Many people look forward to the Annual Charity Auction and Eid Festival for the opportunity to bid on quality crafts from Central and Eastern Asia.
One of the main attractions at the annual auction is the rugs. People flock here in hopes of getting the cheapest and most luxurious designs the world has to offer. With dozens of booths featuring high-quality, hand-woven rugs at reasonable prices, the exhibition is one of the few chances collectors have to take a world tour of weaving.
The Persian rugs are the main attractions for rug enthusiasts seeking either to decorate walls or add an Oriental touch to the floors of their homes and offices. (Popular items during the Book Fair Exhibition, held at a different time of year, are mini Persian rug computer mouse pads and smaller “mug rug” coasters.)
Novice buyers may be shocked at the prices of some rugs, which can reach thousands of riyals and higher. Many characteristics are reflected in the price of an oriental carpet, such as the decorative style, quality of weaving, place of origin and age. Some rugs are antiques, dating back hundreds of years.
Weavers say that the best way to extend the life and beauty of a rug is to remove shoes before walking on them, or even keeping them off the floor altogether, hanging them on walls as tapestries. Rugs can also benefit from an annual checkup with weaving experts, who can repair tears and remove stains professionally.
From the Cold, a Tradition Is Born
The term “oriental carpets” refers to all hand-woven rugs made throughout Central and Eastern Asia. The tradition began in the Persian region more than 2,500 years ago when chilly nomads started weaving wool into blankets. Eventually, the complexity of the handiwork elevated weaving into a craft that helped Persian families find a way to make a living. Eventually, the rugs became a ubiquitous decoration of the home, making it more comfortable and adding warmth.
The weaving tradition was passed down through generations, and expanded throughout Asia. The colors became richer, the designs more intricate and regionally distinct. Today the best rugs are still made in the same fashion, sometimes taking up to a year to complete. Natural fibers and dyes are used in the very best rugs, and, of course, they’re woven by hand.
A Fiber for Every Occasion
The most common material used in hand-woven rugs is sheep’s wool, goat and camel hair, cotton and silk. The wool from Kurdistan, Khorasan, and Kirman is widely believed to be the highest quality, known for being fine and velvety. The wool from the Caucuses is regarded for its strength and lustrous qualities.
Silk is also used, but due to its high prices it is typically used sparingly and only in rugs used in religious practices, such as prayer rugs, or to adorn the courts and homes of royalty.
“Silk he said is used with a less percentage than the wool just to emphasize the borders or some of the small details in the picture. As a way of giving it a glossy image,” said Mohammad Soubra, an employee at Heritage Carpet Company Ltd. at Jeddah’s Mosadia Plaza
Truly Natural Colors
The rich, natural colors that appear on the finest rugs are typically drawn directly from the environment, especially the browns, greens, blues and reds.
“Weavers opt to use chemical colors only if it is not available in nature such as the fuchsia,” said Soubra.
Madder, a plant commonly found throughout the region that was once Persia, had helped provide different shades of red. Saffron, root of turmeric and the fungus of the mulberry bush provide different shades of yellow. And blue is made with soaking and fermenting indigo plants from China and India. Often the recipes for making particular hues from natural ingredients are guarded closely by the families that make the rugs.
People who own carpets made from nature-derived colors agree that they soften with time, creating an enduring beauty. Advocates of colors derived from natural ingredients insist that rugs made with artificial colors fade with time. Weavers and avid collectors agree wholeheartedly.
Speaking in Silence
Carpet experts are able to identify the origins of rugs by analyzing the designs and symbols on them. Generally speaking, floral designs mainly originate in Persia and India; geometric designs come from the Caucuses and Islamic cultures; and the Chinese prefer mythical beasts and birds.
Symbolism is an important aspect of the designs that can have different meanings in different regions. For example, the dragon represents imperial power in China, evil in Persia, and death in India. Plants depicted in the designs also hold meaning: the peony refers to wealth while the cypress represents immortality through death.
Islamic designs, found in various regions, are characterized by the lack of human and animal figures. These designs focus on geometric patterns. This practice is observed because Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had advised not to use them.
Other information is often incorporated into the rug’s designs, including the family or tribal name of the weavers, or, in the case of South Asian rugs, the date of the rug’s completion in ornate Hindi numbers.
With the rich colors and symbolism, one oriental carpet enthusiast described these carpets as speaking attractively in silence.
The Annual Charity Auction and Eid Festival takes place at Al Harithy Co.’s Center for Exhibitions (near Heraa Street) from Dec. 24 to January 7. For more information call 658-1122.
