When and how rugs were first designed remains a mystery, even after thousands of years. The first rugs, found at archaeological sites in Egypt, date the earlier rugs to 2,500 years B.C.E. That's over 4,500 years ago! The methods of weaving and rug making have been a closely guarded secret until very recently, with entire families joining the art of rug making to support them.

Entire cultures have been developed around rug making. Rugs have long been considered far more than an accoutrement for a bare floor; rugs are art, designed and created by some of the most highly skilled artisans on the planet. Pharaohs and Sultans have been buried, requesting first their rugs before their gold and jewels. The tombs of the mightiest leaders of Africa and the Middle East have long been decorated with their most precious belongings; chests of gold and jewels, and most importantly, their rugs.

The process of rug making hasn't changed much over the past 5,000 years. Paintings of "weaving-women" have been found on tombs and walls of public buildings. Many of these paintings, which date from around the time of the first recorded rugs, depict the sects of women who have devoted their lives to their art. The hand looms that they have used for millennia look much the same as those used today.

For such important pieces of equipment, one would think that there would be a great many pieces that survive throughout the different dynasties that controlled the rug making centres of Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. However, one of the first things that a conquering army would do if they had to leave an area is smash the looms of the weaving classes. By doing this, they disrupt not only the morale of the peoples whose looms they destroy, but they also damage the economy of the area as well.

Of course, there are many types of rugs out there, and many of the rug types date to centuries past. Sheepskin rugs, for example, are made of the hide of a sheep. After skinning and drying, the rug enters life as a plush bed of tufted fabric. These rugs can be several inches thick, and take dyes well. Because of their ease of use and their acceptance of dyes, sheepskin rugs are expensive; however, they are some of the most beautiful rugs on the planet. Because of the nature of the type of rug, they are seldom a set geometric shape. Most sheepskin rugs are free form in appearance.

Braided Rugs are certainly one of the more popular forms of rug making. A braided rug is made by tightly braiding strips of fabric, usually wool, together. They can be made into nearly any shape imaginable, and can be constructed of either woven fabric, or of broad, flat strips of cloth. Braided rugs bring to mind a warm, charming living room and, properly made, can be very dense and last decades.

Of course there are many types of other rugs and their use and desirability depends mostly on the use to which they're being put. It's important to pick a rug that has the functionality and durability for the application you want.

The most important thing to know about a rug is that it's a work of art. The most beautiful of all high-quality rugs are those that have had the opportunity to mature over time. Throughout the years, the colours and textures of a high-quality wool rug will soften, mellowing them to a plush, elegant softness. The fine materials that make up these rugs come from all over the world. You can find wool rugs from the Middle East and the Orient, as well as from Australia and New Zealand, and it isn't just sheep's wool that is used to make them. Alpaca is used, as well, to substitute for sheep's wool.

Many rugs get passed down from generation to generation, and it's hard to tell how old the rugs may be, without taking them to an expert. Since a great many rugs that are passed down are done through a family, it is common that a rug will pass from mother to daughter, father to son, and even to grandchildren as wedding gifts. Since it's difficult to age these rugs, other than to say, "My grandma gave me this," the true value of some rugs is lost on some. It's actually fairly commonplace for rugs hundreds of years old to be found among the possessions of an elderly person, and they simply haven't a clue how old it is. Because high-quality, well-crafted rugs can hold up for centuries, and become more beautiful with each passing year, even the simplest rug, if well-made, can make a staggering showpiece in the proper room.

Copyright (c) 2008 Rug Route