Designs and Motifs of Pure Wool Carpets & Rugs »

Traditionally, wool is one of the most primeval fibers known to mankind it became adaptable for multiple usages, both for domestic and commercial purposes. The uniqueness of the natural fiber was its curious blend of tensility, malleability, richness, and of course, incredible warmth.

One of the turning points in the history of civilization has been the introduction of the wool yarn as a floor-covering – mainly to protect humans against the harsh weather and then the increasing popularity of the rugged floor-coverings led to the opulent avatars of the royal carpets that began making their mark in the chronicles of history.

The earliest known designs that started making their appearance on wool carpets nearly 2400 years back were by and large in the Geometric styles inspired by the local Tribal culture and nomadic lifestyle. Majority of the designs that evolved during the birthing years were influenced by the highly individualistic symbols and traditions of each village or the specific tribe.

As this was the start of the movement, many of the carpets were made in the repetitive style of motifs such as the Gul which has different connotations to different weaving families, ranging from, a rosette to the celestial bodies such as the sun or the moon or the infinite number of stars, and varied forms of local flowers.

The Gul was an easy and convenient motif to be made and was not prone to serious imperfections which certain complex designs were. The fact that the Gul carpets were woven using locally found dyes derived from roots, barks of trees, fruits, etc. also resulted in the huge flourish of the Gul design category in the Tribal genre.

Some of the other eclectic Tribal motifs that became a rage in the later decades were Shiraz, Shirvan, Ersari Dali, Caravan, Yakub Khani, Kashgar, Kafkaz, and Perpedil Kuba.

Our pure wool carpets are ideally suited for living rooms, bedrooms, under coffee table as well as wall hangings. In addition the floral and geometric designs, we have pictorial rugs, that are unique in their own manner.

Each of these Oriental and Tribal carpets has an enriching legacy that is symbolic of a forgotten era that finds resonance in countless museums through diverse art forms such as paintings, sculptures, textiles, pottery, artifacts and of course, handmade carpets.

Each carpet has an astonishing narrative enthused with a rich and vibrant character that is not only appreciated for its beauty but is an inseparable part of an heirloom treasured by a connoisseur.

Other than the Tribal designs, the expert families of weavers started experimenting in bolder designs involving nature, poetry, arts, and mythological creatures. One of the most path-breaking designs seen in the earlier adaptation in pure wool carpets was the Tree-of-Life pattern that finds resonance in multiple cultures, religions, and in paintings, pottery, textiles, and sculptures.

This design not only romanticized carpets but also evoke legendary tales of love, valor, and became a potent symbol of harmony. The Tree-of-Life although one of the most intricate of all designs was deftly produced by exceptional artists and was a much-revered memento to be gifted on royal occasions especially during marriages between princely states and as an expression of peace and long-lasting prosperity.

Weavers also started honing their skills which resulted in a celebration of artistry as can be seen in the legendary rugs like the Kazak, Heriz, Oushak or the Ushak, Baluch, and the Bokhara.

Regions as diverse as Iran, the Caucasian belt of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and India, were vying with each other and created magical carpets that rewrote the history of the Tribal rug industry.

The fact that many of the glorious museums of today have a special gallery for these enigmatic Tribal rugs of the past is proof enough of the mystical luminosity these rugs have till date.

The natural progression of the carpet industry reached a new dynamism when the Royals started patronizing the arts. Incredibly gifted artists employed in the royal courts of yore immersed themselves in creating kaleidoscopic masterpieces that would soon woo the attention of their masters and elevate their status in the legends of the respective kingdoms.

Imaginative stories started being woven on exquisite wool carpets – some of these were of the Royal Hunt, at times, recounting exaggerated heroics, man-to-animal combat scenes, mythological treasures, jewels, and depiction of exotic creatures such as the unicorns, dragons, phoenixes, tigers, and lions!

In the early fifteenth century in Kashmir, the genesis of carpet weaving was centered towards the local flora and fauna and wool carpets were being made by the proficient artists who had learned the art from the Mughal courts. Wool was abundantly available in the Highlands of the valley including the Pashmina or the Cashmere and the yarns were adroitly used in creating some of the everlasting carpets that regale connoisseurs even today across the world.

Some of the patterns were the Paradise Garden style that was embellished with intricately woven chrysanthemum flowers interspersed with tulips and blossoms that formed an inseparable part of the Mughal architecture in the later centuries.

The medallion designs such as the Kashmar, Sarouk, and Isfahan, although of Persian lineage were abundantly being produced by the Kashmir carpet centers. These medallions were being illustrated in diverse shapes and sizes ranging from the diamond-shaped sharp central motifs to the more conventional round medallions to the complex oval medallions with multiple layers one inside the other each with its magnificent beauty.

In the following decades, there was a stream of vibrant wool carpets that had an astonishing combination of ibexes, deer, lions, peacocks, on one side, and lotuses, daffodils, tulips, weeping willows, and irises, on the other.

Wool carpets and the designs we usually associate with them have over the centuries evolved and matured in all respects. However, this glorious past is our collective treasure and the designs are but our heirloom preserved for the future generations to take notice and be proud of the sheer geniuses who have enriched our world, forever!