The antique oriental carpets are more than carpets, they carry centuries of art, craft and tradition. Every carpet has a story behind it; in terms of its patterns and motifs, as well as due to the specific techniques of its weaving that have been perfected over several generations.
In Persia, India, Turkey, and Central Asia, weavers cultivated their techniques and created a design that made the oriental carpets incredibly durable and detailed. The realization of the knowledge behind these ancient crafts of weaving explains the reason antique oriental carpets are highly valued everywhere.
Hand-Knotting: The Key to Excellence
The main feature of the antique oriental carpets is the hand-knotting method. Unlike the current machine-produced carpets, the carpets are woven knot-by-knot on a loom. Among the most popular knots are the Persian (Senneh) knot and the Turkish (Ghiordes) knot.
The composition of each knot type has an impact on the density, durability and precision of the design. The denser the knots, the finer and more complex are the motifs; the looser the knots, the simpler and geometric the motifs.
The Role of Natural Fibers
They mainly used wool, silk, and cotton, where wool was the most prevalent because of its durability and softness. Silk was reserved for high-end carpets, which gave them a shiny and elegant touch that would make them apt for palaces and ceremonial use. Cotton was usually applied to the base, offering a solid foundation for the knots. The proper selection and treatment of these materials were critical processes prior to actual weaving.
Dyeing with Natural Colors
Prior to weaving, the fibers were dyed with natural materials like indigo, madder root, walnut husk, and pomegranate rind. The natural dyes produced rich but complementary colors that matured well with age. The allure of vintage oriental carpets is in how these dyes soften with age, imparting a distinct patina to each one. The dyeing itself was sometimes more important than the weaving, taking great skill to achieve consistency and richness of hue.
Regional Weaving Styles
Different regions became renowned for their particular patterns of weaving. The Persian weavers used to enjoy circular-patterned flower designs with elaborate ornamentation, while the Turkish workers enjoyed bold geometric designs. Indian Agra workers used to employ both Persian and Indian imagination, and thus their carpets had beautiful medallions and flower designs. These differences, besides manifesting the diversity in oriental carpets, also make each work distinguishable from its cultural point of origin.
The Significance of Looms
The center of the ancient weaving was the loom, yet they varied in design in different areas. Nomadic tribes used horizontal looms that could be dismantled and carried, and they made smaller and simpler carpets. Vertical looms were used in urban workshops to create larger and more elaborate carpets.
The skill with which the weaver controlled the pressure and the direction of movement and continuity of patterns in the loom defined the quality of the final product.
Conclusion
The ancient weaving technologies of antique oriental carpets explain why they are considered masterpieces of eternal art. Hand-knotting, natural dyeing, each stage is imbued with skills and talents put into practice over centuries.
Absolute Rugs offers curated selections of oriental carpets to those who desire to acquire something genuine and authentic, continuing the tradition and art of oriental carpets today.
Source: https://blogzone.hellobox.co/7434136/traditional-weaving-techniques-behind-antique-oriental-carpets
