Rugs

Since centuries, rugs or carpets have been used as a decorative covering for floors. Their use as decorative pieces has been prevalent in almost all older civilizations throughout the world, right from South East Asia to Central Asia and Africa. Europeans started using rugs on their floors by the advent of 18th century.

Rug making is a highly skilled craft involving various techniques like braiding and hooking. Braided rugs are made by braiding together two or three layers of fabrics with the edges folded whereas the ancient craft of rug hooking involves making loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base. The base can be of linen, monk's cloth, rug warp or burlap. Even rag rugs, most often hand made rugs, are also very popular as the technique involves the use of old scraps of fabrics that are woven on an old sack background.

The area rugs or the carpets from the Central Asia are extremely popular among people throughout the world as artefacts and antiques. The claim to fame of these oriental rugs is their exceptional workmanship and intricate designs and patterns. Some of the most in-demand rugs today include Persian rugs, Turkish rugs, Turcoman and Caucasian weavings as well as different contemporary Iranian carpets. Different tribal rugs like sheep skin rugs, bamboo rugs and horse rugs are also quite popular.