Figures in Rugs

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It’s in the Detail

One of the joys of antique rugs is the unexpected discovery of random figures hidden in the often complex designs. This can come in the form of an animal, person or even a random household item (as seen in the Samovar below which took me several weeks to notice!) and hints at a playfulness on the part of the weaver.

Weaving figures into rugs has a long tradition in many areas, especially nomadic tribes such as the Qashqai of south west Persia as well as many of the antique rugs woven in the Caucasus mountains of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Ultimately, the interesting point is that, through personality and humour, this creates a connection across time, geography and culture between the weaver and the owner of the rug.

Here are a few of my favourite examples, both past and present.

Antique Persian Sarouk Rug circa 1900. Please click here for more info.

Antique Persian Sarouk Rug circa 1900. Please click here for more info.

Vintage Afghan Belouch ‘War Rug’

Vintage Afghan Belouch ‘War Rug’

Balouch

The Balouchi tribes that straddle north-east Persia and Afghanistan have a long history of weaving figures in their rugs and this is an interesting example of rugs woven during the Soviet occupation of the 1980’s. Usually limited to war paraphernalia such as tanks, planes and Kalashnikovs, this rug is unusual because of the human figures - this would indicate that it was woven for an important tribal family.

Antique Persian Khamseh Rug

Antique Persian Khamseh Rug

Antique Persian Tehran Rug

Antique Persian Tehran Rug

Antique Persian Qashqai Rug

Antique Persian Qashqai Rug

Antique Persian Qashqai Rug

Antique Persian Qashqai Rug

Antique Caucasian Lesghi Rug

Antique Caucasian Lesghi Rug

Antique Persian Bidjar Rug

Antique Persian Bidjar Rug

Antique Caucasian Rug

Antique Caucasian Rug

Khamseh

The Khamseh is a confederation of five tribes in the province of Fars in southwestern Iran. They are renowned for their rug weaving which often include figures such as this example woven circa 1890 with a multitude of chickens. For more information on this particular piece, please click here.

Antique Tehran Rug

Finer rugs such as this antique Tehran also have a long history of weaving figures in their rugs, especially from the cities of Isfahan, Qum, Tabriz and Tehran. Many of these are either ‘hunting scene’ or ‘tree of life’ designs. I don’t see many with elephants though! Please click here for more information on this rug.

Qashqai

The Qashqai are a nomadic tribe from south-west Iran who often include small figures in their rugs, such as this example woven circa 1900 with numerous birds, animals and figures (including this lady with a particularly funky skirt) throughout the field. Due to the fact that the weavers don’t work to set designs, these are often highly stylised and naive but utterly charming. For more information on this piece, please click here.

Qashqai (again!)

In the interests of equality, here is what is obviously a Qashqai man!

Caucasian Rugs

Antique Caucasian rugs have become highly collectible over the years and often have bold geometrical designs which often include figures. This example is an antique Lesghi rug, woven circa 1920 with two naive dogs looking like they are guarding the rug! - for more information on this piece, please click here.

Antique Bidjar

Size isn’t everything! Sometimes the more interesting discoveries are the small ones that are not immediately apparent, like this tiny bird in the field of this 1920’s Bidjar rug. Please click here for more information on this piece.

Another Caucasian!

Possibly my favourite example ever! This rug was woven in the Caucasus mountains of Azerbaidjan circa 1920. In a medallion of numerous birds there is a solitary and quite random camel! I can just imagine the weaver chuckling to herself!

Buyer's Guide

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How to buy

Sotheby’s ’17th Century Antique Persian Carpet’ sold for over $33 Million in June 2013

Sotheby’s ’17th Century Antique Persian Carpet’ sold for over $33 Million in June 2013

Research is probably the single most important thing you can do before buying a rug. You’ll get more of an idea of what you like and what sort of price you can expect to pay. Obviously, the internet is a good place to start but, with a subject this vast and daunting, nothing beats talking to an expert. And with rug values ranging from £5 for an old tatty rug at a car boot sale to $33.7 million for a 17th Century Persian Vase carpet (June 2013 Sotheby’s NY), you’ll be glad to get some advice.

