How Are Oriental Rugs Made?

Oriental rugs represent an excellent investment as they are built to last, get better with age, and never go out of fashion. These gorgeous pieces of textile art will stay in your home for generations and with proper care from a rug cleaner NYC, their value will go up with each year passing by.

If we take a look at genuine oriental rugs, we see that they are unlike most mass production items. Instead of being replaced after a few years of use, they are passed by as family heirlooms. This is possible because these carpets are unique and handmade with natural raw materials. This post will explain how oriental rugs are made and why they are so precious, definitely deserving your attention and regular pampering from a professional rug cleaner.

Why Are Oriental Rugs So Expensive?

Why are oriental rugs so expensive and such an asset to have in your home? The answer is simple: both the craft and the raw materials involved have a high cost. Because they are handmade, oriental rugs are unique and you will not find two identical carpets or different size versions of a rug. 

Let’s break down the raw materials first. These rugs are made from natural materials only, which are costly and can include:

- Silk – can be used for both foundation and weave;

- Wool – can be used for foundation and weave, too;

- Cotton – is usually used for foundation to ensure durability.

Some oriental rugs are made entirely from silk or from wool, while other combinations are silk weave and wool foundation and wool weave and cotton foundation. These materials are built to last and they are expensive in mass production items such as clothes, too, not just in handmade products. An oriental rug that is 30 years or older is considered a collectible item, while antiques need to be at least 80 years old – not really your average NY carpet cleaning company’s client!

Oriental Rugs Are Unique

Each oriental rug is one of a kind and the product of the artistry of a craftsman. Even if the rug design is influenced by the region where it originates, the exact motifs and style of each piece are unique. Singularity is also a factor that contributes to the high price. The most expensive oriental rug ever is a ’17th Century Antique Persian Carpet’ which sold for $33 million in 2013, at the Sotheby auction house in New York. So, if you have an oriental rug at home, even if it is not a collectible item or an antique, you should invest in its care and ensure regular inspection and cleaning from an area rug cleaning NYC service because one day its value could be a lot higher than today.

How Long Does It Last to Make an Oriental Rug?

The second reason why oriental rugs are expensive is the fact they are time-consuming to make. A smaller, easy carpet is made in weeks, but the finest pieces can take months or even years to be made. Rugs made from silk and with intricate designs are labor-intensive, while wool yarns are easier to work with. 

What Is the Difference Between an Oriental Rug and a Persian Rug?

The terms ‘oriental rug’ and ‘Persian carpet’ are often used interchangeably, but they do not refer to the same object. Both types of rugs have an exotic appeal and display vibrant colors, but are different in terms of origin, design, and knotting techniques. Oriental rugs reflect cultural motifs in the originating region, such as flora and fauna, and have more curved lines and cooler tones. Persian rugs have a warm color scheme and feature geometric or floral patterns.

In Persian rugs, knotting is asymmetrical and open on one side, not leaving gaps between the threads and allowing for more intricate and precise designs. Oriental rugs use a symmetrical knotting pattern which is visible on the back of the rug as small bumps. 

Steps of How Oriental Rugs Are Crafted

Knowing how an oriental rug is made is useful both for the carpet cleaning professional and the owner as this will only make them appreciate more these pieces of fine art. Here are the main steps, more or less, of crafting an oriental rug:

Setting the loom

This is a structure consisting of two horizontal beams positioned in front of the artisan. The warp is the vertical strands of wool, cotton or silk that make up the rug’s foundation. The thread is coated in sea salt to help the dye stick and set.

Dyeing the wool

Knowing when the material is dyed enough takes years to master. The longer the material is dyed, the more intense the colors of the rug.

Preparing the wool

Next, the wool is hung out to dry and coiled.

Drawing the rug’s design

Weavers follow the patterns designed by the artist or themselves.

Weaving the rug

The coiled wool is loaded onto the loom; wool is being fed in between the warp and knots are tied to secure it. This phase is the most time-consuming and multiple weavers can work on the same item.

Washing the rug

Washing removes loose material, and the blocking and the stretching processes help flattening out the fibers to eliminate wrinkles. The rug is ironed out to eliminate all wrinkles and the pile is sheared to remove stray threads – this phase needs to be completed carefully to avoid ruining the rug.

Are you impressed at the amount of work that goes into an oriental rug? We are, too, and this is why we provide rug clean service at the highest level, which makes us unique among upholstery cleaning and carpet cleaner companies. PristineGreen Carpet and upholstery cleaning is a reliable and effective carpet cleaning company, ensuring professional oriental rug cleaning services every day, from 9 am to 9 pm.