Historical Perspective

Since the birth of civilisation, the spinning of fibres and the knotting together of warp and weft have been acts of worship.

Man fulfils cosmic significance when he binds the warp of time and the weft of space with the knot of the moment. Thus, the creation of the carpet becomes inextricably woven into the yarn of destiny.

This art is as alive today as it has been for millennia amongst the Muslim Peoples.

A Noble Dynasty

The families of knotted or pile carpets reveal their geographic origins in the bold works of nomads, in charming village products, and in the exquisite mastery of urban ateliers.

Skilfully made from wool or silk and rich in symbolism, the carpets depict gardens, narrative, and reflect themes of the everyday   surroundings of their makers.

Kelims are flat woven pieces intended as floor coverings, tent hangings or saddle blankets. Dhurries are their Indian cousins.

Laboriously constructed from handspun wool or silk, dyed with roots and herbs from the environs, then knotted according to a pattern traditionally transmitted by sons and secret, these works of art take years to complete and may contain five hundred thousand knots per square metre of more.

The coveted gifts of royalty, always part of a bride's trousseau and often used as currency, these carpets have been treasured for their beauty and utility, and habitually serve as a storage of wealth.

A well made carpet will retain its intrinsic wealth, which is based on the materials it contains, the effort  invested in it and the artistry of its composition and colour.

The whole exceeds the sum of its parts. This synergy is the magic, the very soul of the Persian carpet.

How Carpets are Made

To make a Persian capet, the  threads used for the base of the carpet, called the warp threads, are strung on a loom, which is a rectangular frame normally made out of wood. Most looms used these days are vertical looms, as in the picture here, although horisontal or flat looms are still used by nomads to this day.

A few rows of weft threads are passed through the warp, forming a base to begin making the carpet. Wool of different colours is knotted to pairs of warp thread to create a pattern. This pattern can be clearly seen on the back of the finished carpet.

The process is continued across the width of the warp. Then, some weft threads, sometimes up to three or four, are passed between the warps. These are then beaten down on the warp with a comb to tension the weaving. Once the desired tension is obtained, another row of knots is tied and more weft inserted. The process is repeated until the entire loom is covered and the pattern completed.