Oriental Rug Design Motifs

The s pattern or hook is a very common border motif appearing almost everywhere in the landscape of oriental carpets both as a very geometric figure and as a curly arabesque.

Oriental rug design motifs. Oriental rugs from all parts of the middle east central and western asia and the caucasus all use very much the same design elements colors and materials. Silk is the most expensive material used and the very nature of that natural material requires the rug maker s to create a rug with a high number of knots per square inch 1 000 square inch or more than other rugs. It is regarded as a protective sign that can ward off the evil eye but as a hook that joins two elements it can also be considered a symbol of union and togetherness. Below i have listed a number of common motifs and designs found in oriental rugs.

This is by no means a list including all motifs and designs will vary from rug to rug. Some of the more common motifs are. Curvilinear designs mostly floral motifs and patterns that are usually more intricate. The hand motif is used against a spell or evil eye where the comb motif is related to the protection of birth and marriage.

These designs have different meanings. While animal and human motifs are a bit more rare floral designs are found almost across the board in terms of oriental or persian rugs. It is how these elements are combined together that gives a rug its unique identity. The motif of a carpet can be used to determine the particular tribe or the area in which the rug was woven.

It is not unusual to find more than one motif in a single rug. The motif of a carpet can be used to determine the particular tribe or place of origin. Rectilinear designs mostly geometric motifs and angular patterns. Geometry in persian rugs geometrically patterned persian carpets woven by nomadic tribes are decorated with linear elements composed of vertical horizontal and diagonal lines and are formed by a repetition of the same motif.

In some manifestation an area of brush a vine or some kind of shrubbery. Oriental rug design elements can be easily be broken down into 2 major types. The more intricate the design the more valuable the rug. Rug motifs there are a number of patterns which are found in persian and oriental rugs called motifs these designs have different meanings and tend to be used depending on the area the rug was woven although it is not unusual to find more than one motif in a single rug.

Keep in mind rugs may contain both curvilinear and rectilinear patterns.