Nazmiyal Antique Rugs

What Makes a Fine High Quality Rug?
Suleiman the Magnificent’s Ottoman Carpets: A Tale of Two Empires
Why Are Rugs So Expensive?

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 07:49 AM PDT

Commercial Carpets Vs. Fine Quality Rugs – What You Need To Know

All the Questions You May Have About Rugs and Carpets

Buying rugs is a big decision. Unlike coarse commercial grade carpets and rugs that you expect to replace at least once every five to ten years, hand-made carpets, especially the finer good quality rugs, are meant to last for at least several decades if not longer.

It is not uncommon to find antique rugs that have been around for over 100 years or more. By comparison, machine made area rugs, for the most part, are expected to have a maximum useful life of 10 years or less. When you purchase a hand knotted pile carpet, it is a commitment, so you want to make sure you are looking at high quality rugs.

Fine Good Quality Rugs

A fine hand carpet will last a lifetime if cared for properly. Not to mention, you can expect good quality rugs to be more expensive than mass-manufactured carpets as well. If you are considering adding a hand-knotted carpet to your home or office, it is important to understand what you are getting.

What Does It Mean When Someone Says “Fine” or “Good Quality” Rug?

Let's talk a bit about what the term “fine rugs” means and how coarse and commercial carpets compare. When you begin your research into the type of rug that you wish to purchase, you will probably hear the word “fine” mentioned frequently. Even if you shop for commercial carpets, the salesperson will probably use the term “fine”. In the world of commercial carpets and the world of hand-knotted carpets, this term means something different.

Large Persian Fine Quality Rugs

In the commercial carpet world, the term “fine” typically refers to quality, texture or “beauty”. It is just a word that is used to make the carpet sound more appealing. When describing a hand-knotted carpet, the word means something different entirely. When someone talks about a fine hand-knotted carpet, they are talking about the rug’s knot count or knot density.

Knot density is the number of knots in a specified unit of measure. Many people assume that a carpet with a high knot count is automatically more valuable carpet. While this is a good general rule, it is not true in every case. Regional differences in weaving techniques and the materials available, as well as the design, affect the final knot count of the carpet. Let's take a look at how these factors are treated in different types of hand-knotted carpets.

Knot Density and Quality Rugs

Knot density is found by counting the number of rug knots per square inch, square centimetre, or other unit depending on the country and preferred unit of measure. For this article, we will use knots per square inch, or KPSI. When talking about a fine weave versus a coarse weave carpet, the one with the higher knot count will be considered a finer weave, and the one with a lower knot count will be viewed as a coarse weave.

Although some general guidelines apply to all carpets in terms of whether a weave is fine or coarse, it is important to know whether the person is talking about carpets in general or carpets from a specific locality or region. Carpets produced in different areas of the world have typical knot counts for the rugs made in their location.

Finely Woven With High KPSI Rug

Also, many of the finer quality “city rugs” are produced in the weaving centers of the world, such as the Persian rug weaving cities of Tabriz and Kerman. These cities have been the home of formal carpet weaving schools since the 16th century.

Rug weavers in the carpet production city centers are trained to produce high quality rugs with a high knot count and delicate design. For instance, a carpet from Tabriz with a knot density of 400 kpsi would be considered average. It is not uncommon for carpets from this Persian city to reach knot counts into the 1000’s. By comparison, a tribal carpet may range between 50 and 80 kpsi. A tribal carpet with a kpsi of over 80 would be considered fine for that area, but coarse when talking about carpets in general – so it is all very relative.

Persian Isfahan High Quality Rugs Nazmiyal

A Persian Isfahan rug with a fine quality weave. Fine weaves are often found in quality rugs.

When talking about knot count, you have to be clear whether it is referring to carpets in general or carpets from a specific area. Comparing carpets woven in the weaving centers of the cities to those rugs created in villages is like comparing apples and oranges. They are two different worlds and must be judged against carpets that are similar to them.

Knot count does have to do with quality, but not in the way many think that it does. If one were to take two carpets produced in the same area with a similar design, and all other qualities being the same, the one with the higher knot count would be considered to be the better carpet. A knot count of 200 kpsi in one area may be an example of fine quality weaving, but in a different area of the world, it would not even be acceptable as a beginners weaving student's work.

