by Ashley Irwin
When you purchase an oriental rug, you may not understand just how much work went in to creating it. Authentic hand-knotted rugs can take years to make because of their intricate design and durability. The weaver, or artist, ties every individual knot to create a magnificent piece of art. While a rug is not usually seen as an art piece in an interior space, a closer glance at an authentic oriental rug proves that it is actually a magnificent piece of artwork.
A weaver begins their work much like any other artist would. The weaver creates a design with different colors and patterns and draws it to scale on a piece of graph paper. The weaver refers to the design as he or she crafts the rug to ensure that they are using the correct color wool to complete the design. Very experienced weavers may not even need to refer to a design as they create a rug. Because oriental rugs are made from scratch, the weaver has an infinite amount of options for the design just like any other artist has with their medium, so most oriental rugs have their own unique design.
A weaver creates an oriental rug much like a knitter would make a wool scarf or blanket, but the weaver is working on a much larger scale. The artist hooks strings of wool or other materials onto the loom and ties the knots carefully along the edges. Because the weaver ties every knot and loops in every strand of wool, the process can take years to complete. While a weaver does not have paint, paintbrushes, or a canvas, a weaver needs their own unique supplies for their craft: Thick scissors for cutting wool, hooks to keep the wool in place, and rough brushes to clear off any scraps. The weaver ties off the knots at the ends of the rug to complete the process and the finished product is an exquisite masterpiece. So when you purchase a hand-knotted oriental rug, you are not only bringing in a beautiful addition to a room, but you are also bringing in a new piece of artwork.
Visit Essy’s Rug Gallery, located in The Factory at Franklin for hand-knotted, hand-woven Persian, Indian, and Pakistani rugs at great prices. Call Essy’s (615) 595-0959 or visit essysruggallery.com for more information.
The Factory at Franklin is located at 230 Franklin Road.
