Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

EXCEPT in the Soumak and the Khilim, which have the flat stitch, there are only two kinds of knotting used in Oriental rugs. These knots are called the Persian or Sinna, and the Turkish or Ghiordes. In the Persian manner of knotting there are more knots to the square inch than in the Turkish, and […]

THE fineness of a rug depends largely upon the quality of the wool and the number of knots to the square foot. In one yard of the best made Persian rugs there are between twenty thousand and thirty thousand stitches made by hand.. The wool must be of fine quality, but not too soft. It […]

Rugs have been made for generations on the Island of Sardinia, which to an extent unparalleled elsewhere has retained her traditional arts uncorrupted and unchanged. The descendants of the first Sardinian weavers sit before the ancient looms weaving on new warps of wool the same patterns that have taken form over and over again under […]

The earliest allusion to Spanish rugs was made by Edrisi, the Mohammedan geographer of the twelfth century. One of the oldest Spanish rugs in existence, belonging to the thirteenth or fourteenth century, is described at length by Dr. Sarre in his book and is used by him to show the relationship of Spanish design to […]

Animal rugs are to be found in rather large numbers in the museums and private collections. Human figures seldom are depicted and the animal forms do not point to the chase. They were woven in Persia and also in India and are usually of silk with silver threads interwoven, but some are of wool. Perhaps […]

Instead of adhering to original patterns several firms employing designers have added to the original motifs and sometimes in the border of a modern Chinese rug will be seen mixed motifs. Sometimes one part of a design will be taken from one border and part from another and these two will be so arranged as […]

Kuba rugs are a development of the early Armenian rugs. They were woven in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The weaving is firm and fine, and the designs interesting. Arranged on a field which is generally of deep blue is seen the diamond design and also palmettes and small octagon and arabesque forms. Also small […]

When Paris Bordoni (1500-1571) painted the beautiful ceremonial picture in the Academy in Venice he used an Ouchak for the center of the steps. This is positive proof, if other be wanting, of the age of such a rug. Furthermore, Van Dyke painted such a carpet between the years 162o and 1625 when he lived […]

THE materials used in the manufacture of rugs cover a wide range, and are indigenous to the place where the weavers are located. Sheep’s wool, camel’s hair, mohair from the Angora goat, hair from the yak and from the Thibetan goat, silk, cotton, linen, hemp, flax, and jute are all used. In the Spring the […]

The antique rugs of Ispahan (so called), are now known by most authorities as Herats. From investigations this seems to be a fact, at any rate, the rugs are magnificent, extremely rare and very valuable. The modern Ispahan rug is absolutely not in the same category with the older rugs. The texture of the former […]