One of the reasons why hand-knotted carpets are more expensive than machine-made carpets is that they are very durable. The oldest existing carpet in the world, the Pazyryk carpet, is hand-knotted and woven. It was unearthed from a burial site in the 4th century BC in the Novosibirsk region of Russia and has a history of more than 2,000 years. Moreover, the hand-knotted carpets used by many families abroad often accompany the lives of several generations of a family. Therefore, hand-knotted carpets are not just carpets, but also recorders of time.
So why are hand-knotted carpets so durable? The structure of a hand-knotted carpet itself determines that it will not be loose. Each hand-knotted carpet is composed of a base and a pile on the carpet surface. The base is the warp hanging on the loom, and the pile is the buckle tied by the weaver on the warp. This warp and weft weaving method ensures the firmness and durability of the hand-knotted carpet. In addition, to ensure the strength of the handmade carpets woven in different parts of the world, special processes are used in the weaving process. For example, weavers in the Bijar region of Iran will wet the carpet yarn to tie knots during weaving. In this way, when the carpet is dry, it will be very solid, so the handmade carpets in this area are also called "iron carpets".
Before buying a handmade carpet, many people are most concerned about whether the handmade carpet will be very delicate and difficult to take care of and clean. But we can tell you responsibly that handmade carpets are easy to clean. After each handmade rug is woven, it will enter the cleaning process, and it will be washed back and forth many times before drying. Some carpets will take 3 weeks to clean this process alone.
So it doesn't matter if the handmade carpets at home are usually sticky with a little water, because washing with water is a process in itself. If there is a little liquid that stains the carpet surface, don't worry, small stains can be cleaned with water at home. Therefore, unlike machine-made carpets, surface stains on handmade carpets will not affect their use, because they are not afraid of washing, so their lifespan is longer. If you have seen antique carpets, you will find that antique carpets are generally more textured than newly woven handmade carpets, and the surface has a special luster, just like the "patina" of mahogany furniture. Every step you take on the handmade carpet is like polishing the surface of the carpet, so the handmade carpet is not afraid of being stepped on, and the more you step on it, the more shiny and smelly it is. Therefore, handmade carpets are not afraid of being used, and the longer they are used, the more beautiful and durable they are.
Handmade carpets generally choose natural silk and wool as materials. The silk used as carpets has strong rigidity, good stretchability, corrosion resistance, and a certain degree of hygroscopicity, so it is very durable; wool has excellent complex elasticity and bendability due to its special hair scale structure, so the appearance is highly retentive and very durable.
The weaving process of handmade carpets often takes months or even years, but the unique texture and artistic value make it a treasure in home decoration. Over time, the color and texture of handmade carpets will gradually become softer and richer. This is because silk and wool are both natural fiber materials, which will naturally oxidize in the air, thus presenting a unique retro beauty. At the same time, the durability of handmade carpets also enables them to withstand the test of time and become a timeless work in home decoration.
Handmade carpets also have a high collection value. Since each handmade carpet is unique, those handmade carpets with a long history and exquisite patterns are regarded as works of art and are treasured by many private collectors.
Once a foreign seller gave us a damaged carpet for repair. We asked why he didn't buy a new one. He said: "I crawled on this carpet when I was a child, and now my children are still crawling on this carpet. I can't bear to give it up." So a durable handmade carpet can accompany you throughout your life and become a common memory of the family. It really makes people love it.
