Persian Rugs - a Gold-Standard for Uncertain Economic Times

There's no better time to decorate with a Persian rug. That's because an area rug is a wise and cost effective decorating choice, particularly in difficult economic times, says industry leader Rugman.com.

Persian rugs are a distinct subset of the Oriental rug category and are considered to be the finest in the world. With authentic Persian rugs increasing in value and lasting for generations, they've become a luxurious way to enhance the look of any room in your home. You can take yours with you when you move, or pass it on to your children"”a Persian rug will enhance any space.

Persian rugs are made to last and like fine wines, they improve with age. Some are even woven with golden thread to enhance their beauty and value. The Gold thread used can easily be several miles long and can weigh a few hundred grams in total.

The natural fibers and dyes used in authentic Persian area rugs react to changes in the air with their colors and hues becoming more complex as the years pass. As your rug ages and mellows, it becomes ever more valuable, making it the ideal family heirloom.

Originally woven thousands of years ago by tent-dwelling, nomadic tribes people to protect themselves from the cold; Persian area rugs have evolved over the course of centuries and become highly-prized decorative objects. As a natural insulator, a Persian rug helps retain heat and muffle the sounds. Laying one on a wood, tile or stone floor will make your room unique, warm and quiet.

First created as utilitarian objects, Persian rugs evolved over time and became a means of cultural transmission as well as a significant, craft-based industry. They've become one-of-a-kind works of art containing folkloric and traditional motifs. Images and stories are woven into the rugs to transmit tribal lore from one generation to the next. They embody a rich and ancient cultural heritage and will add to the character of your home.

Hand-woven throughout the centuries by individual artisans, no two Persian rugs are the same. Lacking precise symmetry, the rugs reflect the weavers' own interpretations of the stories and images depicted. Individual weavers sometimes add in small, but deliberate imperfections to reflect a belief that only God can attain perfection. The imperfections make each Persian rug special"”each is precisely imprecise and has a story of its own, ready to be told.

The distinctive weaving skills of Persian rug makers have been passed down from generation to generation, maintaining the link between the earliest tent-insulators of antiquity and the magnificent rugs available today. Every craftsman adds his unique interpretation to traditional designs and weaves and marks each creation as his own.
The rug-making process begins before anyone sits before a loom and begins weaving a Persian wool rug. Dyes of almost every conceivable hue are created from natural sources including plants, bark, insects, fungi and roots. In the past, craftsmen harvested wool from the sheep belonging to their tribes. It was washed, left in the sun to dry and bleach, spun by hand into yarn and dipped into dying vats to be colored. The wool was hung to drip-dry in the sun until it was ready to be woven and hand-knotted into a Persian wool rug.
Modern technology has simplified the preparation of the cotton, wool and silk used in some new rugs. The important things"”tradition, craftsmanship, the use of natural dyes and yarns and the creation of a handmade finished product"”remain the same today as they were when the original rugs were woven centuries ago to protect nomadic tribesmen from the cold.

With designs varying from region to region, Persian rugs are well known and prized. Renowned for their skill and craftsmanship, the Persian rug makers' influence has expanded from the confines of ancient Persia through the entire rug-making world. Rugman.com is one of the world's leading purveyors of Persian rugs and other  Oriental rugs.