Carpet Weaving in India and Iran

     Carpet Weaving is most predominant in India and Iran. Both of these regions have a strong hold on the Persian and Persian-designed rug industry. However, both have had to adapt to economic crises at home and abroad.
     Carpet weaving in India has been around for hundreds of years. The two main carpet weaving districts are the city of Varanasi ,which is located in east-central India, and Jaipur, which is located southwest of Delhi. The weavers use Persian designs in their carpets. The most prominent are: Mahal, Herez, Bijar, Tabriz, Kashan, Sarouk, Aubusson, and Shirvan. The recent economic crisis has affected the carpet weavers in India as wages for them are in a slump.
     Carpet weaving in Iran has been a huge industry as it has been the source of designs. Because of this, Iran has gotten the reputation for being the best in Oriental rugs. The production of carpets in Iran range from Shiraz, Kurd, Hamaden, and Herez to finer qualities such as Tabriz and Nain. Persian rug prices were at an all time high in the early 1980's when it was believed that the Iranian Revolution would discontinue carpet exports. However, since then prices dropped and for quite some time so did demand which led a lot of weavers in Iran to abandon the trade. But recently, weavers have gone back   to their profession as there has been a surge in demand and a huge decrease in the value of Iran's currency the rial. Iranian producers still claim that Iran is the largest exporter of Oriental rugs with over 70 percent of its exports landing in over 50 countries.
The price of oriental rugs have not increased over the past few years.
             

Symbolism in Oriental Rugs

     Oriental rugs have been made for hundreds of years and since the very beginning there has been symbolism in them. This symbolism can derive from religion, nature, or culture. The Pazyryk Rug, the oldest rug ever to be discovered, contains many symbolic images. For example, the small border that contains grazing elk is thought to symbolize longevity.
     Other animals are used in oriental rugs to symbolize certain attributes. The lion represents power, the leopard represents bravery, the dove represents peace, etc. One of the most iconic symbols in oriental rugs is the "Tree of Life". The design is the oldest symbol, predating Christianity and Islam, and represents understanding and truth.
     Although symbols can still be found in oriental rugs, they have been increasingly losing their historical significance as people have forgotten the meaning behind the symbolic patterns. When you are purchasing an oriental rug,you are not just buying a piece of art but also a piece of history.
    At Main Street Oriental Rugs, we would like to educate our customers to know what they are purchasing and what is the history behind purchasing the rugs from Main Street Oriental Rugs in Ellicott City.
                     

New World Record for Most Expensive Carpet

During the highly anticipated sale of Important Carpets from the William A. Clark Collection a 6'5" by 8'9" Kerman sickle-leaf, vine scroll and palmette ‘vase-technique’ carpet was sold for $33,765,00.  This massive auction price topples the old record of $9.5 million, set by another 17th century Kerman vase carpet in 2010. The William A. Clark Collection was hosted by the Corcoran Gallery of Art on June 5th at Sotheby’s New York.

Beneath the Rug .... The Pad

After someone is done choosing a rug to buy, little thought is given to the type of pad used to cushion it and hold it to the floor.  Here at Main Street Oriental Rugs, we take pride in offering a variety of pads that allow our customers to make their perfect rug work at its full potential in their home.  We currently offer multiple varieties of rug padding including grippy No-Muv, thick and soft MSM, and ultra-thin Teebaud.  Each one of these types has a different purpose that fits best with different environments.  Whether you are looking for luxury softness or supreme skid resistance, Main Street Oriental Rugs has the perfect pad for your rug.

Thank God for Mrs. Fitz

Thank God for Mrs. Fitz



woderfull tribute to a great teacher
she will be missed

Memorial day sale

We will be open this weekend in honor of Memorial Day.  To commemorate this occasion, we are offering a holiday sale that will last through this week until the end of the month.  Come by and see us for some great deals on some one-of-a-kind rugs!

How to Bring an Old Rug Back to Life

After a few years of use, even the most vibrant rug can begin to look tired and worn.  Luckily, there is an easy solution to revitalizing your rug for years to come.  Main Street Oriental Rugs offers professional rug cleaning services that help make your old rug look healthier, warmer, and younger through a simple rug cleaning process.  Our process completely removes bacteria, allergens, drink stains, dust mites, and pet urine without causing any damage to your rug.  We are proud to offer you an easy solution to your indoor allergies, dirty carpet, and darkened room all at one time.  Main Street Oriental Rugs is here to renew, strengthen, and soften your rug at the most competitive price in Maryland.