fg guide to oriental rugs - flooring guild · consumer’s guide to oriental rugs ... making it...

The Flooring Guild 36 Meadowsweet

Eaton Ford

St Neots

Cambridgeshire

PE19 7GR

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.flooring-guild.co.uk

Tel: 01480 471476

The Flooring Guild is a company limited by guarantee – Registered in England No. 3803478 at the above address

Consumer Information Service

A Consumer’s Guide

to Oriental Rugs

The Flooring Guild is dedicated to raising standards in the flooring industry through the delivery of high quality training and education. We believe Consumers should be given unbiased information to help make an informed choice and have produced a series of guides to help in that process. The contents of each Guide are believed correct at the time of printing. Nevertheless, The Flooring Guild cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions or for changes in the details given in this Guide or for the consequences of any reliance on the information provided in the same. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we will always welcome any information to assist in such efforts and to keep the Guides up to date. We gratefully acknowledge the information given by various contributors including:

Flooring One Hand Made Carpets Limited

The National Carpet Cleaners Association

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from The Flooring Guild.

The Flooring Guild 36 Meadowsweet

Eaton Ford

St Neots

Cambridgeshire

PE19 7GR

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.flooring-guild.co.uk

Tel: 01480 471476

The Flooring Guild is a company limited by guarantee – Registered in England No. 3803478 at the above address

Consumer Information Service

Contents Page

CHOOSING AN ORIENTAL RUG 1 Sizes 2

IDENTIFYING RUGS BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN 3 Afghanistan 3 Chinese 3 Indian 3 Nepal 3 Pakistan 4 Persia 4 Turkish 4

COLOURS USED IN ORIENTAL RUGS 5

MAINTENANCE OF ORIENTAL RUGS 6 Caring for Your Oriental Rug 6 Repairs 6 Hand Tinting 6 Problem Stains 6 Stretching 6 Remedial Maintenance 7 Dry Cleaning Solution 7 Detergent Solution 7 Detergent and Vinegar Solution 7 Ammonia Solution 7 Stain Treatment Guide 8 Final Rinse Procedure 10

NO RUG IS STAIN PROOF 10

Reproduced by kind permission of Flooring One Limited

Consumer Information Service Oriental Rugs

© The Flooring Guild 2015 Page 1

CHOOSING AN ORIENTAL RUG

Historically, designs used in rug making originated from areas in which the weavers lived. Each community developed its own designs for its own purposes and the colours and materials they used reflected their history, geography and culture. The patterns ranged from simple forms and religious symbols to extremely ornate floral and animal motifs. These motifs are, more often than not, a trademark of a particular rug type, thus making it possible to identify and name the rug through its physical characteristics. Some designs regularly woven in a particular area are committed to memory. These designs and patterns are handed down from generation to generation. For example, in Afghanistan the most typical Afghan design is the Gul, or, as it is sometimes called, 'the Elephant's foot'. Colours are dark and predominantly red. Finer pieces come from the Belouch weaving area, a stretch of land straddling Persia and Afghanistan. In China, pile knotted rugs were introduced from Mongolia in 1279. Originally, the symbols used were from the early Taoist religion and from Buddhism. Later, the Chinese weavers introduced the ornate Aubusson design inspired by the French Court of Louis XIV. Tibetan weaving goes back 900 years when carpet art was an expression of the religious conviction. Their designs remain simple while using motifs whose symbolism is still clear. To a Tibetan, a rug was a part of his life - to sit and sleep on, which reminds us that, whilst these carpets are works of art, their origin derives from more practical purposes. It should be mentioned that, whilst some designs are repetitious and can be woven from memory, others are not and there are many methods by which a design is transferred from the mind to the rug. Two of the most common methods of transferring these designs are by cartoon or naksha - a full scale graph paper chart which lets a weaver know what colour each knot is to be. Each tiny graph square represents one knot. The naksha is hung on the back of the loom like music on a stand. Or by Talim - the written code used either to transfer the design to the naksha or, in some countries, one person reads the colour and number of knots to several weavers. Oriental rugs are finished off on both sides and ends. The side finishing is known as the selvedge and is necessary as this part of the rug is most exposed to wear. Usually the outermost warp threads are made stronger than the others and the weft threads are passed round them several times.



