History of Traditional Rugs

The first date that an traditional rug was woven is unknown. In 1949, a Russian archaeological expedition to the Altai Mountains in southern Siberia excavated a royal burial mound that contained a miraculously preserved frozen carpet, Known as the Pazyryk carpet, it was used as a saddle cover for a horse. The Pazyrk carpet dates from the 4th or 5th century B.C. and is the earliest-known surviving example of a hand-knotted carpet.

The technique of knotting carpets was begun by the nomadic tribes of Central Asia. These tribes produced small rugs typically decorated with geometric motifs inspired by plant and animal forms. The nomadic rugs were both decorative and utilitarian, serving as floor covers, wall hangings, curtains and saddlebags. The wandering nomads are credited with spreading the art of carpet-making to new lands and peoples.

It was primarily through Italian merchants that the traditional rug became recognized and valued in Europe. Venice established itself as a major trader with the East. Venetians spread traditional rugs along their narrow streets, hung the rugs from windows and used them to decorate their gondolas.

By the early 16th century, traditional rug collections could be found in the great courts of Europe. Europeans lost interest in traditional rugs during the 17th and 18th centuries. After the great exhibition of 1891 in Vienna, Europeans had renewed enthusiasm for traditional carpets. Americans soon followed suit. Western importers began asking the carpet-makers to modify dimensions, and sometimes color and design, to satisfy the tastes of Europe and the Americas. Interest and demand for traditional rugs continues to grow through the 21st century.