Information on Hand-Made Silk Rugs

Close up of a silk rug

Hand-made silk rugs typically come from Iran, Turkey or Kashmir. They can be quite expensive and are not recommended for high traffic floor areas. Many people display them on walls or other areas that are not likely to have spills. You can light clean them yourself, but for more extensive stain or dirt removal, professional cleaning is recommended.

History

The oldest silk rug found dates from the mid-6th century and was used by a Persian king. Hand-made silk rugs have been prized by the nobility throughout the centuries. In Kashmir, silk rug making has been passed down through the centuries within families; silk rugs have a spiritual significance in this tradition.

Benefits

Silk fibers can be stretched out 30 percent longer without breaking. The fibers are very strong for their weight, even more so than steel. Silk has a light texture, is smooth, soft, high sheen, and can be combined with wool or other materials. A hand-made rug is unique and made by a highly skilled craftsman. The more knots per given area, the more durable the rug.

Time Frame

Handmade silk rugs, depending on their size, may take months or years to complete. A craftsman may take several months to make a small 3-by-5 foot rug. A large silk rug could even take a lifetime for one person to complete, because pure silk takes 1,000 hand-made knots per square inch. The rugs could also be produced by a team of people in a shorter time frame. Silk is expensive because it is derived from people gathering the larvae cocoons of silkworms. A hand-made rug is also expensive due to the craftsman's time, skill and unique technique.

Authenticity Signs

To tell a machine-made rug from a hand-made one, look at the back. Hand-made rugs' knots do not look completely uniform and may appear wavy. A tighter weave indicates higher quality, as does a clear design on the back as compared to the front. Persian rugs have a label (from Iran), and sometimes a signature and date are part of the design by the craftsman on the front side, upper or middle edge.

Cleaning

Silk rugs are difficult to clean and show the imprint of footprints. Other than expensive professional cleaning, you can lightly clean a rug yourself by removing any solid that caused a stain, gently blotting excess liquid, patting with club soda, then air drying.

References

• Flooring Lady: SIlk Rugs
• Macys: Area Rug Buying Guide
• Desert Rug Company: FAQ