Oriental carpet production dates back countless centuries, we can’t put an exact date on the precise origins of Persian carpets but one thing we do know is carpets of this quality were being produced in the 5^th century BC. How do we know this? We have evidence thanks to the Pazyryk carpet, a gem that was discovered just after the Second World War, it’s the oldest known surviving carpet in the world and it’s an absolute gem! Discovery of the Pazyryk carpet The Pazyryk carpet is living proof of the heritage of woven carpets, it was discovered by Russian archaeologist Sergei Rudenko in the Pazyryk Valley, preserved inside a Scythian burial mound. This exciting discovery was even more amazing thanks to the condition of the carpet and the fact that it was relatively complete. It would appear the grave it was buried in was disturbed at some point, this broke the seal which allowed moisture inside - the water froze and entombed the rug within its icy grasp. By sheer luck the rug was preserved and it survived for centuries to the benefit of mankind. History of the Pazyryk carpet Radiocarbon testing was used to verify the age of the carpet and the results indicated it was hand-woven in the 5^th Century BC. It is believed the oldest known example of carpet was woven specifically for a burial, the grave it was found in belonged to a Scythian prince so it doesn’t take a stretch of the imagination to assume it was painstakingly produced at great expense. The carpet measures 2m x 1.83m, it’s symmetrical in shape and woven into the design of the carpet are winged griffons, horses, antlered deer as well as an abstract of floral motifs. Carpets this old and this rare exceptional, if you want to see the Pazyryk carpet in person take a trip to The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersberg, it’s worth the journey if you are as passionate about rugs as we are!

Now that spring is finally here, it reminds me of the spring carpet of Chosroes I (AD531-579), the Persian King of the Sasanian dynasty. To celebrate his victory over the Romans and his conquest of southern Arabia, King Chosroes ordered the manufacture of the world's most expensive carpet ever made. It is estimated to have been as much as four hundred feet long by one hundred feet wide. The design was said to be of a beautiful garden in spring, with trees and flower beds interlaced by streams and paths, which the King could actually walk down, enjoying the spring carpet all through the year. Variations of this design can still be found in Persian rugs and carpets woven today, and many fine examples can be found in London's Oriental rug warehouses. Unfortunately in the year 627 King Chosroes II was defeated by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, who allowed visitors to cut pieces of the spring carpet to take home as souvenirs.

Azerbaijan is the largest country of the Caucasus region. The capital City of Baku is located 28 metres below sea level, making it the world's lowest lying capital City. The production of handmade rugs and carpets in Azerbaijan dates back to the 2nd millennium BC. Azerbaijani rugs and carpets woven in the 19th century can still be found in the market today, but attract a large price for these beautiful rare rugs. Look out for famous Azerbaijani rugs like Kazak, Karabagh, Shirvan, Kuba and Lenkoran to name but a few. In London's wholesale Oriental rug warehouses antique Azerbaijani rugs can still be found in very small numbers, and would be a valued addition to any Oriental rug collection.

The new spring stock of handmade Oriental rugs and carpets is starting to arrive at London's Oriental rug and carpet warehouses. For over 100 years London's warehouses have been a world renowned centre for handmade Oriental rugs and carpets. So why not make an appointment with David J.Wilkins a recognized Oriental rug broker and expert who along with his son Alexander has been guiding his clients through the labyrinth of London's Oriental rug warehouses and helping them find the right carpet for the right price. We look forward to hearing from you soon and showing you around London's Oriental rug warehouses. www.orientalrugexperts.com

The production of Kashmir rugs and carpets is mainly centered in and around the city of Srinagar, in this disputed region of northern India. Kashmir rugs and carpets are handmade and can be found woven in wool, silk and mercerised cotton (imitation silk beware). They are available in a wide range of colours, and the silk rugs come in very pleasant pastel shades. The designs are distinctly Persian as rug and carpet weaving is not thought to be indigenous to Kashmir but introduced by the Persian's. Popular Persian rug and carpet designs found in Kashmir are, Tree of life, The Garden design and other floral Persian city designs. Kashmir rugs and carpets can be found in a range of sizes from 3ft x 2ft right up to 18ft x 12ft. Its a common Indian holiday souvenir, but even after extensive haggling the tourist rarely comes off best, and when arriving home often find they could have purchased there Kashmir rug for much much less from London's Oriental rug warehouses.  

Oriental rugs suit a diverse range of home interiors and Asian inspired themes work particularly well with a rug of this quality. Try a taste of the Orient in your home and add a few traditional features that’ll compliment the look of the rug, we suggest using some of the following at David J Wilkins.