The bottom line is this…. When talking about knot count and whether a carpet is coarse or fine, this conversation has to take into account the context and average knot count of carpets from that local area.

Designs Of Good Quality Rugs vs Coarse Weave Carpets

In general, knot count ranges in rugs from about 25 to over 1,000 kpsi. Anything below 80 kpsi is considered to be coarse and of “low quality”. Knot counts between 80 and 120 are mostly considered okay quality / acceptable. Those with a knot count of 120- 330 kpsi are considered medium to good, and those above 330 kpsi are generally considered to be fine and good quality rugs. However, knot count is not the only determining factor of the quality of a carpet; it is only one of many.

This high quality Persian rug from Nain was hand woven with silk highlights and has a high knot count.

Carpets with a higher knot count can include a more intricate design. A higher knot count is more suitable for delicate curves and shading. The coarse tribal rugs often use larger scale geometric shapes with straight lines. They seldom use round and curvy lines because the knot density is too low to allow for this. This gives the carpet a more rustic and tribal look.

How Long Does It Take To Weave A Better Quality Rug?

Finer woven quality carpets take longer to weave. A carpet that measures 9-foot by 12-foot and has a knot count of 500 kpsi takes over 12 months to complete. This is with four or five rug weavers working 8 hours a day and six days a week. The average weaver can tie between 4,000 and 8,000 knots in a day. This is one of the reasons for the higher price of finer rugs, but color and design also play an important role in determining the price.

Weaving A Good Quality Persian Rug

Just for the record, it is believed that the highest knot count rug ever made was a small 12-inch by 24-inch silk rug from China. It has a knot count of close to 5,000 kpsi. Among larger carpets, there are several that claim to have the highest not counts in the world. Currently, it is thought that a Hereke , which also happens to be a prayer rug, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds the record with a knot count of 4,360 kpsi. The carpet took over 14 years to produce.

How Do Commercial Carpets Measure Up?

Now that you understand a little bit about how quality rugs and handmade carpets compare to each other, let's take a look at some commercial carpets. By commercial carpets, we are referring to those that are made entirely by high speed machines. Commercial carpets are measured using the “face weight”, also known as the “pile weight”. This measurement reflects the ounces of yarn is used to make a square yard of carpet. Typical commercially made carpets range between 16 and 40 oz per yard.

Coarse Carpet Weave Vs Finely Woven Rug

Commercial carpets usually have a short pile and high-density. This allows them to last longer under heavy foot traffic. They are often made of synthetic fibers such as viscose, nylon, acrylic, polyester and olefin. There is stiff competition to increase quality and there are some carpets that are now available which have up to 100 ounces per square yard. In general, the higher the face weight, the longer the carpet will last.

When it comes to choosing between a good quality rugs that are handmade and commercial coarse carpets, the choice is clear. While the hand-knotted carpets are more expensive because of the labor involved, the commercial grade carpets will never match their appeal. Even though it is possible to achieve incredibly high densities with commercial carpets, they will never be as soft as a hand-knotted Persian area carpet in a fine weave. Regardless of how dense the commercial carpet is, it will always have a bit of a “scratchy” feel underfoot. Wool or silk feels soft and plush in a way that commercial carpets can never achieve.

Hand knotting a fine quality rug

Now you understand a little bit about knot density and how it plays a role in the quality of the rug. In general, when talking about hand-knotted carpets, the higher the knot density, the more intricate the pattern and the longer the carpet can be expected to last. With commercial carpets, the same is true, but when it comes to the feel under feet, commercial carpets can never compete with a nicely made hand-knotted quality rug.

What Makes A High Quality Fine Rug So Special?

In the world of carpets and rugs, those with a fine weave are a pleasure to behold. Finer rug weaves allow for the creation of awe inspiring detail. Fine rugs have a suppleness that coarse weaves lack. They also allow for the threads to be packed tightly, which creates more durable carpets. Fine rugs are a real treasure to find, as they require considerably more time and skill from the rug weaver. They set themselves apart and have much more to offer than their high kpsi (knots per square inch) counterparts.

Fine Rugs

What Does A Fine Weave Mean?

A fine weave rug is one that has a high knot count. The density of the knots is what determines whether a rug is considered to be coarse or fine. The simplest definition of knot density is determined by counting the number of knots in a square inch of weaving. It is possible that the knot counts can be different in the horizontal and vertical direction. The knot density typically can range from anywhere from 25 to over 1,000 knots per square inch (KPSI). Sometimes this measurement is translated into centimeters (knots per square centimeter – KPSC), or another measurement according to country or region. For instance, the knots per “dihari” is used in India.

