Anatomy of a rug

(Posted on 05/03/14)

Medallion (A) Any large central motif used as the focal point of a design.Field (B) Main area of the rug within the borders.Spandrels (or corners) (C) Architectural expression used to describe the space between the curve of an arch and its enclosing moulding.  In rug making it refers to the contoured areas at the four right-angles of the field adjacent to the borders, usually only found in rugs employing a central medallion.Main border (D) The largest, and usually the central border. Guard stripes  Narrow stripes within the border arrangement.  They can be either plain or patterned, and are often indistinguishable from the minor border.Ground  Sometimes used as an alternative expression for the field, but generally applied to the underlying or background colour of any part of the rug (e.g., a blue-ground border).Motif  Any single form or cohesive ground of form (e.g., a bunch of intertwining leaves) which constitutes part of the overall design.Open field  Undecorated or monochrome field, usually only found in compositions with a central medallion.Variegated field  One in which an otherwise uniform allover or repeating design continues over different coloured grounds.Panelled design  The field is divided into panels or compartments.Repeating design  A single motif or group of motifs is repeated across the entire field.Endless repeat  Another term for a repeating design, which some experts have suggested is symbolic of eternity and the all-pervading presence of Allah.