The Oriental Rug Repair Co.

The History of Rugs

Carpet weaving is an art with its roots buried deep in ancient times. There is evidence to suggest that some of the earliest specimens found, date back over 2500 years and the earliest documented evidence of carpet weaving is found in Chinese texts dating back to the Sassanid period (224-641 CE).

Carpet weaving is widely considered by most historians and archaeologists to have descended from Persian culture. The turbulent and hostile past of ancient Persia is littered with war and invasion, creating multicultural influences over designs and materials used in the making of carpets in the area at the time.

In a unique archaeological excavation in 1949, the Pazyryk carpet was discovered among the ices of Pazyryk Valley, in Altai Mountains in Siberia. The carpet was found in the grave of a Scythian prince. Radiocarbon testing indicated that the Pazyryk carpet was woven in the 5th century BC. The advanced weaving technique used in the Pazyryk carpet indicates a long history of evolution and experience in this art. The Pazyryk carpet is considered as the oldest carpet in the world and emphasises the true historical depth of handmade carpets.

Although carpet production is now mostly mechanized, traditional hand woven carpets are still widely found all around the world, and are usually of higher value than their machine made counterparts due to their artistic presentation.

At The Oriental Rug Repair Company, our skilled repairers are experienced in working with both antique and contemporary grade carpets and tapestries.