Facts about Handmade Tribal Rugs

Tribal Rugs

Tribal rugs are woven by the nomadic tribes and villagers of Iran amongst which are the Lurs, Qashqais and Bakhtiaris. For the nomads who migrate often, rug weaving is part of their culture and life rather than an occupation. They weave rugs for their everyday usage. Women are the sole rug weavers in nomadic tribes. Their expertise in rug weaving is an important factor in determining their social status.

Nomadic tribes use small horizontal looms that can be dismantled rapidly at the time of migration. As a result, nomadic rugs are usually small and are also limited in range of colors because of the use of natural dyes that are few but available in their surroundings. Tribal rugs usually have geometric patterns with bold and simple motifs. Tribal village rugs have a large influence from the nomadic groups and nearby cities, and therefore produce the widest range of styles. Many nomads have settled in villages and brought with them their traditional styles and techniques. At the same time, many village weavers accept orders from rug dealers or choose their patterns according to the demand of the market in nearby cities.

About these rugs.

These are new and used rugs that are made by tribal people, mostly in Afghanistan and Iran. As tribal rugs, they have character which gives them there quality aesthetic. Some of the colors used in these rugs have slight differences in the shading.

Excellent Condition

“Perfect condition” without flaw or blemish and never used before. Hand-woven rugs that have been given the stamp of excellence are considered complete and lacking nothing essential. They are long lasting and very durable.

Very Good

As good as new, with above average quality. Rugs that are considered to be in very good condition may have some signs of minor wear. Any repairs were made by a professional weaver and are un-noticeable. The pile is slightly shorter as compared to a carpet indicated as New/Excellent. Hand knotted rugs retain their value; irregular characteristics honor individual appreciation where character comes alive with antiquity.

Repairs

A few of these rugs have had minor repairs. These have been done professionally and will keep your rug in great condition to match the normal life of the rest of the rug. All rugs that have had repairs are marked and photos indicate the repairs. They are all small, hardly noticeable, and are also part of the quality and character of the rug. Rugs that have been repaired are also heavily discounted for you!

Dyes

Natural dyes are still used, but since the 1950s pre-dyed wool yarn (using synthetic dyes) readily found in the towns and villages are often substituted for or combined with the natural dyes. The wild colors (some almost iridescent) often found in many afghan carpets are surely synthetics. In natural dying, the yarn is presoaked in a fixing bath of alum, copper sulfate, ferrous sulfate, tin or urine. The yarn is then transferred to a dye bath and soaked until the desired color is obtained. The yarn is then washed and hung out to dry. Dying was usually done by the men. Natural dyes fade beautifully and often show as uneven coloring (abrash). Abrash (meaning speckled or marbled) is commonly the result of a weaver running out of wool and having to dye another lot or buying a similar color from elsewhere. Abrash in no way detracts from the value of a tribal carpet, but is a desirable characteristic of a tribal weaving. Naturally dyed wool will fade right through whereas synthetic dyes will fade only on the tips where the light hits it. A newer tribal carpet can be "mellowed" by placing it in the direct sun for several days.

Materials

The material used for making tribal rugs are basically what these nomads have at their immediate disposal: wool from their sheep which is used in the warp and weft as well as the pile. Some tribes use goat hair for overbidding the sides (selvedges) or rugs. Camel hair is especially prized for the field areas of prayer carpets. When possible the sheep are driven into streams to wash them prior to shearing. The wool is then sorted by color and quality and then combed and spun. The wool is then dyed one person can generally can generally spin one kilo per day.