One of the oldest crafts known to humankind is rug making and its origin can be traced through various civilizations and societies. Though the exact origin of rug is not known, it is believed that the nomads realizing that their sheep could provide a valuable material for rug-making, experimented with thick, warm wool, replacing animal skin coverings. The nomadic Mongolian and Siberian tribes were first engaged in rug-making thousands of years ago. The art of rug-making, thus migrated from one region to another, exposed to different people and the craft passed to various cultures.

Archaeologists have discovered rugs in tombs that were at least 4000 years old. The most famous of these rugs is the so-called ‘Pazyryk Rug’, which was preserved from destruction because it was encased in ice. This is the oldest rug ever to be discovered. The discovery of this rug tells us a great deal about how rugs were actually made, and how different styles evolved over the centuries. Rugs were initially made for utilitarian purposes as coverings to keep the tribes warm in cold seasons. Over the years, the beauty of rug has so spread that it has become not just a useful floor covering but an exclusive art. In fact, many museums and galleries around the world are well known for their collections of ancient and contemporary rugs.

As the rug made its way into other cultures, different cultures adapted styles, designs, materials to fit their own local needs and their individual ingenuity. Both vertical and horizontal looms were developed to make rugs with diversified knotting styles, designs, adding fringes on the corners and edges. Varied materials like silk, cotton besides wool were used in the rug making process.
Over time the carpet weavers have grown to creators, artists, who could weave a story into their designs with every knot they tied, crafting every piece with their hearts and making their creation symbols of aestheticism. It is widely believed that rug-making was more profound with quality skills and elaborate expressions in the Islamic and Asian cultures.

Today, Indian carpets have substantially emerged as a major item for exports and thereby placed itself prominently in the international map. In India, the traditions of carpet making stretch back into the medieval era. The art of rug and carpet making was introduced in India by the great Mughal emperor Akbar in the 16th century. He spread rug making as an occupation in the country by bringing Persian weavers from Kashan, Isfahan and Kerman. Some of the most exclusive carpets were created during the Mughal era, incorporating an enchanting matrix of designs and colours. With a brilliant head-start, Indian Carpets paved its way to global recognition for their exquisite designs, attractive colour, subtle elegance, and workmanship. At Jaipur Rugs Company, we nurture this legacy with pride and expertise.