Handmade Oriental Rugs

Handmade rugs are a beautiful addition to any home, and handmade oriental rugs are among the most popular. There is a tremendous difference between a machine-made rug and a handmade rug in terms of value, artistry and wear.

The most popular handmade rugs come from Turkey, Pakistan, Afganistan, Iran, India, China and Romania, where the art of rug making has been a tradition for thousands of years. There is an entire collectible market for antique oriental rugs, which retain their beauty and value through the passage of time.

Made with natural dyes, handspun wool, and traditional designs, these handmade oriental rugs can be thought of as the "antiques of tomorrow", with some of them becoming collectible within a decade.

They are true works of art, hand-knotted by skilled artisans using techniques that stand the wear of time.

The most valuable handmade oriental rugs are made with natural dyes. It is the natural dyes that give these carpets their distinctive coloring and the origin of a handmade rug can often be identified by the dyes used in the region they came from. Natural dyes produce softer colors than chemical dyes and they tend to fade less quickly. Even when they fade, the result can be every bit as beautiful as the original colors.

The yarns can be homespun from wool and silk over a foundation of cotton, wool or silk, although many shops do use machine-spun yarns these days. The most luxurious and finely knotted rugs are all silk.

The yarns come in various grades with finest, softest yarns reserved for the finest weaves. The coarser yarns are found in rugs with 120 - 200 knots per square inch. Finer yarns make it possible to use a greater number of knots. There are handmade rugs with an amazing 1200 knots per square inch, made of the finest possible yarn.

If you are looking for a beautiful addition to your home that will keep its value and beauty for years to come, you really can't go wrong with genuine oriental handmade rugs.