Pictorial rugs are a popular choice for many people because they offer an opportunity to express themselves without committing to one single style.
From the lush green, to the bright reds and oranges of eastern sunsets, pictorials can provide a visual representation of your favorite memories or places. With so many different patterns available in this category, it’s no wonder that they're considered such a versatile type of handmade rugs!
Before you look for pictorial rug online, here we have tried to answer all your question related to history, manufacturing, and appearance and why they are the best choice for your home.
What is a Pictorial Rug?
A handmade pictorial rug is a large tapestry that may depict any subject, but the primary focus of the design is an image or images. Pictorial rugs are woven on special looms and follow the same basic weaving procedures for all traditional nomadic rugs. The only difference is in the creation of these much larger size pieces which take much longer to complete.
What is the History of Pictorial Rugs?
Pictorial rugs, while not widely known today, were common 100 years ago among various tribes throughout Central Asia, particularly those that could afford to decorate their tents and yurts with more color and detail.
These nomads had no way of reproducing certain pictures accurately without help from other cultures nearby such as European photographers and artists.
The tradition of weaving these rugs has since been preserved by the tribal community of Central Asia. Weavers continue to pass down the art of carpet making form from one generation to another. Handmade pictorial rugs depict famous scenes from the Persian classical literature and give off a rich traditional vibe.
When you search for pictorial rugs online, you will find so many intricate details woven in such a small construction area that only very experienced weaver can do it! Master weavers have crafted pictorial rugs as big as 15 meters in width!
Handmade pictorial rugs are crafted using a particular knot called "Keshk-e Abri" or "The button of thread". However, this knotting technique has changed over years. Only very old pictures so far found showed true Keshk-e Abri knot but the knot is almost gone and no one has been able to produce it exactly like that!
How Do They Look Like?
Handmade pictorial rugs are just as varied as the artists wo weave them. One artist might produce a realism-oriented painting, while another may choose an abstract layout or mixed media approach including symbols and icons that represent his culture or profession.
Some are even hand painted with various dyes for color variation. Each handmade pictorial rug has a unique style but in general show common characteristics such as heavy borders surrounding the image, wide spacing for clarity, dense weave (sometimes tapestry) and knotting density.
Where are the Best Handmade Pictorial Rugs Made?
Today, handmade pictorial rugs are mostly hand woven in Eastern countries of Asia, including Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Iran. They are primarily produced by tribal weavers who have a background in traditional rug making.
Most of these rugs are made as wall decoration or for interior design purposes with an approximate price point between $200-$1000 per square yard depending on the wealth of the country they are sold in.
These rugs are all hand-woven, as they have been for over a century, and their designs are based on traditional patterns originating in ancient Persia or India. Hence these handmade rugs come under the category of both Persian rugs and Pakistani rugs.
The quality is so high you would expect them to cost thousands of dollars each but instead they retail for only a few hundred dollars.
Handmade pictorial rugs may show any subject, but certain categories have emerged as successful design themes: wildlife conservation, photography, regional scenery, historical events, nature
Why Handmade Pictorial Rugs are Popular?
Weaving handmade pictorial rugs is an ancient tradition within the tribal community. Inexpensive replicas of famous paintings, photographs or drawings are very popular and can be woven by skilled weavers in a relatively short amount of time.
The weaving process requires extensive hand-weaving and knotting experience similar to that of traditional nomadic rugs but on larger looms with greater scale designs.
Once produced, these rugs can still be affordable enough for the average consumer while offering better quality than other home decorative brands found at discount stores.
Which Room is the Ideal Place for Handmade Pictorial Rugs?
Any room is the ideal place for pictorial rugs. It's a matter of what decorative motif it brings to that particular area in terms of color, pattern and shape. Pictorial rugs feature in the following areas of a home; Hallways, Living Rooms, Dining rooms and Bedrooms.
In each room you may find different designs that best fit your style and taste when decorating according to where the rug is placed.
As an example, for a Living Room, you can place one with a floral design or a scenic design to bring in the color and shapes of nature into that particular room.
For a Bedroom you'll find small rugs with delicate designs that can be used as bedside rugs or if your bedroom is large enough you might consider using a large floral rug to form a focal point for the room. When you look for any kind of layout there is a picture rug to accompany that room.
We hope this article has helped answer any questions you might have about handmade pictorial rugs. Pictorial rugs are a beautiful way to add color and character to your space, and they come in all shapes, sizes and patterns!
Pictorial rugs are a wonderful way to make your home feel like home, but there's more than meets the eye when it comes to this gorgeous style. To learn more about pictorial rug patterns and styles that will fit into any space in your house, check out our pictorial rugs section.