This is then further by reinforced by overcasting with wool, goat hair or, more rarely, silk. The ends can be finished in a number of knotways. Generally there is a band of flat weaving, sometimes decorated with a line of fancy weaving - this is generally known as kilim. Beyond this, the fringe is formed from the ends of the warp and can be knotted, plaited or left loose. The general object of this finishing is to stop the fabric from unravelling. It is useful to recognise a handwoven rug from a machine made one. A machine made copy can be recognised because machine stitching can always be found along both sides of the rug. This stitching is normally dyed to make it less noticeable. The designs are often vague and indistinct. The back is covered with perfectly straight lines. The fringe is almost always sewn and not an extension of the warp.

Sizes

The size of an Oriental rug is dependent on the loom. Rugs produced by nomadic tribes are usually small and narrow, being made on their portable looms. Semi-nomadic tribes erected larger fixed looms in their seasonal quarters. The beams on these looms were often made from branches of a tree. Hence, when a branch is not straight, this can cause the rug itself to be crooked. Settled and commercially operated weavers have no such restrictions and can weave a rug to any desired size. In Great Britain the word “rug”, applies to a piece with an area of no more than 35 sq ft. Above this, it is referred to as a carpet. In the USA, all pieces are referred to as “rugs”. Oriental rugs in general are woven in a limited range of sizes. These are sometimes identified by a Persian or Turkish name. The most common are listed below: Name Approximate size

Pushti or yastik 3'3" x 2'

Zarcherek or cerek 4'3" x 2'9"

Zaronim or namazlik 5' x 3'

Mossul 6'6"x 3'3"

Dozar or seccadeh 6'6" x 4'6"

Long kharak 6'6" x 2'3"

Kelleyi a very wide runner or long narrow carpet



IDENTIFYING RUGS BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

The main oriental carpet producing areas are: Persia (Iran), Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, India, China and Nepal. Rugs are given the names of the towns, tribes, provinces, villages or cities where they are woven. These are some general design characteristics.

Afghanistan

All rugs from this group have varying shades of red as a predominant colour. They are all the work of nomadic tribes and as such are seldom large. Design is usually based on the octagonal 'gul' motif and Afghan rugs are also woven by Turkoman nomads and have a similar appearance, but the knotting is coarser and the pile longer.

Chinese

Rugs and carpets woven in China are completely different from those from Islamic countries. They are not made by nomadic tribes, but in organised workshops and factories. Being more formal and less imaginative in theme, little indication is given of the origin or place of their weaving. The quality of Chinese rugs ranges from the very coarse to the extremely fine. Traditional styles reflected the taste of the ruling emperors eg Ming and K'ang-hsi and designs are frequently religious. Colours used are also very different - strong reds are rare whilst soft peaches, yellows, apricots and blues predominate. Shapes and sizes also vary, with rounds and ovals being common.

Indian

Pile rugs were introduced to India from Persia and China. Original designers were Persian but Indian weavers developed their own individual pictorial and floral themes. Colours became lighter than Persian, with a tendency to pastels.

Nepal

Most of the world's 'Tibetan' carpets now originate in Nepal where the Tibetan weavers settled. The art of weaving in Tibet dates back to the seventh century when East Turkestan came under Tibetan rule and weavers from Kashgar brought their knowledge with them. Patterns tend to be simple with a deep religious (Buddhist) significance in the design. The swastika and meander border motifs appear frequently and colours reflect the tones of the seasons - greys, browns, greens and reds. A well-known carpet range from Nepal is the 'Kangri' - the Tibetan name for the mountains which surround the country.



Pakistan

In 1947, Pakistan became independent from India and is now in the mainstream of rug production. Rugs woven in Pakistan are still to a great extent woven at home following the influences of Persian, Moslem and Turkomen craftsmen. Pakistan rugs can be identified by very wide variety of colours and the repetitive (gul) motif.

