Nomadic people value rugs for their portability and versatility. A rug can serve a variety of purposes: a covering for a table or floor, a blanket, or a hammock. It may be used architecturally, as a tent, screen, or door covering. Folded in half, it makes a useful bag for storage and transportation.
Rugs created for utilitarian purposes tend to wear out. This is a facet of carpets that is easy to understand today. Most homes contain either wall-to-wall carpeting or an assortment of area rugs that periodically need to be replaced. Few historical rugs that sustained heavy use have survived to be displayed in museums.
Rugs also were used decoratively, and the very finest can be considered works of art. They were prized for their beauty and design, exchanged as gifts, and treasured throughout the centuries. Most of the carpets that have survived in museums belong to this category. Such carpets were made of fine materials, they were not used as often, they were repaired and stored carefully, and steps were taken to preserve them.
The different uses for rugs can be grouped into categories that influenced their design and construction. Some of these are:
Religious
Architectural
Ceremonial
Aesthetic
Mercantile
Text-only version of Use
