Exclusive Services

1  a variation or deviation of a color in Oriental rugs.
2  a Persian word meaning rainbow spectrum, used to describe changes in color in the pile or facing of rugs and textiles. Abrash resulted from the inability of dying large quantities of wool in uniform dye lots. Eventually weavers began to embrace or exploit such variation as a deliberate effect. Learn more about abrash color striations in Oriental Rugs.

1  a Shiraz rug of coarse weave

1  are solid and durable rugs reflect the heritage of cottage-based craftsmanship passed through the generations. Carpets can range from being hand-made to being made by machine. They are usually woven on small looms and are mainly produced to adorn the tents they live in. They’re made up of Persian knots and feature vegetable-dyed hand spun Afghan wool. Pre-dyed wool yarn is often substituted for or combined with the natural dyes as well. Most Afghan weavers make rugs that are about the same as those they have woven for decades. They are therefore considered a very important aspect of their culture.

Afghan rugs are among the finest rugs made in the world today. Each is exclusively designed and is a unique work of art with its individual color palette. They cannot be ordered to size, ensuring a one of a kind rug. They are considered exotic by many due to the range of designs they boast and their diverse use of fabrics. A unique Afghan rug appeared in the early 1980s that was different from its classic Persian style. It came out of the violent occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union. Ever since then, these Afghan war rugs as they’re often known usually contains iconic imagery of war through their design of helicopters, assortment of weaponry and tanks in the background of a more traditional rug style. They offer a fascinating and realistic glimpse into the lives of an artistic culture besieged by war.

1  a region in northern India roughly equivalent to the present state of Uttar Pradesh excluding the Oudh region, in N India: site of the Taj Mahal.

2  a major center of carpet production in India since the great period of Mugal art in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The good rugs from Agra represent some of the best examples of antique rugs available today.

3  weaving in Agra can be traced back to the time of the founding of the Mughal Empire, 15th century. The Mughal emperors had a deep affection for Persian art and culture, especially their carpets. As a result, their desire sought to replicate the beauty of the Persian style. The first Mughal Emperor had spent time in exile in Persia and had grown to admire the Persian arts, something the later Emperors remained connected to. The result was a modified style that churned out masterworks of creative endeavor which became the fore-bearers of antique Agra carpets still available today.

Agra carpets combine the grandeur and grace of the well-known Persian antique carpet designs with their own original themes. There can be observed designs of spiraling vines, often combined with small organisms such as birds, elephants, and even people. Developed for the Mughal emperors, a popular Agra carpet design consists of rows of flowers in vases. In turn, this design was embraced by the Persians and can be found in floral Persian carpets. The whole artistic “cross pollination” between these two places, Agra and Persia, carried on until the end of the 19th century. Weavers of Agra were masters at vegetable dyeing and eventually created their own unique palette of color. Profusion of gold combined with soft mid-tone blues are often flaunted. The weavers furthermore used a range of soft rust-reds, pinks, and a quite appealing lavender tone. These combinations of color give many Agra rugs a light, ethereal appearance which is beautiful and stunning in any home.