Area rugs are created not just to meet a buyer’s desire or the buyer’s market. While weavers and manufacturers certainly look to the buyer’s market for inspiration on what is currently popular, that is by no means the only reason the designs on a rug are created. In fact, many of the designs on your area rug have a specific meaning to the weaver who designed the rug – especially the little animal designs. Sometimes rugs share a story from the weaver’s heritage that has been passed down to them through generations.
As you can probably imagine, we at Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care in Prescott AZ see many different types of rugs and many beautiful wool and silk area rugs. There are times when you just have to stop and take a moment to appreciate the tremendous amount of work and dedication put into these treasures.
More often than not, animal motifs and symbols convey positive emotions (an unlucky rug probably wouldn’t sell too well, would it?). Understanding the design can give us a better appreciation for the weaver’s intentions when they were designing the rug.
For instance, the popular deer symbolizes well-being and a camel represents wealth. If you wanted to convey victory, then you would use a lion to do so. Horses are also a popular motif that represents speed. A fish would convey abundance and prosperity while elephants mean power. A more unusual motif is the crab, meaning invincible knowledge. My personal favorite is the Phoenix, which symbolizes an empress.
Hopefully this gives you more of a reason to admire your area rugs that have little animal motifs on them. Remember, they all mean something to someone! Knowing these meanings gives me a deeper appreciation of rugs and the stories behind them. So settle down with a glass of wine, gather with a few of your friends, and spend your evening discussing what you now know about these animal figures in your lovely rug.
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 Sedona, Prescott, Prescott Valley, 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, which includes certification as WOOLSAFE FIBRE CARE SPECIALISTS through the WOOLSAFE ORGANISATION. Such extraordinary certification ensures the area rugs of our client’s receive the utmost in care.
Learning the meaning behind the designs on your rug is always fun. Call us for additional information and free cleaning and repair quotes at 928-445-1718, visit our website at www.ArizonaOriental.com, or stop by Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at our rug washing facility at 565 EZ Street, Prescott, AZ 86301 (pick-up and delivery also available).
