Weaving
Woven rugs have no pile. Warp and weft form the entire surface, which is why they are reversible and usually thinner than a knotted rug. This page sets out the difference between hand and machine weaving and which styles fall into each category.
#What weaving means in rug-making
In weaving, warp and weft are firmly interlaced. No knots, no pile. The surface is flat, identical on both sides, and noticeably lower than that of a knotted rug. Woven rugs suit rooms where a thin, flat rug is wanted: entry areas, kitchens, more modern interiors with floorboards or concrete. They are generally cheaper to produce than knotted rugs, because the process moves faster and ties up less material.
#Kilim, sumak, and other hand-weaving techniques
The best-known hand-woven rug is the kilim. Here the pattern is formed by differently coloured wefts, each running only across a limited section of pattern. Where two colours meet, the characteristic slits appear that give a kilim its visible structure. Sumak is a related technique in which the wefts are wrapped around the warp, producing a relief-like surface. Sumak is more rugged than kilim and was often used for functional pieces such as saddle covers. Both techniques have been documented for thousands of years in the nomadic cultures of Anatolia, the Caucasus, and Persia.
#Wilton and Axminster: the machine side
In the 19th century, weaving was industrialised. The Wilton loom, named after the English town where it was developed, can weave pile rugs by machine. Unlike pure flatweaves, a pile is formed here by woven-in loops that can later be cut. The Axminster loom, also from England, allows more complex patterns with more colours and is used today mainly for hotel rugs and large surfaces. Both methods produce rugs that are far more uniform than hand-woven or knotted pieces. Lifespan under moderate use is between ten and twenty-five years.
#How to tell hand from machine weaving
Turn the rug over. On a hand-woven piece you can pick out small irregularities in the weave structure. Slightly offset wefts, minimal size variations, the occasional knot or splice. The fringes are the extension of the warps and therefore inseparable from the rug. With machine-made goods the structure is perfectly uniform, the edges often carry a machine-sewn binding, and the fringes may be sewn on or glued. Another test: on a hand-woven kilim the pattern looks exactly the same on both sides. With a machine-woven rug carrying a pile layer, a clear front and back can be distinguished.
Keep reading
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ReadIdentifying oriental rugs
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