Beginnings of an Art Form

(Posted on 28/09/18)

Running your hand through a thick rug is luxurious. But how is something this plush created? It's woven. Some world regions are famous for woven textiles, and people in an area once called Persia (today, Iran) make special rugs. To learn more, let's explore the history of Persian rugs.

Weaving, or interlacing threads to create a textile, was probably introduced into Persia around 529 B.C.E. during the reign of Cyrus the Great. The skill was necessary for migrating peoples who wove coverings for tent floors. When people settled in villages, each place became known for specific rug patterns and designs. Today, many Persian rug styles reflect this history. Diverse patterns developed among tribes and villages and many remain in use today.

Let's reviewing basic weaving terms. A loom is a piece of equipment on which a rug is woven, a wooden frame that holds a series of threads known as warp threads tight in a vertical position. The weaver interlaces the warp threads horizontally with weft threads. This process creates a basic woven fabric. For Persian rugs, the added element is knots, tied by hand to the warp threads in between rows of weft threads. It's a time-consuming process and some rugs take up to two years to complete.