I am not going to go into the detail of what makes a good rug versus a bad rug - there are just too many factors such as wool quality, dyes, fineness of weave, age, condition etc. What is more important is where and who you buy it from as this will ensure you have an excellent example of whatever type of rug you end up buying.

There is a wide range of options when buying a rug and I will attempt to cover the advantages and disadvantages of the various ways you can approach this.

Shops

Probably the best place to go for the uninitiated. Any rug shop worth its salt will have knowledgeable staff who can explain everything from knot counts to dyeing processes, guiding you gently towards finding the perfect rug for your room. A good rug dealer will also be happy for you to try the rug at home first and won’t pressurise you into making a hasty purchase.

Auctions

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There are many auction houses around the country that occasionally throw up the odd gem but it can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The 3 most important things to do if buying a rug at auction are view, view and view! Don’t be tempted to buy just from photos and a description (I can speak from experience on this one!) as they can hide a multitude of sins, including (but not limited to) moth damage, stains, wear and holes. The majority of auction houses don’t have dedicated rug specialists so descriptions can be woolly (sorry!) or just plain incorrect. Also, there is no returns process if you are disappointed with your purchase.

Abroad

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We’ve all been there - wandering around the bazaars, being enticed into a small shop and, before you know it, leaving with an ill-thought out purchase. There are, without doubt, some reputable dealers however most of the horror stories I have heard (and there are many) involve purchases abroad and a little research before your holiday will go a long way. 


Online

This can be a useful option as it gives you access to a huge quantity of rugs without having to traipse around lots of shops. However, you don’t get to feel the quality of the rug and colours can vary from screen to screen, so please make sure they have a cast iron returns policy should you wish to purchase a rug in this manner. This is especially important with antique rugs as it’s difficult to ascertain condition from photos. Make sure that there is a description of the condition including photos of any wear or repairs.

Discounts

Always look at the final price that you will pay rather than the discount - I have seen many rugs advertised at 50% off that are more expensive than similar rugs elsewhere with no discount!

Stories

We all love a good story and I wish I had a pound for every rug that had supposedly come from the Shah’s palace! The history of rug weaving is long and fascinating but there are many myths that are simply, well, myths! Again, any good retailer will tell you about a rug’s origins, where, when and how it was made but if it strays into the realms of fantasy, ask yourself why they are trying to sell a story rather than the rug!*


Chinese Art Deco Carpets

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Manufactured in China in the 1920’s and 1930’s, many of these carpets combined traditional Chinese motifs with much more open, often asymmetrical, designs and unusual colour combinations. They represented a marked departure from the traditional Chinese weavings up to that point, catering for American and European tastes of the period, in particular the burgeoning Art Deco movement. 

One of the pioneers in this style was Walter Nichols, an American who worked in Tientsin (Tianjin) in the early 1920’s as a wool grader. After encountering a leading american rug dealer (and discussing the difficulties in getting carpets for American tastes), Walter set up his own carpet weaving factory in 1924, supplying the US and other western markets. 

At it’s peak, Walter’s company had 14 factories in China and many other companies sprang up making similarly inspired carpets, but then faced bankruptcy due to the Great Depression of the 1930’s and then the advent of the Second World War.

These carpets remain in high demand and are fabulous items to decorate a room. Here are a few that we currently have in stock:

Featured
Antique Chinese Art Deco Carpet 3.02m x 2.16m
Antique Chinese Art Deco Carpet 3.02m x 2.16m
£3,500.00

A stunning Art Deco carpet, handwoven in China circa 1920 with an unusual design depicting the eight symbols of Buddhism on a raspberry red field and blue border. For more information on the symbols, please visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtamangala

Size: 3.02m x 2.16m (9ft 11in x 7ft 1in)

This rug is in good condition with light, age related wear. It has been professionally cleaned but there are a few barely visible surface marks (see photos). Fringes and selvedges are original and secure.

Free worldwide shipping.

All our rugs are covered by our comprehensive returns policy

And another one!

We are happy to announce that we have opened at The Malthouse Collective in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Come and see our collection of antique and contemporary rugs and kilim furniture - we can be found on the 1st floor of this wonderful shop!

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