Extremely Fine Weave Antique Persian Silk Tabriz Rug #48981

To find the overall knot count, you simply multiply the number of knots in a vertical inch of weaving with the number of knots in a horizontal inch of weaving. The number of knots in a certain area is simply a way of describing the fineness of the rug and serves as a point of comparison. It is considered a measure of quality and has an effect on the value of a rug, but it is not the only determining factor. It may be noted that certain ranges of kpsi are associated with various regions of rug production. Many times, the materials available are a determining factor as to the quality of rugs that can be produced.

Fine Silk Pile Turkish Hereke Rug

A fine rug takes much longer to produce than a rug of lower knot density. The most skilled weavers can only tie about 10,000 knots per day. This means that at the end of the day, they have finished a smaller section of a fine rug, as opposed to a coarser one. It can take several years to complete a fine rug, as opposed to several months to complete a coarse one. This affects the price / value of the rug, as fine rugs require more effort, time, and materials to produce.

What Affects the Fineness of the Rug?

There are several factors that serve to limit how fine a weave can be produced. One of them is the type of material that is available. Silk is prized for its ability to be spun into threads as fine as a spider web but still retain their strength. Silk allows for the finest rugs to be woven, particularly those that use both a silk pile and foundation.

The material that is second in terms of its ability to be spun finely is cotton. Wool and other exotic fibers such as yak or camel hair are known for producing coarse threads. With wool, there is a high degree of variability in the coarseness of the hand spun yarn that can be produced. Some sheep breeds, such as merino, can produce extremely fine threads, but they will never be as fine as silk. Many of the more primitive breeds of sheep, such as those reared by nomadic tribes, can only produce a coarse, rough textured yarn.

Fine Antique Persian Kerman Rug #48957

To weave a fine rug, you first have to start with a finely spun material. The next consideration is the type of knot. The Ghiordes rug knot, or symmetrical knot, is considered to produce a much more durable weave. However, it cannot produce as fine of design as the Senneh, or asymmetrical knot that we see in many of the fine Persian rugs. Many fine rugs use the Senneh knot to achieve cleaner lines in the rug design and a finer knot density. The use of the Senneh knot can be compensated for in terms of strength by the strength of the materials used and by packing the threads tightly.

The final factor that determines the knot density of the rug is the skill of the weaver. The master rug weavers who create these masterpieces are often trained from the time they are young children. They gain skill and the ability to produce higher quality carpets as they grow older. They develop the skills to produce more detailed designs and to pack the knots more tightly to produce a more durable rug.

Why Are The Fine Quality Rugs With High KPSI So Special?

Aside from the density of knots, there are many reasons why fine or high knot density rugs are special. If one were to compare two different rugs of the same design, age, and condition, the kpsi would be the determining factor in which one was the more valuable of the two. However, it is possible for a carpet of lower knot density to be more valuable than one of higher density, depending on other factors such as age, condition, design, and the region where it was produced.

Knots Per Square Inch Rug KPSI

In addition, fine rugs allow for more intricate designs and are suitable for elaborate motifs carried out in breathtaking detail. Higher knot count allows curved lines to appear round, instead of jagged. This allows for greater development of the fine details and expanded design potential. Coarse rugs are suitable for angular geometric designs, but to produce the realistic pictorial rugs or detailed floral designs, a higher knot count is necessary. When you look at rug, it is easy to make a reasonable guess as to knot count by looking at the level of detail in the design.

Fine Antique Pictorial Silk Rug #48890

Finer weave rugs will also tend to have a shorter pile length, which allows them to be soft and supple without losing strength. Fine rugs must be sheared shorter to avoid appearing blurry and losing the details due to the wool spreading out towards the end. Closely woven carpets with a low pile create a visual effect that reflects the light differently from longer pile carpets. They have a captivating look that lets you know the care and labor that went into them.

When you see a fine carpet, you know it, even before you know the knot count. The colors are brighter, the edges are sharper and the pattern is crisper. They have a luminous glow that is not seen in coarser carpets. They give the room a feeling of warmth and vibrancy.

