Historical scholars are unable to accurately determine the beginnings and origins of Chinese Oriental weaving; however, it is generally accepted the fact that Chinese Oriental rugs are some of the most exquisite carpets available.
Chinese Rug Styles
Rug experts believe that weaving was introduced to Chinese culture around the middle of the 12th century. In the 12th century, Turkestan and Mongolian cultures influenced the Chinese people. And historians believe that they incorporated weaving techniques into Chinese culture around the middle of the 1600s.
Since then, it has been said that the Chinese have used the weaving techniques of other cultures around them and have created their own distinct designs. Rugs that are of superior quality make use of an extremely complex mix of various wool and silk threads to make sure that the rug is long-lasting and soft. It is also plush and soft.
Rug Grading
Similar to other common Oriental rug types, Chinese weaving items are graded based on the quality of their knots. The finer the knot more intricate, and the greater the knot’s density for each square inch. Rugs with higher knot density are more robust and last longer to make, which makes the rug a higher grade of quality.
The fineness of knotting is often referred to as lines. The more lines the Chinese weave is made of, the better quality of the product.
Closed Back Rugs
Closed-back rugs comprise the majority of top-quality Chinese weaving products available on the market. The weaves available range from 70- to 360-line. The 360-line rugs are highly precise and intricately weaved.
The pile – or height/thickness – of the rug can range from half-a-centimeter to a centimeter-and-a-half thick, depending on the type of thread used and the purpose of the product. It is common for a closed-back weave to employ 90-line grade knotting techniques and to have a large pile. However, some other rugs come with the best quality, 360-line grades, and are extremely sought-after as many claims to be the finest carpets available.
Closed-back rugs remain affixed to the traditional Chinese style. They feature animal landscapes and floral designs with pastel hues. In certain instances, a closed-back rug is constructed from silk thread which helps the patterns and colors pop out.
Open Back Rugs
Open back rugs are between the line grade and generally range from 70-90-line. Open-back rugs are less sturdier quality than their counterparts due to the fact that they’re less dense and have less robust construction as opposed to closed-back rugs. Furthermore, open back weaving uses an entirely different method of weaving that is heavier in writing within the knot row. The lower quality of the weave is evident in the cost of the rug, as open-back carpets are generally 25% cheaper than those with closed-backs.
In some open-back rugs, the weaver won’t complete the knotting process but instead uses a tufting gun that coats the reverse of the rug with latex before covering it with the material. Rugs that are tufted are not thought of as hand-knotted and have less quality than the open-back rug.
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