Rug Origins

The tradition of woven floor coverings has existed for centuries. The oldest surviving carpet, the well documented Pazyryk carpet is more than two thousand years old, it is a miracle that it is still in a reputable state. The weave of the carpet is of such a high quality it is obvious that carpet weaving at that time was a well engineered and also a highly efficient art form. It was discovered in a Scythian tomb in southern Siberia in the 1940s. It has been dated between the fourth and fifth centuries BC.

Yuruk rugs are mainly geometric in design. A popular design was a hexagonal motif surrounded by a key design known as the 'running dog' motif. The area within the hexagon would be decorated with a design of diamonds of various sizes, within each other, each of a varying colour. Outside the hexagon at each corner would be an octagon within which would be an eight-pointed star. Borders are wide and usually composed of four guards containing geometric leaf motifs. Colours are vivid but pleasingly combined. They include violet, yellow, green, blue and orange