A Brief History
You won’t find any antique or old Pakistani rugs no matter how hard you try. Pakistan was once an Indian province. The Muslim League, a forum for Indian Muslim separatism, supported the idea of India becoming a separate country for Muslims. This was in 1947. Many Muslims from India moved to the newly established country. Rugs have been an integral part of Islamic culture since the beginning. It was only natural that the new Pakistan would see a flourishing rug industry due to the high number of Muslims living in this country.
This was the beginning of the Pakistani rug. However, Pakistan, now a country, had strong roots in rug weaving. The area was occupied by Muslim invaders in the 11th century. The Islamic expansion brought rug weaving with it, resulting in many generations passing down the craft.
Despite the fact that Pakistani rug is relatively new, the history of Pakistan’s rug industry is strong, rich, and talented. These rugs are “a living artefact” because of their strong skills.
Identifying Features
The “exotic rug trade” includes Pakistani rugs. Because most Pakistani rugs can be hand-woven, rather than mass-produced, this is a good thing. These rugs are also known as Persian or Turkish rugs. However, Pakistan well shows that the source of a hand-woven rug is not restricted to Turkey or Iran.
Pakistan uses a weaving technique that involves knotting the thread to create a unique pattern, resulting in a tight-woven rug. The rug will be brightened by the combination of the unique design and vibrant colours.
Hand-woven rugs are made most often with natural fibres. New Zealand and Australian wool are the preferred fibres because of their availability, durability, and ability to keep strength and beauty. These rugs will have a thick and soft pile. Sometimes, they may be made with a double pile which can result in more thickness and depth but less pattern clarity.
The Bokhara is a popular Pakistani rug design. It was inherited from the Tekke tribe, which once lived in the Bokhara region of Central Asia. This style is known for its rows and guys (medallion-like designs) as well as surrounding geometric patterns. Other patterns are also produced in Pakistan, such as the Ziegler and some Turkmenistan designs.
Care – Rug washing and vacuuming
It is important to vacuum your rug regularly, taking care not to damage its fringes. Vacuum parallel to the rug ends to avoid damaging the fringe. Regular vacuuming will prevent particulates from accumulating over time and causing damage to the rug pile. It is recommended that you take your rug to a rug washer who is trained in rug washing.
