Indian Rugs

The art of rug weaving was introduced to India during the reign of Akbar, the third Mogul emperor of India, who ruled from 1556 to 1605. Akbar was an enthusiast of artwork from Isfahan, the capital of the Safavid Dynasty (1502 - 1722) which ruled Iran, and he brought to his empire artists and rug weavers from the Persian Empire to setup factories for the Mogul court. Thus the art of rug weaving was introduced to India. While initially Indian rugs were very much expressions of Persian rugs in terms of style, before long, the Persian influence combined with Indian elements producing a new style of Indian rugs and art.

Early Indian rugs appear mostly in all-over layouts, meaning that a single motif or a group of motifs is repeated throughout the entire rug as opposed to having one central design. Popular motifs in Indian rugs are plants, palmettes (a stylized palm leaf), rosettes, and leaves. The border of Indian rugs, meaning the design which encloses the inner field of the rug, generally displays motifs and colors similar to those of the field of the rug. One of the primary colors used in Indian rugs, especially in the grounds, is a dark red known as lac red. This color is actually produced from the secretions of the lac insect, which is commonly found in India, Thailand, and China. Other popular colors in Indian rugs are light and dark green (or emerald green). Light yellow and light blue, as well as orange, black, and brown are also frequently used colors in Indian rugs. As can be seen from these color descriptions, there is generally not a lot of color contrast in Indian rugs from the colors of the grounds to the colors of the motifs. The dyes used in early Indian rugs are natural dyes, either from insects or plants. Repeated dying by Indian rug makers make for the beautiful and rich colors found in Indian rugs. Modern Indian rugs are generally made using colorfast chrome dyes, which are quicker and easier to produce.

As mentioned above, rug weaving was introduced to India to decorate the royal Mugal palaces of Akbar. This art form soon began to spread and its uses varied-most Indian rugs are for decorative purposes, however, Indian rug weavers apparently also made prayer rugs, known as "millefleurs prayer rugs", whose exact dates are in debate. Also of note are "dhurries", which are traditional flat woven rugs.

Today, India is one of the leading produces of handmade rugs, Varanasi and Jaipur being the primary areas of production. These Indian rugs follow in the traditional styles of Persian rugs, as well as the French styles of Aubusson and Savonnerie rugs. These are flat woven, wool carpets, usually consisting of naturalistic floral motifs or coats of arms. The Aubusson and Savonnerie styles are also produced today in Pakistan and China. India, Pakistan, and China also produce rugs with styles mimicking English rugs, particularly those of William Morris, whose designs were influenced by Persian styles and feature floral motifs and arabesques, a motif of complex, repeating geometric forms commonly found in Islamic art.

The uses of Indian rugs vary. Many people seek old Indian rugs as valuable collectibles. Others seek old Indian rugs for their beauty. Newer Indian rugs that are not collectibles have many different uses. Whether you are looking to redecorate a room, or protect your wall-to-wall carpeting, adding an Indian rug is a quick and easy way to add new life to your home. The best way to begin decorating your room is by starting from the Indian rug of your choice, forthwith choosing furniture and paint colors to match the rug. This option allows for the most range in choosing Indian rug that you love the most, and it will be easier to coordinate furniture and paint around the rug than vice-versa. Dark and deep colored Indian rugs give a room warmth, whereas lighter colors can open a room and make it seem larger. If you are adding a rug to an already decorated room, pick an Indian rug that picks up the colors used in your furniture and paint.

Indian rugs can do wonders on stone or wood flooring, adding color and softness. An Indian rug can also unify a room by becoming the focal point. Additionally, Indian rugs can help prevent wear to your already existing carpeting, or can serve to cover up wear or other stains on carpeting.

Most Indian rugs are made of wool. Wool is very strong and durable; it presents a rich look and feel. Wool has excellent resilience (it "springs back"), is very durable, is soft, and hides soil-because the fiber is opaque, it does not reflect soil. Unlike synthetic materials, wool does not melt and it is naturally flame resistant. However, wool is expensive, much more so than synthetics, and it tends to "wear down" with time and traffic quicker than a synthetic like nylon or olefin. Also, wool is very easy to stain and stain removal can be quite difficult. Moths used to be a big problem with wool but today most wool carpets are treated to prevent against moths. Silk is sometimes used in Indian rugs, which gives the rug a special sheen. One point to keep in mind: while the luster and shine of a silk rug is beautiful, silk rugs are generally not as resilient as wool rugs. Cotton is used often in the foundation of Indian rugs and is very durable.

There are many manufacturers of Indian rugs today. There are Indian manufacturers who produce not only Indian rugs but many other styles as well, like Persian and European. There are also worldwide manufactures that make Indian and Persian style rugs. Here is a list of a few of these manufactures.