Persia

The name 'Persian' is one of the most commonly applied to oriental rugs. The country was renamed 'Iran' in 1935, but the name 'Persian' is still used when describing its rugs. Fine Persian rugs have been traded as good financial investments both inside and outside the country for centuries. Persian rugs vary enormously in size, from a carpet as large as the Ardebil to a tiny prayer rug. The designs on Persian rugs are either rounded and floral in town weaves or mainly geometric in village pieces. Rich indigo blues and crimson reds are predominant and the shapes of the carpets are rectangular rather than square. It is common to see 'themes' in Persian rugs such as hunting scenes and ornate gardens. Gold and silver threads are sometimes used. A well-known type of rug is the 'prayer rug'. These rugs originated in Persia for use five times a day by the Moslem faithful in prayer. They are intended to protect worshiper from the dirt as he touches his head to the ground, facing always towards Mecca. These rugs are small and always have a curved niche woven into the design indicating the direction of the Holy City.

Turkish

Anatolia is the old name for Turkey and is the correct word used to describe Turkish rugs. The quality of these rugs has always been extremely fine and, until recently in Europe, the word Turkish or Anatolian has been synonymous with Oriental. Turkish rugs are quite easily distinguished from Persian rugs. The designs tend to be geometric and, for religious reasons, no men or animals are shown. The prevailing colour is brick-like red, although their prayer rugs are sometimes the sacred colour green.



COLOURS USED IN ORIENTAL RUGS

As well as being a factor in assessing the value of an Oriental rug, colours can have a symbolic significance. The following is a general guide to the meanings of Oriental rug colours: Green The holy colour of the Prophet Mohammed - it is used sparingly in

places least likely to be trodden on. Hope, renewal, life, Spring.

Red Fire, wealth, courage, luck, joy, faith

Blue Power or force, solitude

Orange Humility and piety

Yellow The sun, joy of life

White Purity, cleanliness

Black Usually only found in outlines, mourning, destruction

Gold Power, wealth

Brown Fertility

Consumer Information Service Oriental Rug Maintenance


MAINTENANCE OF ORIENTAL RUGS

Caring for Your Oriental Rug

For day to day cleaning, a light vacuuming will do an excellent job of removing surface dirt. A natural enemy of your rug is the moth and it is advisable to use your vacuum attachments to reach under furniture for protection. Moths like natural fibres and prefer dark places and so, to help protect against moth and also colour fading from bright sunlight, the rug should be lifted and turned especially if any part is under furniture. When arranging your furniture, it is wise to have some sort of protection under the legs to prevent the carpet fibres being crushed. Avoid sharp castors or narrow legs and move furniture from time to time. Never lay an Oriental rug on a damp floor as the wet can cause rot. Always seek professional help if the rug needs cleaning. If it is necessary to store a rug for any length of time, take care to pack it with moth repellent.

Repairs

Damaged areas, burns, splits and holes can be expertly repaired or rewoven. Damaged or worn fringes can also be repaired or renewed.

Hand Tinting

Colours that have faded or changed over the years can sometimes be restored by artists skilled in this field.

Problem Stains

Some stains are difficult to remove by conventional methods. Specialist cleaners have the know-how and can often remove the more stubborn stains that were impossible to remove at home.

Stretching

Certain types of hand-made carpet, most notably Afghans, can often become misshapen or ruckled with use but, providing the carpet is sound, these problems can usually be minimised with stretching. Should a rug become stained, then the following spotting guide may help:



Remedial Maintenance

Accidents will happen. If something gets spilled on your carpet, take prompt action to prevent staining. You will need some clean white absorbent cloth, or tissue, and the four basic solutions listed below. Please check that your rug is colourfast and safe to clean, by testing all solutions in an inconspicuous area before application REMEMBER - ACT QUICKLY Scrape up solids and blot up liquids, taking plenty of time - it is worth the effort. Mix the solution accurately and don’t forget to test it on an inconspicuous part of the carpet or an unused off-cut before you start. Always work from the outer edge of the stain to the centre. NEVER OVER WET. Dab or blot rather than scrub, or rub hard. Even though you may not completely remove the stain, the correct routine will give your professional cleaner, when called in, the best possible chance of success. NOTE: Some new rugs have been subjected to anti-static and soil-resistant treatments. Even when these have been applied, it is wise to follow the stain removal procedures suggested.

