Indian
Rugs
 Welcome
to indianrugs.org. This informational site is filled with knowledge
about rugs, their weavers, symbolism, and originating countries.
The work of many different cultures has combined to continue replicating
traditional and modern fine rugs.
Indian rugs and Indian rug designs (from India) tend to be the melting
pot of traditional weaving. Most of the fine designs coming out
of India were borrowed from other cultures and implemented into
the Indian techniques. Indian weavers have been known to copy the
extraordinary patterns and styles of Persian artisans – especially
the curvilinear styles of the Persian (Iranian) city of Isfahan
(Esfahan).
The French Aubusson style and the Spanish Savonnerie designs out
of Europe, Chinese, and Turkoman styles are also popularly copied
by the weavers of India. Some Indian names associated with rugs
include Jaipur, Agra, Kashmir, Dhurries, and Indo-Mir.
Dhurries are a flat-weave with designs reminiscent of Native American
Navajo styles. Indo-Mir rugs showcase an all-over pattern called
“mir-i-boteh,” which can best be described as multiple
rows of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal botehs (Persian-style
leaf clusters).
Turkoman rugs originated from the nomadic artisans of Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and the Khorassan province of Iran. They
feature a dominant red or red-brown background color with geometric
patterns and the occasional row of guls (octagonal-shaped flower
designs).
Aubusson and Savonnerie styles became popular in the 18th and 19th
centuries, featuring light blue, yellow and green colors.
Chinese rugs are often copied by Indian rugs and feature a wide
array of color, animal, and pattern symbolism. Chinese style decoration
is very literal with definite meaning – the motifs stand alone
rather than create a unified whole. All-over designs tend to show
a medallion layout with stylized dragon, flower, and fret patterns.
Border motifs in a Chinese-style rug tend to be geometric and made
using a solid color. Main motifs are often woven in blues, white
and pink. Background colors commonly include white, beige, ivory,
pink, apricot, yellow and peach.
In the Chinese culture, yellow symbolizes royalty. Long-life and
luck are two other common symbols. Other symbols of the Chinese
culture might include the following:
• Dragon: power and authority
• Lotus: purity
• Pomegranate: fertility
• Phoenix: peace and happiness
• Butterfly: luck and a happy marriage
• Peony: nobility
• Fish: abundance
• Cloud: wish
Another popular rug pattern in the Chinese culture is the swastika
pattern, which can symbolize happiness and the heart of Buddha.
What’s known as the Chinese fret is created using a repeated
swastika pattern and is considered to be a wish for “10,000
happiness.”
The most important thing about buying Indian rugs, whatever the
origination of their design, is that you like it and it works well
with the décor of the room in which it lays. Also realize
that as the light changes in a room throughout the day, the silks
and colors of any rug will hover around the color spectrum in unexpected
and magical ways.
Thanks for stopping by indianrugs.org. Be sure to browse our entire
site for great resources about rug buying and where to buy them.
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