effort, material and time are usually invested in the creation of the Persian rug.

Low: 150 and under
Medium: 151-250
High: 251+

Like any rule, however, there are exceptions – so many, in fact, that if you’re a novice, you should not consider the KPSI count of a rug only. And here’s why.

It’s Not All About KPSI
KPSI can vary depending on the type of rug as well as where and when it was made. For example, Persian rugs hailing from the area of Bidjar may have a low KPSI count, but they can be incredibly valuable and durable nonetheless. On the other hand, some antique rugs from another city can be 900 KPSI or above, easily surpassing the 2000 mark. A rug may also have a low KPSI count, but still be an antique masterpiece that fetches a high price. Therefore, it is recommended that you explore more about the history and style of the rug to determine its quality and value rather than relying on KPSI alone. Talk to the seller to find out. They should know about the background of the Persian rug in question.

The Formula
Still want to know what the KPSI of the rug you’re interested in is? Simply flip over the handmade rug to expose the “bottom” (fine Persian rugs are actually reversible, so this may be tricky) and pick out a 1×1 inch area, preferably near the centre where a design is most intricate. Doing so will help you distinguish the yarn forming a single knot more easily, since one knot will be a single colour. Count the knots going vertically for 1 inch and horizontally for 1 inch, then multiply those two numbers together. This will give you the KPSI.

Every Persian or Oriental rug and carpet is crafted using techniques that are unique to the craftsman. These techniques may be determined by the region from which they hail, the type of rug they make, and/or even the trade secrets passed down through the generations in a single family.

However, no matter what the style, each rug is generally composed of four parts: the warps, wefts, knots and end finishes/fringe.

Warps
A rug starts with the warps. On a loom, the warps are the strings that stretch from beam to beam, and can be considered the base on which the rug is created. While the vast majority of Persian and Oriental rugs feature cotton warps, they may also be wool.

Wefts
Woven through the warps width-wise are wefts. Wefts can be considered part of the base, and are woven between rows of knots to provide support. Again, cotton is a common material for wefts however wool and silk may also be used. In most cases, the material is the same as the warps.

Knots
Each pair of warps is bound by a knot of yarn. The standing ends of each knot are cut, and it is this that creates the “pile” of a rug or carpet. Persian and Oriental rugs are knotted in two distinct styles: Turkish or Persian. The Turkish style, also known as Traditional or Symmetrical, is a double knot (and as a result, is generally considered to be more durable) while the Persian, also known as Commercial or Asymmetrical, is single.

While the craftsmanship of every part of a rug is essential in determining its quality, the knot is often considered to be the most important.

End Finishes/Fringe
Once the body of a rug or carpet is deemed complete, it is finished by wrapping the warps with yarn. It is important to reinforce edges so that it resists damage and unraveling. In the instance of finer Persian and Oriental carpets, a fringe may be added at the edges by knotting bundles of warps together once the piece has been removed from the loom, rather than being made separately and then glued on at the end. As a result, fringe may not only be decorative, it may also provide additional reinforcement and support.