Feel free to browse our spectacular collection of high knot density carpets and you will be sure to find the perfect one that will give your space the touch of elegance that it deserves.

Here are some of our favorite fine rugs:

Antique Persian Kerman Garden Design Rug

Haji Jalili Antique Tabriz Persian Carpet

Antique Persian Kerman Rug

Antique Room Size Persian Mohtasham Kashan Rug

Large Oversized Seafoam Color Antique Indian Agra Rug

We at Nazmiyal Antique Rugs have a large selection of hand-knotted carpets in our collection in a range of knot densities. However, we encourage you to look beyond the knot density when it comes to evaluating the carpet that is right for you. The most important factor is that you fall in love with it because you will have to live with it for many years to come, in the most likely circumstance. Finding the perfect rug for your space and that appeals to you is always the best criteria for choosing the right carpet for you.

This rug blog in our Rug Q&A’s series was published by Nazmiyal Antique Rug Gallery NYC.

The post What Makes a Fine High Quality Rug? appeared first on Nazmiyal Antique Rugs.

Suleiman the Magnificent’s Ottoman Carpets: A Tale of Two Empires

Posted: 29 Apr 2021 09:33 AM PDT

The Antique Ottoman Carpets of Suleiman the Magnificent

As you stand in admiration of the magnificent antique carpets produced by the Persian and Ottoman artisans, it is easy to see more similarities than differences. They both present a garden of colors and intricate designs that both fascinate and captivate. However, even though there are similarities in design and color, to confuse the two in the Court of Suleiman the Magnificent would have been to put your life in peril. This great Ottoman ruler, Suleiman the Magnificent, fervently denied any Persian influence in art and /or design.

Portrait of Suleiman the Magnificent

The Ottomans Of Suleiman The Magnificent Vs The Persian – A Tale of Two Empires:

The story of the Persian Safavid Dynasty and the rise of the Ottoman Turks, to become great empires, has many parallels. Prior to the rise of these great dynasties, the area within the middle east was occupied mainly by tribal cultures fighting over control of grazing lands. In 1520, Suleiman I – AKA “Suleiman the Magnificent”, became the tenth and longest reigning Ottoman ruler. He became known as “The Lawgiver Suleiman” or “Suleiman the Magnificent.” Under his rule, the Ottoman Empire would grow to encompass 25 million people and a vast territory.

Under Suleiman, the Ottoman Empire would enter into its Golden Age of art and cultural development. This iconic Ottoman ruler heavily supported patronage of the arts. He established Ehl-i Hiref, which translates “Community of the Craftsmen.” This community of craftsmen was administered from the Imperial seat at Topkapi Palace. This community established a formal apprenticeship program where artisans would advance in their rank and were paid quarterly annual installments that were commensurate with their level of skills. Documents from 1526 list 40 different societies with over 600 artisans as members. It included some of the most talented artists of the court. Of course, Ottoman carpet weavers were listed among them.

Topkapi Palace Turkey

The Ottoman rug and textile weavers of this community were assigned the task of creating magnificently beautiful rugs for the royal courts of the Ottoman rulers. It may be noted that the Ottoman Court is noted for its strict adherence to Islam. It is not surprising that we begin to see the tiled geometric and larger motifs that were found in architecture and other Islamic art of the time.

The Oriental carpets were meant to show off the wealth of the Ottoman rulers. They were diplomatic gifts and were used to adorn state-sponsored mosques and buildings.

Miniature paintings of the time showed these Ottoman carpets underneath massive outdoor tents at formal state functions. These paintings indicate that some epic carpets of massive scale were produced. They are often shown layered one on top of another. The designs were standardized and dictated to the community artisans. The artisans were not the designers, rather, the court itself dictated motifs that were to be used throughout the community artisans. These standardized, state-sponsored and “approved” design motifs found their way into bookbinding, miniature painting, pottery, textiles and architecture. The artisans themselves had little artistic freedom and were held to strict standards. There are even undocumented allusions in writings of the time, that the Ottoman ruler himself, Suleiman, created some of these designs.

Although one can find resemblances to tribal designs and motifs used by Anatolian tribes, the court fervently denied these influences. They take credit for the introduction of the “saz” style floral with long, curvy leaves throughout the design. They used native flowers, such as roses, hyacinths, and tulips heavily.

