Antique Silk Rug
La
Means layer in farsi and expressed in 4La, 6La and 9La This denomination is used to decide the quality of a Nain carpet and it refers to the number of layer of threads that have been used in every warp-thread at the manufacturing of the carpet. The lower the number the finer and higher density the knots the carpet has.
Loom
Structure that holds warp strands taut for weaving and knotting. Comes in various configurations: vertical, horizontal, fixed or mobile.
Lozenge
A diamond- like shape.
Machine Made
Rugs woven on power-looms controlled by a computer. The computer controls which colors are woven into the fabric and where. Machine-made rugs can be made quickly, and are offered in a variety of natural and synthetic materials including cotton, heat-set polypropylene, art silk and wool.
Medallion
The large enclosed portion of a design, usually in the center. Typical shapes are diamonds, octagons and hexagons.
Mihrab
Typical design of a prayer rug representing the niche or chamber in a mosque
Nap
The direction of the pile. Run you hand one way and the pile lies down. Run your hand the other way and it stands up.
Natural Dyes
Coloring agents extracted from plants, animals and minerals.
Nomadic Rugs
Rugs woven by sheepherders who mostly live in tents and migrate from the valleys to the mountain pastures in the summer. These rugs are generally small and simple in design because the motifs are carried in the heads of the weavers and rugs must be finished in time for migration.
Oriental Rug
A hand knotted loomed pile carpet that can be woven anywhere in the world
Patina
The sheen on the pile of a rug acquired with age and use, or by chemical wash.
Pile
The nap of the rug or the tufts remaining after the knotted yarns are sheared to their finished height.
Ply
The process by which single strands of yarn are twisted together to form a thicker stronger yarn. Also used to indicate the number of strands used, i.e., 3-ply, 4-ply.
Persian Rug
A hand woven rug from Iran or the former Persian Empire.
Pictorial
Refers to patterns that portray people, animals and scenes.
Prayer Rug
An asymmetrical rug with a representation of mosque or arched prayer area.
Programmed Handmade Rugs
Programmed or continuity rugs are handmade pile rugs of popular classic Persian or other traditional designs, which are woven in a variety of shapes, color combinations and sizes in workshops. Programmed rugs are often of the same quality as one-of-a-kind rugs as they may use the same quality of materials and require the same amount of skill to weave. They allow retailers to show one size and sell other sizes of the same rug.
Pushti
Persian term for a scatter rug that is normally about 2 x 3.
Raj
A term that is used to express the fineness of weave , especially Tabriz. It is stated as the number of vertical rows of knots per 7cm, which is the length of a standard non-filter cigarette!. For example, a 50 raj weave has approximately 330knots per sq. in.
Runner
A long and narrow rug designed for use in hallways, stairways and entrances.
Most runners are between 2.5 to 3 feet wide and 6 to 20 feet long.
The Gallery of Rugs Directory: Sponsors
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