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Gangchen Tibetans, Highland Sheep

Posted on October 02, 2012 by Susan Brouwer
Tibetan wool at it's finest

Start with the best material and you get the best result. That's why Gangchen rugs are made exclusively from the finest Changphel or Tibetan Highland sheep wool. Prized for its thick, long fiber, outstanding tensile strength, and high luster, this wool is absolutely the best for carpets.

Not all wool is created equal. Just as the grain of beautiful wood is the distinguishing factor in contributing to a wonderful piece of furniture's look and inherent value, the special quality of the wool in Gangchens is the factor that distinguishes these extraordinary rugs. The fibers of the wool are thick and long, averaging six inches in length, and the exceptional thickness of these fibers adds to the luster of the Gangchens. 

Handwoven Tibetan Wool Carpet With Cloud Motif

The cuticles or scale-like structures on the fibers of these Tibetan Highland sheep are larger than those found on other sheep. Large scales mean a smoother surface, which is more reflective of light, better at displaying the color and at creating a splendid sheen and a radiant luster, unique to Gangchens alone.

No other fiber takes and holds dye like Tibetan Highland sheep wool. The dyes actually seep into the core of the fibers, dyeing them from the inside out, so the colors are richer, more saturated, and more vibrant.

These rugs are a beautiful marriage of traditional design and construction with simplicity of design, vibrant color, and unsurpassed quality that are so perfect for the well-loved home of today.

Handwoven Wool Tibetan Rug With Cloud Motif

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A Rug For Your Best Friend

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Josh Wiesenfeld

There is nothing more endearing than your best friend relaxing on a beautiful handmade rug!

It's no secret in our homes that dogs and cats love oriental carpets as much as we do! Our furry family have always ended up adopting a particular rug which they have found appealing for texture and/or thickness. So if you want to give your special friend a special gift that you will find aesthetically pleasing, try one of our smaller sized rugs. We recommend our Tibetan rugs, which have a thickness that both dogs and cats enjoy.

Some people mistakenly think a rug might get damaged by their pets, but in fact handmade rugs can withstand a great deal of wear and tear and remain in great condition. There are only a few minor pet related rug care issues to be aware of. You can find information about these issues, and our suggestions for taking care of them in our Rug Care section. If you ever feel your rug is just getting too dirty, a professional rug cleaning can restore it to it's original luster.

If you would like a recommendation for a special rug for your dog or cat, send us a note!

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A Rug For Yoga

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Josh Wiesenfeld
Oriental rugs make great yoga mats! Preferences in traditional yoga mats are very similar to preferences in yoga rugs. We have thick deep "pile" rugs that are good for those who use a thick yoga mat or more than one mat. If this describes you, you may like to look at our Tibetan rugs. If you prefer a more svelte, thin yoga mat, you may consider our Soumak rugs, many of which are flat weaves.  

If you purchase a rug to use for yoga, we recommend using a rug pad so that it stays firmly on the ground throughout all your positions. Our recommended pad for your yoga rug is the Teebaud Non-skid Rug Underlay

Your yoga rug can be used for other exercise activities as well, such as stretching. One of the nice benefits of using a beautiful handmade rug for exercise is that they are made from wool, which handles odors extremely well, so a little sweat on your rug is no sweat at all!

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Current Trends in the Rug-Making World

Posted on August 01, 2012 by Susan Brouwer


The rug-making world has been immersed in a swirl of change for many years. People in the rug-weaving countries have been subject to the whims of political changes, movements of peoples, the dictates of style and taste. There have been two embargoes on Iranian (Persian) rugs, one of which is currently in place.  

Because the west was not able to acquire Persian rugs for so many years in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the weavers of other countries, notably Pakistan, India and China, began making rugs emulating the Persian designs.  

9/11 drove many of the weavers in Paksistan and Afghanistan out of work because of the disappearing market in the west for their rugs. The refugee Afghani weavers in Pakistan returned to Afghanistan, some of them continuing to practice their trade.  


When the crash of 2008 occurred, much of the middle class in the west stopped investing in art and high-quality objects such as handmade rugs. The weavers have had to find other work, partly because of less demand, but also because many of the weavers have gone into jobs where they can make equal or better pay for less difficult and demanding work, such as jobs in the technology field. As fewer people make rugs, there are fewer high-quality rugs in the marketplaces of the world, prices gradually are increasing, and fewer people are able to experience the joy of seeing and owning this type of rug, especially the younger generation.

As part of our mission, A Rug For All Reasons hopes to provide a source of information about handmade rugs as well as a source for acquiring really good rugs.  Hand-knotted rugs are expensive, but we strive to keep our prices as reasonable as possible. We hope to enable the weavers to continue producing rugs that are not only durable and beautiful but also represent an age-old, traditional art.

To learn more about handmade rugs, visit our Rug Info section, starting with our article on "What is an Oriental rug?," as well as our blog article "A Short History Of Rugs."

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A Short History Of Rugs

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Susan Brouwer

The origin of oriental carpets has been attributed to the nomadic tribes originating in Central Asia. The earliest carpet, the famous Pazryk Carpet (seen below), which was

 

discovered in a Siberian burial site, is more than 2,500 years old (note how well the intricate design has held up - a tribute to the craft and construction of handmade rugs). It is generally accepted that the special craft was developed simultaneously in different parts of the world, probably around the same period of time and spread throughout the world by nomadic tribes. Since then, carpet weaving has been a mainstay in countries such as Persia (Iran), Egypt, Turkey, China, Pakistan, and India, and in more recent times Tibet and Nepal.

Carpet weaving was a craft of many nomadic tribes and developed because of the need for protection from the elements. The Kazak design (seen below - our Kazak design 5), is a


perfect example of the nomadic styles of past and present. The geometric designs were easily woven by nomads who migrated throughout the world. Most were woven on horizontal looms that could be easily taken up when the tribes moved from one place to another. A high level of detail that can be achieved with fine yarns and an upright stationary loom. The striated colorations of the tribal rugs also denote the different dyes and wool used as they moved from one place to another and produced the wools and dyes, as they were needed.

The Tabriz, as well as Sarouk, Keshan, Bidjar, Herati and others are designs that are depicted by the actual city where they originated from. So-called "city"rugs, these works of art show exquisite detail due to the fine knotting and quality-controlled materials.

The rugs from each country, and even each region of a country, often have their own unique characteristics of construction and design, which help in their identification. However, in modern times many of these characteristics have been "hybridized" because of the movements of refugee weavers and because many of the Persian designs are being made in other countries such as India and Pakistan with innovations and colors that may not have been used traditionally.

This informative Wikipedia reference on Persian carpet has more on the Pazryk Carpet, as well as history on other rug making periods, materials, designs, and motifs.

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