Ruthie here with Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care today and I wanted to do something fun with our article today! I thought I would take some time to talk about the parts of an area rug and give my readers a beginner’s crash course in area rug terminology!
Field: The main body of the rug, usually surrounded by the borders.
Border: These are the bands around the outer edges of the rug and there is typically more than one. The widest border is called the ‘main border’ while the smaller borders are called ‘guard borders.’
Medallion: This is the heart of the rug - or at least the center of it. Medallions are typically either a floral or geometric motif.
Spandrel: You can find decorative spandrels just inside the four corners along the borders of a rug.
Mihrab: These are typically found in traditional prayer rugs and are usually arch designs. They represent the prayer niche in a mosque wall.
Warp Threads: These are the foundation threads that run the length of the rug (they also make up the fringes). The wool face fibers are knotted to these warp threads.
Weft Threads: These foundation threads run left to right (horizontal) throughout the rug. They are pushed up so tightly to the face fibers that they don’t allow extra movement, which helps to hold the knots in position
Fringe: This is an extension of your rug’s warp threads that run through your rug. These threads are knotted or braided so as to prevent unravelling and give the rug a lovely finished look. This meant to be decorative but more importantly secures the threads so the rug doesn’t unravel. NEVER CUT OFF THE FRINGE OF YOUR RUG.
With my little crash course in rug terminology, feel free to show off to your friends when you’re talking about your own area rugs!
Keep in mind that all area rugs need T.L.C. and we here at Arizona Oriental specialize in the proper care of all types of area rugs. From cleaning and bringing back the bright colors in your rug’s medallion to repairing unravelling fringes, we can care for all your area rug’s needs.
Till next time, enjoy your beautiful art for your floor and remember a clean rug is a rug that can last you a lifetime!
Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care serves Prescott, Prescott Valley, Sedona, Flagstaff, and much of the Northern Arizona areas. We meet the highest standards in professional cleaning of area rugs with rug wash specialists having earned the highest training, including certification as WOOLSAFE FIBRE CARE SPECIALISTS through the WOOLSAFE ORGANISATION. Such extraordinary certification ensures our client’s area rugs receive the highest quality care.
Give us a call for more information about your area rugs at 928-445-1718, visit our website at www.ArizonaOriental.com, or stop by Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at our rug washing facility at 565 EZ Street, Prescott, AZ 86301 (pick-up and delivery also available). 05-18-2020