• Bamboo blinds: Simple and rather beautiful, bamboo blinds might be understated but you really don’t need to go overboard with window features when you have a large oriental rug as the centrepiece to the room. Bamboo blinds are good because you can blend them with any wall colour you want and they won’t look out of place.
• Buddha statue: Bring joy, kindness and prosperity into your home with your very own Buddha statue. Be careful which Buddha you buy though. The pose and stature of the statue have different meanings and there are unique hand gestures that have a range of connotations so find out all you can about your Buddha before you bring him home.
• Oriental room divider: Great for defining different areas of the room, choose a Shoji screen made from timber and reinforced paper segments, it’s subtle and has a rather dainty feel.
• Paper lanterns: Chinese lanterns are a familiar sight during festivals, they’re normally bright red, bold and very cheery. How about using plain white paper lanterns as part of an Asian-themed room though? They’re soft, gentle and peaceful, plus they’d be the perfect contrast for a bold Chinese rug.
• Bonsai plant: Nurture a baby bonsai or grow your own mini forest in a corner of the room. Plants bring life, colour and enjoyment to a room, plus it’s such a rewarding experience to trim, prune and care for a miniature tree, so add that to your list of Oriental themed room accessories.

All of the above suggestions work well with Oriental rugs or you could try a few ideas of your own. Have fun!

Persian Gabbeh rugs are woven in and around the Shiraz and Fars regions of Iran, mainly by the Qashqai tribe. They usually have a very long pile of up to an inch deep. The original old Gabbeh rugs were undyed and so cream, brown, grey and black were the only colours available. The designs have always been geometric with large expanses of clear field. In the 1970's and 80's bright colours were introduced to the Gabbeh rugs and they proved very popular with the modern decor. This trend was soon noticed by other handmade rug and carpet weavers around the world, particularly Indian, Pakistan and Turkey. Today Persian Gabbeh rugs are produced in much smaller numbers and it can be difficult to find stock in London's Oriental rug warehouses.

There's no doubt the alluring factor when high end stores announce the January sales. But the fact is that in today's market and with access to the internet, you should be able to find a reputable Oriental rug dealer that can sell you a Persian rug or carpet at the right price all year round. London's west end stores work on enormous mark up's and its easy for them to cut 75% off their normal retail price and still come out with a very healthy profit, and its usually the rugs and carpets that have failed to sell and best avoided that are discounted the most. The trick is to access London's Oriental rug warehouses, which is actually where most of the UK stores buy their Oriental rugs and carpets from, despite what they say. Can you really imagine the store buyer hunting for handmade rugs and carpets in Afghanistan or Iran, I don't think so. David J.Wilkins has never had a sale, we simply sell Oriental rugs and carpets direct from London's wholesale warehouses at what most people would consider sale prices all year round.

It’s nearly Christmas folks (like we need to remind you!) and this means the party season is nearly here. This can be a worry for owners of Oriental rugs, the thought of hoards of people trampling party food into their Persian is enough to induce a cold sweat. Fear not though, there are simple safety measures to take which ensure your rug survives all the fun and festivities. Take the rug up – One of the easiest ways to keep your rug safe over the holiday season is simply to take it out of the equation altogether. Store it away until the last of the parties in the New Year then put it back down again. We’ve covered the subject of storing rugs in one of our previous blogs at David Wilkins so follow the care guide and at least this way you know your rug won’t come to any harm. Protect it with another covering – Place a plastic sheet or some other covering over the rug on a temporary basis. If you decide to leave the rug down, a protective cover will prevent food and drink from spilling into the fibre and it should prevent you from having a seizure at the same time. Ask people to remove their shoes – Place a shoe rack near the front door and ask visitors to remove their footwear when they visit your home over Christmas. It’ll stop the outside world from being trodden all over your lovely Persian and prevent you from having to clean the carpet afterwards. Keep certain rooms off limits – If you have a Persian rug in the lounge area of your property, have a party in the kitchen, extend it out into the conservatory, use a small gazebo in the back garden if needs be. As long as you drive foot traffic away from the sensitive areas of your house you can relax and get into the party spirit without wondering what’s happening to your rug.

In many handmade Persian rugs and carpets you will discover the deliberate mistake. Followers of Islam believe only Allah makes things perfectly, and therefore to weave a perfect rug or carpet would be an offence to Allah. The original deliberate mistake is usually made in the execution of the pattern of the rug and not in the dying of the wool or silk, and certainly not the quality of the weaving. Genuine deliberate mistakes in oriental rugs and carpets may be very difficult to spot and can be as subtle as a different colour used in a flower petal. In reality with all handmade oriental rugs and carpets, mistakes creep in whether deliberate or not.