Obeetee - India's leading producer and exporter of exquisite, hand-tufted and flat woven carpets. Of special note is the Mughal rug in the Antigua collection, featuring elaborate, dragon style arabesques. http://www.obeetee.com

Trade Craft - Based in Srinagar (Kashmir), India, Trade Craft makes authentic silk Kashmir rugs. http://www.kashmircrafts.com/

GM Khaja's - Manufactures several different styles of Kashmir rugs, both wool and silk. http://www.kashmirdowry.com/

The Carpet Cellar - Features styles from all different forms of oriental rugs. The Carpet Cellar uses natural dyes and hand weaving techniques to make these beautiful rugs. http://www.carpetcellar.com/

K.P. & Company - Located in India, and powered by 2500 expert weavers, K.P. & Company has many different styles of Indian rugs available. http://www.jaipurcarpets.com/

Farkon Corporation - the leading manufacturer and exporter of silk carpets, rugs and shawls in India. http://www.silk-carpets-india.com/

INDIAN RUGS MAINTENANCE TIPS

After having researched Indian rugs and investing money, obviously you will want to know how to best care for your carpet. First, consider the location and environment of where your Indian rug will be. Like other textiles, exposing rugs to rapid changes in temperature and humidity can cause damage. Direct sunlight may result in fading, so if your rug is in a sunny area, be sure to close the curtains during the hours when the sun is shining brightest.

Don't use nails or staples to secure your Indian rug. Underlays can provide additional stability and protection to a handmade rug. The padded backing protects the fibers of the pile and gives additional support to the knotting of the rug. The best types of underlays are made from solid sponge rubber.

With regards to furniture placement, it is a good idea to shift the legs of heavy furniture every few months by a few inches. This will prevent potentially permanent indentations in the rug's pile and provide an additional measure of protection. Note that narrow diameter shoe heels, no matter how high or low, cause a great deal of damage to carpets.

Pets can harm your carpet as well. Claws cause damage to the pile and urine stains are difficult to remove and can attract insects. Check during the spring and summer for signs of insect infestation. Damage from moths and other insects can be prevented by using an insect spray once a month in the room where the carpet is placed. If your Indian rug has signs of clothes' moths or carpet beetles, contact a textile professional at once.

GENERAL CLEANING TIPS

A hand-knotted Indian rug placed in an area of moderate to heavy traffic will usually need a vacuum-clean about once a week. Rugs with longer piles may be beaten gently from the back to remove any grit that is caught in the pile. For antique Indian rugs, use a carpet sweeper or brush to clean dirt. When vacuuming your carpet or rug, don't scrub but instead, use a gentle action with a regular rather than a rotary head and work only in the direction of the pile.

It is recommended that pure silk Indian rugs be placed in areas of low traffic where spills and rough use are less likely. Pure silk rugs can also be given a gentle vacuum clean as required.

Don't use foam cleaners, other chemical cleaners or salt remedies. Additional cleaning or repairs should be left to a professional rug conservator.

CLEANING/REMOVING SPILLS

To clean pure silk Indian rugs, contact a handmade-carpet specialist. It is important to place these rugs in areas where spills are not likely to occur. If not properly treated or left untreated for a period of time, liquid spills have the potential to permanently damage a pure silk rug.

For antique Indian rugs, the condition of the rug will determine how it should be cleaned. Fragile rugs should not be beaten hard, shaken, or forcefully scrubbed with a wet cloth or sponge. With antique rugs that are still very strong and in good condition, however, alternative rules apply.

If a liquid or food spills on a rug, the steps to be taken depend on a few factors. These include what material the rug is made of and whether the dyes are colorfast.

For wool Indian rugs, spills can generally be cleaned as you would clean a spill on your clothes, i.e. with a cloth and soapy water. The area of the spill should be gently cleaned with the wet cloth and all soap should be removed. The pile should then be smoothed down in its natural direction, and the rug can be hung on a chair indoors or on a fence to dry. If the rug is too large to hang, the wet area can be propped up so that both sides of the rug get some air and are able to dry. A hair-dryer can also be used to speed up the drying process. If left damp for long periods of time, mildew or fungus can form and the rug's pile and foundation could be damaged or weakened.

Most new Indian rugs can be scrubbed hard if need be, but in these cases it is important to know beforehand that the rug's dyes will not run. Some Persian rugs do not have colorfast dyes. To find out whether your carpet's dyes will run, test the rug with a colorfast experiment:

Begin by gently rubbing a small area of the pile (such as an area of blue or red) with a white wet cloth. Be sure to rub a section of only one color, as you do not want to accidentally spread the color of one area into another. Note that when checking your white cloth to determine whether the dyes are colorfast, it is important to differentiate between some loose wool coming onto the cloth and the actual dyes running on the cloth.

If the color does run, (i.e. the dye is not colorfast) the area of spillage can still be cleaned, but care must be taken not to scrub the rug hard and to avoid scrubbing across sections of the rug with different colors. Also, you must use a new section of cleaning cloth (or a new white cloth) for each section that you are cleaning.

In this case, it is better to dry the Indian rug flat on one side (and then turn it over to dry the other) rather than to hang the rug, in order to prevent the wet dyes from running down into other dyes.

FULL WASHING

Often, the area that shows dirt the soonest is the fringe, and this can be washed without the entire rug being washed. The fringe can be cleaned with a bit of soap and water, leaving the carpet flat to dry afterward. This usually makes a significant difference in the appearance of a rug without the trouble or expense of a full wash.

Another way to renew the appearance of an older Indian rug is to give it a "face wash". This involves rubbing a wet cloth over the pile of the entire rug (wetting the cloth as necessary depending on the size of the rug). The rug can then be propped up or hung to dry. (Ensure that the rug's dyes are fast before doing this, and note that silk rugs should not be given this face wash)

For full washes, usually not required for several years, take your rug to a handmade rug-specialist cleaner. This will ensure that no chemicals are used in the wash that could permanently damage the rug or cause the colors to run.