History & Significant Periods of the Area Rug

Since the beginning of time, area rugs have been a home decor essential. Woven reed and animal hide rugs worked as ancient floor coverings and also served as warm sleeping surfaces for entire families. The craft of rug making has certainly evolved since those ancient times; read on for a short history of how things have changed.

The word "carpet" was first applied to coverings of all kinds, including tablecloths and bedspreads, and only became specific to floor coverings in the early 18th century. The history of carpets and area rugs is divided in two parts: Western and Asian. The older, Asian tradition includes Central Asian, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Indian, and North African craftspeople, while the younger Western style, a derivative of the Asian style, had a brief period of popularity in France but was ultimately overtaken by the machine age.

The earliest European pile carpets date from the 12th and 13th centuries. They were made by Spanish artisans who had ties to the Islamic world through Muslim Moors who ruled much of the area. France was the most important center during the 17th and 18th centuries, and two of its major weaving centers were Savonnerie and Aubusson; the Savonnerie name still exists today and identifies a specific style of carpet. England started producing its own carpets in the early part of the 17th century in three main areas: Kidderminster, Wilton, and Axminster. These coarse, machine-made carpets were made for utility and came with a low price.

Tapestries are one of the oldest forms of carpet weaving. Horizontal wefts, or threads, characterize this style. Another style of tapestry weaving is called Soumak, and it originated in the Middle East. Other flat-rug techniques include brocade and embroidery. In the 18th and 19th century, tapestry area rugs were a popular choice for middle-class homes, and the rugs were also often reversible. Though the rugs were coarse, they were also durable, colorful, and long-lasting.

Area rugs - no matter their form - continue to play an important role in homes around the globe, and designs often have cultural significance. Peruvian, Brazilian, and Iranian rug designers all create colorful, culturally significant rugs that double as pieces of art for the users. No matter what your taste, style, or ethnic background is, there's surely a rug out there for you.