History of the Oriental Rug

Oriental rugs have been adorning homes and places of worship for thousands of years. From the ancient Mayans to the early Chinese, these pieces of art have been a central part of cultures all over the world. The history of the Oriental rug is a fascinating one - and a long one.

The original designs of Oriental rugs arose from the need to make abstract, textile artwork. In some areas of strictly orthodox Islamic religion, it is forbidden to create a piece of art that portrays humans or animals. So the rug weavers of the Middle East were left with the choice of creating intricate and beautiful patterns that were completely abstract. This was countered with the designs of the Chinese, who created rugs that depicted a deity in the form of a dragon or other animal.

Also, it is a custom in the Eastern world to remove ones shoes immediately upon entering a home or place of worship. But in lands and times when floors were nothing more than dirt, sand, or plain wood, there was a need for a comfortable piece of floor covering. It is thought that Oriental rugs were first created to fill this role, as well as decorative religious hangings.

As the centuries moved forward and Oriental rugs spread to the Western world, their use a religious relic has diminished. Now they are considered an elegant and valuable piece of decor. The craft of making Oriental rugs has not altered very much as the pieces are still made by hand and each is highly individualistic. The difficulty and amount of care placed in the creation of every rug makes it one of the most widely valued objects that has survived since ancient times.