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Is there any difference between a rug and a carpet? In strict British usage, a carpet means a room-size floor covering, while rugs are generally smaller. For the purposes of this exhibition, the two terms are used interchangeably, to describe textiles that incorporate certain features:
- Carpets and rugs can be woven on simple frame looms;
- The design possibilities for carpets and rugs are not dependent upon the mechanics of the loom; designs can incorporate repeat patterns as well as pictorial scenes, or both;
- Rugs and carpets can be woven in the shape and size desired, subject to the limitations of the loom, and they are ready for use almost as soon as they are removed from the loom;
- Rugs and carpets are generally heavier in weight than other textiles;
- Rugs or carpets can be used as floor coverings, but they can serve a variety of other purposes: blankets, hammocks, tablecoverings, tents, or as hangings in doors, windows, or on walls.
The term “pile carpet” means that the rug was constructed from a technique that involves the knotting of short pieces of yarn into the woven structure. The dangling ends of the knots are then trimmed evenly, much like overgrown grass can be cut by clippers or a mower to provide a uniform surface to a lawn.
Materials
Technique
Historical aspects
Text-only version of Construction
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