Exotic and durable Persian rugs have long been considered a sign of luxury and the delicate taste of its owner. A few decades ago they could be seen in almost every home, but later they lost their relevance. And today, this element of decor is back in fashion.
A bit of history
The first Persian rugs were made several millennia ago. Ancient weavers were not too interested in the beauty of the pattern. The only thing they were worried about was the functionality of products designed to protect against sand brought in by the wind. During frequent travels, the Iranians wrapped their simple belongings in them.
Over time, monophonic products were replaced by carpets decorated with images of fruits, flowers and birds. Particularly skilled craftsmen managed to write legends, tales, songs and even
love messages on their products
. After the advent of Islam, everything changed. Gradually, drawings of living creatures disappeared from the carpets. The canvases began to be decorated with symbols traditional for all Persian carpets. They can be considered one of the most ancient human inventions. Today, as in ancient times, a real Persian rug is made by hand using simple tools. It takes about two years to produce one canvas decorated with a not too complicated ornament.
Persian carpets: main varieties
The names of the paintings come from the places where they were made. For their production, high-quality sheep or camel wool is used. Today, a handmade Persian rug is considered a rarity and costs decent money. Depending on the pattern adorning the carpet, the canvases are divided into several types.
Keledast is a carpet with a hexagon in its central part. The edges of such a canvas are usually painted with
floral patterns. The dense and soft wool of which such carpets are made makes them especially warm and comfortable.
Senya - durable fabrics made from high quality material. Perhaps these are the most refined and elegant carpets. Persian canvases of rich shades instantly attract attention. They will become a worthy decoration of any interior.
What to look for when buying
The acquisition of such a product can be considered a kind of investment. Since you will have to spend a lot of money on a purchase, you need to know what you should pay attention to when choosing carpets. Persian canvases made with the addition of cotton thread will not shimmer, changing the shade. To determine what is really a handmade product in front of you, you need to carefully look at its lower part. Machined fabric will be perfectly even and smooth. Whereas the edges of the product created by human hands will be uneven and slightly fleecy.
In addition, the country of origin and the quality of the materials used should be checked. No less important characteristic is the density of the canvas, measured by the number of nodules per unit area of the product. Before buying a carpet for a couple of days, watch how it looks at different times of the day. It is also advisable to determine in advance the place where the canvas will lie. Indeed, it may suddenly turn out that a sofa or chair will hide the most expressive part of the ornament.
How much will a good carpet cost?
It should be understood that hand-made canvases are particularly expensive. Therefore, Persian carpets, the prices of which are constantly growing, can be an excellent investment. In Moscow, the cost of a silk cloth measuring two by three meters reaches 60 thousand dollars. Over the past few years, prices for Iranian products have increased by 200%, and this is not the limit. Wool carpets are considered especially valuable . Persian canvases are rich in color, so their price depends on the complexity of the pattern. The more complex the ornament, the more expensive the product.
Enemies of Persian Carpets
Lush and luxurious paintings that emphasize the delicate taste of its owner, require careful care. For the carpet to last as long as possible, you need to know what it should be protected from.
So, one of the worst enemies of the Persian canvas are sharp heels that can seriously ruin the product. The extent of possible damage depends on the shape of the heel and the mass of their owner. About the same danger is furniture that has sharp legs.
The second worst enemy of the Persian carpet is boiling water. Just one spilled cup of tea or a glass of hot water will leave a noticeable stain on the product, the removal of which is unlikely to be handled by ordinary dry cleaning. The same goes for red wine, overturning which you will have to send the carpet to the workshop, where it will be thoroughly washed and dried. It should be understood that getting rid of such spots will take quite a long time.