16th Century Tile With “Saz” Leaves Design

The Chintamani pattern, sometimes called “tiger stripes” is another design that arose at this time. This particular design is associated with the Ottoman court, and they considered it much in the same way we associate a certain brand with a company.

16th Century Ottoman Chintamani Pattern Silk Velvet

The Ottoman Court promoted strict adherence to the Muslim religion, which led to the development and introduction of the mihrab, or prayer rug, design.

Mihrab Design Islamic Antique Muslim Prayer Rugs Nazmiyal

Mihrab Design in an Islamic Muslim antique Prayer rugs

Another remarkable aspect, of the carpets of the courts of Suleiman the Magnificent, is their construction methods. The Ottoman court carpets use S-spun wool, rather than Z-spun wool as found in Persia and other parts of the world. S-spun wool are attributed to the carpets of ancient Egypt. They require a different spinning technique than Z-spun wool. When determining whether an early carpet is of Turkish or Persian origin, this is often a deciding factor.

Z-spun and S-spun Wool Diagram

Another structural difference is the use of the Ghiordes (or symmetrical rug knot), rather than the Senneh (or asymmetrical knot) that is typically found in Persia and throughout Asia. The Ghiordes knot does not allow for the fine curves found in Persian carpets, and it is more suited to the geometric designs of the Ottomans. However, it is also a bit stronger because it wraps around two warp threads instead of one.

Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Rug Knots

Court Arts Of The Ottoman Ruler Suleiman Vs Shah Abbas’s Safavid Persian Court Arts

If the story of the Golden age of Ottoman Court arts sounds familiar, it is because it is similar to the development of the Golden Age of arts in the Persian Empire. Only 50 years after Suleiman established his formal system of court artisans, Shah Abbas I began making similar changes in the art of the Persian Safavid Dynasty. Abbas ruled Persia from 1588 to 1629. The designs of the Safavid dynasty appear similar to those found in the Ottoman Empire.

But there is a great debate among scholars, one that mimics a great chicken or the egg debate. The debate surrounds whether existing Persian designs heavily influenced the Ottomans, or whether Persian designs copied the court designs of the Ottomans.

Shah Abbas, Islamic Art in Antique Rugs, Nazmiyal Collection

Shah Abbas, a historical force behind Islamic art and carpets.

Of course, both sides claim they are correct. The two dynasties shared a long and movable border for some time, and there was inevitably some cultural exchange in both of these dynasties. However, both of them claimed first rights to their designs and that they were the original author of them. Both of them used these designs to elevate the glory of their empires.

One may note that while the court rugs of the Ottoman ruler Suleiman were in adherence to the issuance of “official” designs, Persian rug weavers had considerably more freedom. This is because the “hold” of Islam was looser on them. Many still practiced Zoroastrianism and continued to incorporate the traditional ancestral tribal designs into formal works for the Persian courts. Remote Anatolian tribes were still producing these ancient tribal designs, but they were officially erased from the Court of ruler Suleiman and replaced by notably Islamic carpet designs.

Oriental Antique Tribal Turkish Kirshehir Prayer Rug

Ottoman and Persian Courts – An Intense Artistic Rivalry

The Ottoman and Persian Courts were intense political rivals. Both competed for dominance in the export of their wares to the European market. All the while, they were accusing each other of stealing the other’s designs. Suleiman The Magnificent continued to promote the works of Persian artisans as inferior to those of his own court artisans. During the early years when the Ottoman and Safavids were neighbors, there were five different wartime periods between them. From 1532 until 1639, there were fewer years when the two were at peace than when they were at war.

The consistencies between the designs of the textiles and carpets of the Ottoman courts are intentional. This is true when it comes to the motifs used, and also, with the scale of the designs. Ottoman designs are considerably larger in scale than Persian designs. Suleiman wanted the Ottoman designs to be distinctively different and issued mandates to that effect as Persian designs tend to be more delicate and free flowing.

It is easy to confuse the works of the Ottomans and the early Persian empires. Despite both of their denial, there are many similarities as one can find similar use of colors and motifs. The biggest difference is the larger geometric motifs and the different structural style used in the carpets of the Ottoman Turks. The antique Ottoman carpets produced by the Court of Suleiman the Magnificent are distinctively different than those from the Safavids on purpose. However, concerning the rivalry about which one was the originator, the verdict is still out, and it is not known if this debate will ever be resolved.

