The Oriental and Decorative Rug Renaissance

Since the early 1980s, oriental and decorative rugs have experienced a renaissance which has generated the most exquisite pieces in decades. Indeed, manufacturers have gone back to the traditional methods of handspinning and vegetable-dyeing wool abandoned by the 1930s in favor of machine-spun wool and chemical dyes. Moreover, they have recaptured the height of European weaving traditions while also creating a whole new generation of rugs responding to the very latest in contemporary trends handcrafted with the finest materials available.

Twenty years ago, Turkey initiated this “revolution” with the government-sponsored DOBAG project, which encouraged villages to resurrect the weaving techniques of their forefathers. These rugs’ more authentic antique look and softer palette were met with immediate success. With the prices of antique rugs continuing to skyrocket, Turkish vegetable-dyed rugs became a viable, affordable option.

In an effort to satisfy the ever-growing demand for vegetable-dyed reproductions and to obtain a greater consistency in quality from one piece to another, U.S.-based importers expanded production to other weaving areas including China, Pakistan, India, Egypt, and Romania. There, they trained local craftsmen to weave rugs according to their design and color specifications, whose qualities range from medium to high-end depending on the price point desired. Generally based on traditional designs of Persian and less often Indian inspiration, importers freely reinterpret these designs, adding or deleting elements and recoloring them as they see fit. Thus, these rugs are not faithful reproductions but, more interestingly, new creations that have already been acclaimed and published in books.

On the non-oriental rug front, this renaissance has spurred the creation of remarkable European-inspired Aubussons, Savonneries, and needlepoints. French master weavers from the famed village of Aubusson transported their looms to China to train local craftsmen in their art. In a more contemporary vein, rugs handknotted by Tibetan refugees in Nepal have also taken the decorative market by storm. Here, a limitless range of designs and colors is enhanced by an unparalleled ability to customize a rug to virtually any color and size specifications in an average timeframe of six months - a  remarkable feat by handknotting standards!

The time to purchase is now as it is uncertain whether weavers will forever be willing to invest the painstaking time and effort needed to execute this ancient art form. Indeed, just in the last decade, modernization in Turkey has lured weavers away from their craft to more lucrative occupations. Hence, there is no doubt that these new “renaissance rugs” will be the antiques of tomorrow.

Alix G. Perrachon, Industry Partner of ASID

Principal of Alix Unlimited, a customized decorative rug shopping service utilizing wholesale channels, contacts: 914/ 834-2478 or alixperrachon@hotmail.com.

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