1. Dry Cleaning Solution Surgical or White Spirit

2. Detergent Solution One teaspoonful of gentle detergent for washing woollens to half a pint (0.75 litres) of warm water.

3. Detergent and Vinegar Solution

Add one tablespoonful of white (not malt) vinegar to the Detergent Solution.

4. Ammonia Solution

One teaspoonful of branded household ammonia (available from hardware stores), to one cup of warm water.

Tackle stains as shown on the chart overleaf.



Stain Treatment Guide

The solutions listed on the previous page may be used to treat the following stains.

Stain

Method

Alcohol Blot up surplus spillage. Use Detergent Vinegar Solution. Work from the outer edge of the stain inwards, using a little at a time, blotting up with dry cloths frequently. See below for final rinse procedure.

Blood Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a Detergent Solution starting at the outer edge. Blot dry. Follow up with Ammonia Solution. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Chewing Gum Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a dry cleaning solution followed by Detergent and Vinegar. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Chocolate, Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a Detergent Solution starting at the outer edge. Blot dry. Follow up with Ammonia Solution. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Coffee Blot up surplus spillage. Use Detergent Vinegar Solution. Work from the outer edge of the stain inwards, using a little at a time, blotting up with dry cloths frequently. See below for final rinse procedure.

Egg Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a Detergent Solution starting at the outer edge. Blot dry. Follow up with Ammonia Solution. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Fats Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a dry cleaning solution followed by Detergent and Vinegar. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Glue Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a Detergent Solution starting at the outer edge. Blot dry. Follow up with Ammonia Solution. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Ice Cream Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a Detergent Solution starting at the outer edge. Blot dry. Follow up with Ammonia Solution. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Liquid Foods Blot up surplus spillage. Use Detergent Vinegar Solution. Work from the outer edge of the stain inwards, using a little at a time, blotting up with dry cloths frequently. See below for final rinse procedure.

Milk Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a Detergent Solution starting at the outer edge. Blot dry. Follow up with Ammonia Solution. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.



Oil Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a dry

cleaning solution followed by Detergent and Vinegar. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Ointment Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a dry cleaning solution followed by Detergent and Vinegar. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Shoe Polish Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a dry cleaning solution followed by Detergent and Vinegar. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Soft Drinks Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a Detergent Solution starting at the outer edge. Blot dry. Follow up with Ammonia Solution. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Solids Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a dry cleaning solution followed by Detergent and Vinegar. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Sweets Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a Detergent Solution starting at the outer edge. Blot dry. Follow up with Ammonia Solution. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Tar Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a dry cleaning solution followed by Detergent and Vinegar. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Tea Blot up surplus spillage. Use Detergent Vinegar Solution. Work from the outer edge of the stain inwards, using a little at a time, blotting up with dry cloths frequently. See below for final rinse procedure.

Unknown stains Scrape up or blot surplus spillage. Use a dry cleaning solvent followed by clean lukewarm water. Blot dry. If further treatment is needed, use either Detergent or Detergent and Vinegar Solution. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.

Urine Blot up surplus spillage. Use Detergent Vinegar Solution. Work from the outer edge of the stain inwards, using a little at a time, blotting up with dry cloths frequently. See below for final rinse procedure.

Vomit Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use a Detergent Solution starting at the outer edge. Blot dry. Follow up with Ammonia Solution. Blot dry. See below for final rinse procedure.



Final Rinse Procedure

This rinse procedure is applicable to all the above methods of stain removal. Simply mix one-part white vinegar and four-parts water. Pour mixture into a spray bottle and spray over the stained area. Blot dampened are (do not rub) to remove excess moisture. Spread white kitchen towel (stacked 6-8 sheets deep) over the affected area and place a weight, such as a book, directly on top. This will help moisture residue to soak into the towels. Leave overnight and repeat if necessary.

NO RUG IS STAIN PROOF

In general hot liquids, bleaches and products containing natural dyes, especially those with yellow, orange or red colouring, can cause permanent discolouration.

fg guide to oriental rugs - flooring guild · consumer’s guide to oriental rugs ... making it...

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