A background into the history of wool rugs is that initially, people used sheep and goats for domestic purposes. The first wool fiber textile was introduced in Europe around 1500 BC. Over a period of time, all over Europe people used to use wool as a form of clothing to cover their bodies.
By the middle ages, wool was considered as a product favorable for business opportunities, and as time passed new ideas and techniques were developed to produce wool textile products in different configurations, colors and patterns. This was the direct result of the evolution of domestic animal husbandry techniques improved and developed over the centuries, wool became a ever more important commercial and trade commodity. Wool rug and other wool product manufacturing became a major force in international trade.
Some of these very ancient hand crafted rug styles are still highly prized, like the very popular Persian Rugs. They have superior quality and unique and fine quality designs. Their intricate designs and vivid colors are hand made of superior quality with extraordinary designs. These Persian rugs are classic examples of traditional styles and designs of the wool rugs and are still hand made by expert craftsmen.
Persian Rugs are hand woven, and employ complex careful crafted curvilinear and other intricate designs. The detail of the craftsmanship is quite amazing, and Persian rug design can contain not just single but even multiple motifs. The work is complex and time consuming, but the results are stunning and the craftsmanship is highly valued around the world not only for it’s extraordinary beauty, but longevity.
The allure and appreciation for wool rugs has continued over the centuries and today there are produced a wide range of contemporary and modern styled wool rugs. Many are still hand made, for classic construction; either hand woven, hand tufted or hand knotted, but the demand for economical wool rugs that can be mass produced has resulted in modern power looming technology and the machine made wool rug. These contemporary wool rugs are made in very bold modern designs, patterns and colors as well as an amazing variety of shapes.
Of the contemporary wool rugs which are still traditionally hand made, the two most popular techniques are the hand knotted and hand tufted techniques. These appeal to most homes that are striving for an up-scale home decor.
One of the most popular techniques used in modern and contemporary wool rug making, is the hand tufting technique using the hand tool called a tufting “gun.” This tool has the ability to cut pile to loop pile or modify the height of pile in a short period of time. It can even switch from an even sided cut pile to a “J” tuft. These special features has made the hand tufted technique popular. This technique can provided a desirable carved effect due to the different pile heights.
Contemporary wool rugs made with a hand knotting technique are also very popular as this technique results in a very even pile height and uniformity. The value of this technique is that a hand-knotted rug depends on the number of knots per square inch. The more knots per square inch the heavier and more substantial and it is considered a higher quality.
If proper care is taken with regard to the maintenance of wool rugs, they last for a lifetime while retaining their softness. For affordable and elegant wool rugs and wool area rugs, the best shopping today are reliable online rug sellers like Hollywood Love Rugs.
Want to find out more about sheepskin rugs, then visit Frank Conn’s site on how to choose the best Sheepskin Rug for your needs.
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