Nonetheless, we are pleased to offer a variety of Ottoman and Persian carpets. You will enjoy the beautiful colors and patterns produced on both sides of the border. Feel free to search our rug and textile collection and maybe you will find the perfect addition to your own palace.

Here are some beautiful Ottoman textiles from our collection:

Antique 18th Century Ottoman Embroidery Textile

Rare Collectible Antique Ottoman Silk Embroidery Textile

16th Century Ottoman Embroidery Textile #70850

17th Century Antique Ottoman Embroidered Textile

Round 17th Century Turkish Ottoman Embroidery Textile

Antique 17th Century Ottoman Textile

This rug blog about Suleiman’s carpets was published by Nazmiyal Antique Rug Gallery in NYC.

The post Suleiman the Magnificent’s Ottoman Carpets: A Tale of Two Empires appeared first on Nazmiyal Antique Rugs.

Why Are Rugs So Expensive?

Posted: 23 Apr 2021 07:17 AM PDT

Are Rugs Really Expensive Or Are They Fairly Priced

The most common question that people ask is:

“Why are rugs so expensive”?

But are rugs really expensive? To even ask that question is to reduce these historically significant works of art to their most basic and utilitarian function. It is to ignore the artistic value of these masterpieces entirely.

Fine handmade rugs, especially the antique rugs, are much more than just pieces of furniture. They are the combination of many hours of hard work, masterful artistry and the culmination of thousands of years of tradition.

Why Are Rugs So Expensive?

Let us take a look at some of the factors that influence the price of rugs and see “why are rugs so expensive”

What Determines the Value of A Rug?

The first point that needs to be made when tackling the issue of why are rugs so expensive, is that hand knotted and finely woven rugs differ significantly from machine made rugs. Each one is an individual work of art, even if the rug weaver used time honored designs and techniques. Human hands tied every single knot in the rug. Human hands also dyed and spun the wool, silk and cotton that went into it. Each knot was a conscious decision on the part of the weaver. This makes the carpet much more than a simple piece of fabric. It makes it an extension of the personality of the designer and weaver.

The value of the rug is determined by several different factors. One of the most common that people think of is the knot density. This refers to the number of knots per square inch, or other unit of measure. While knot count is important, it is not important for the reason that most people think. Those with a higher knot count took longer to make.

Knots per Square Inch

However, the knot count is also important for another reason. It allows the designer to make a rug that has a higher level of detail than one with a lower knot count. This can be compared to looking at a high definition graphic with a higher number of pixels per inch as compared to a lower pixel density composition. A high knot count allows the rug artist a considerably higher range of artistic expression, shading and detail. It allows them to create designs that are not possible with lower knot counts.

Beyond knot count, the pattern of the rug, the rarity of the design, the colors used and if the rug designer is well-known all go into valuing the worth of a rug. In addition, one has to consider the antique value. While not always the case, the older and earlier rugs, tend to be more rare and as a result, more valuable. Although a fine rug that will last for hundreds of years, wool, silk, the rug dyestuffs and materials are still organic and will eventually break down. This means that as time goes on many of these beautiful historical antique rugs will inevitably disappear.

In June of 2013, a 17th century rug with a sickle-leaf design brought $33.7 million at Sotheby’s Auction House and became the most expensive rug ever sold at auction.The factors that went into this decision included the condition of the rug for its age, its actual age, the design, the historically significant provenance and the overall artistic appeal of the carpet. This was indeed a rare piece and carpets such as these are considered world treasures that are as valuable as any other artifact that is still around from the 1600’s and the time of the Golden Age of the Safavid Empire. It is difficult to even put a price on an antique such as this.

The most expensive rug ever sold.

Learn more about the values of antique rugs.

What Goes Into Making These “Expensive Rugs”?

The artistic value of the more expensive rugs plays a role in their value, as does their age and condition. However, even if one only considers the utilitarian nature of the rug, many of them are still under priced. If it is fine, even a small 3′ x 5′ carpet can take several months to weave. This means a minimum of 7 to 8 hour day goes into just tying the knots. This does not include the effort that went into caring for the sheep, growing the cotton, or waiting for the silk worms to work their magic and produce a cocoon.

Next, there is the laborious process of spinning the wool or other fibers and dying them. Only recently has this process been mechanized, but in many traditional tribal cultures, it is still done using a hand spindle. Using this method, it takes approximately 7 to 8 hours of spinning to do one hour of weaving.

