Persian
carpets are made from either wool, silk or a combination.
Cotton is also used as a foundation for the warps and
wefts (refer to the glossary).
Wool
Wool
is the most common material used for its durability
and versatility. There is a wide variety of wool used
in carpet weaving, each with different properties. Wool
carpets tend to have a coarser texture than silk and
are woven with a lower knot density. However wool carpets
are very durable and can hold up nicely with foot traffic
or the weight of furniture.
The
wool used in Persian carpets is most usually sheep’s
wool but other sources also include kork wool (underbelly
of the lamb), Manchester wool and camel hair wool. The
lamb and sheep that produce the wool are from the mountainous
regions of Iran where the harsh winters necessitate
a thick coat for the animals.
The choice of
wool depends on the quality of the carpet that the artist
is producing. For example, kork and sheep’s wool tend
to be much softer in texture and are used in higher
quality rugs.
Silk
The
silk used in Persian carpets comes from a combination
of domestic and imported suppliers. Silk carpets are
less common than wool carpets since silk is more expensive
and is not used for mass production. Carpets made from
silk tend to be much finer and more intricate and generally
of a much higher artistic value. |
