Glossary

Abrash: A change in the color of the rug due to the differences on the saturation of the due in the wool or dye-batch . The variation runs across the rug and will most likely occur at the top.

Boteh: A symbol found in carpets that is characteristic of paisley. The boteh may represent a leaf, bush or pinecone, and is a stylized evolution from imagery of the 'cypress' tree of life.

Dhurrie: A flat woven rug from India, usually made of cotton or wool.

Fast Synthetic Dye: A dye that does not fade.

Field: The part of the rug’s design that may be surrounded by a border. The field may be plain, have medallions or an all-over pattern.

Fringe: Warps that extend from the end of the rug and are woven in several ways to prevent the rug from unraveling.

Fugitive Synthetic Dye: A dye created in the 1850s that are in no way color-fast. They can run onto other fabrics and fade into sometimes strange colors at different rates.

Gul: An octagonal or angular medallion often used in Turkoman designs, often repeated in an all-over pattern.

Jufti Knot: Aknot that is tied over four warps instead of the usual two.

Kilim: A tapestry-like woven rug.

Medallion: The large enclosed portion of a design, usually in the center. Typical shapes are diamonds, octagons and hexagons.

Natural Dyes: Dyes that utilize plant, animal, or mineral matter and are unquestionably the best dyes for handmade rugs.

Persian Knot: A knot that is looped around one thread with only a half turn around the other thread.

Pile: The nap of the rug.

Plain Weave: The simplest weaving of warp and weft.

Prayer Rug: A rug with a representation of a mosque or arched prayer area. Columns may be shown supporting the arch with a lamp hanging from the apex.

Selvedge: The sides of the carpet that are formed by the turning of the weft threads at the end of each row.

Semi-fast Synthetic Dyes: The ideal synthetic rug dye, this dye will mellow to give the colors a nice vintage feel. Soumak: a flat weave rug made using a technique that produces a herringbone effect.

Turkish Knot: A knot that is tied around two adjacent warp threads.

Warp: Parallel yarn threads that run the length of the rug.

Weft: Yarn threads woven at a right angle through the warp. In rugs with pile, the weft is not visible, and in flat weave rugs, the weft is the only thread visible.