A large size carpet takes even longer to produce, with some of the palace oversized rugs taking one to two years if not longer to complete. In many cases, especially with antique rugs, there were no weekends off, and weaving these carpets was an all day, every day and sometimes an around the clock affair.

The fastest rug weavers can produce about 6 knots a minute, which is 360 knots an hour, but weavers of such skill are rare. On average, a 9’x12′ room size rug at 500 knots per square inch (which is not especially fine but not commercial or coarse weave quality) takes 4-5 weavers working 6 hours a day for 6 days a week about 14 months to complete. That is over 12,000 working hours to produce the average quality carpet.

Let’s say that the artisans are only paid US minimum wage to produce these magnificent works of art. That comes to about $103,420 dollars just for the labor alone. Keep in mind that at this point, only the weavers have been paid, not the farmers, spinners and dyers. Some fine carpets can have well over 1,000 knots per square inch. You can easily see how this adds up for a 19′ X 22′ masterpiece rug by Ustad Mohtashem who produced extremely fine Persian Kashan rugs in the late 18th century. Typically, the price does not even cover the labor and materials involved to create the carpet.

By comparison, the modern rug making machine has 1,200 needles across and can do about 3,600 tufts per minute. Modern carpet manufacturers can crank out several hundreds of square yards of carpet per day. This is one reason why modern manufactured synthetic machine made carpets are much cheaper than hand knotted ones, but they lack something that only a hand knotted carpet can bring. They lack the human factor and the individual artistry that goes into a hand-knotted carpet.

Rug weavers hand making rugs.

Each Rug Is A Masterpiece

Those people who ask why are rugs so expensive do not take the time to stop to think about what goes into making a hand knotted carpet. However, the value does not stop there. It has already been mentioned that antique area carpets are bound to be more expensive than new ones, but that is not say that many new carpets are any less of a work of art.

Learn more about why buying modern rugs may cost you more than buying antique rugs

A beautiful carpet can be compared to a work of art by famous artists. Carpets by historical master weavers such as Ustad Mohtashem, Haji Jalili, Aboul Ghasem Kermani are as important as the works of famous painters such as Matisse, Picasso, and Van Gogh.

People think nothing of paying millions of dollars for a Picasso, but they still scoff at a couple thousand for a fine art rug. Weaving is a deliberate art. That is not to say that painting is not, but weaving a carpet means the artist must set an intention and remain committed to the design for a long period of time, sometimes years. In addition, many of them must go through years of formal schooling and apprenticeship to learn their art.

Prices In The World of Fine Art / Vs Rugs – Who Is Expensive Now????

Compared to other art pieces for the home, carpets are relatively inexpensive, and as one can see, they hardly even cover the effort that it takes to produce them. The world of fine art is a fickle place to say the least. In 2019, a three-foot tall stainless steel rabbit made to look like a child’s toy balloon sold at Christie’s auction house for $91,075,000. This was applauded by the art world. What is even more fascinating about these works is that the artist, Jeff Koons, does not create many of the actual sculptures himself. He has a team do it for him and just oversees the process and adds his signature when they are done.

Jeff Koons’ Rabbit Sculpture

Yet, a 16th century rug sells at auction for 34 million and the art world proclaims it to be outrageous. You can easily spend close to $1,000,000 on an ornate antique frame for a painting, which makes $50,000 for a one-of-a-kind masterpiece rug seem cheap, especially when you consider the rarity and the effort that went into producing it.

A carpet is the one of the most important items that you will purchase for your home. The perfect rug sets the tone of the interior design and transforms it into a restful sanctuary. Buying a rug is buying an artwork. When one compares the price of a hand-knotted carpet, it is not expensive at all in the world of fine art.

Now that you can appreciate the effort that goes into these works of art and where they fit into the world of find art, you may want to reevaluate your original question of why are rugs so expensive.

Browse our rugs online and take a look at the wonderful masterpieces that we have in our collection. A hand-knotted carpet is an investment that will last for a lifetime and beyond. You just might find the perfect piece of art that you have been searching for to complete your room.

This rug blog which answered the age old question: “Why Are Rugs So Expensive?” was published by Nazmiyal Antique Rug Gallery In NYC.

The post Why Are Rugs So Expensive? appeared first on Nazmiyal Antique Rugs.

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