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Carpets And Rugs

In the Persian knot, t he pile ends and warp threads alternate. Therefore, the Persian knot gives a more uniform distribution of the pile than the Turkish knot, and consequently permits a tighter weave and a shorter pile.

The Turkish knot, in order to make up for the slight difference of uniformity in distribution, requires that the pile be cut longer. Both these knots are used throughout the Orient at the present time.

It is not always easy to distinguish the type of knot by finding whether the pile ends and warp threads alternate, because every other warp thread is sometimes thrown to the back as shown in Figure 10 (5) and (7). However, if the front and back are examined very carefully, it is not difficult to distinguish between the Turkish and
Persian knots. The illustrations herewith are self-explanatory on this point.

The Persian knot can be made either left-hand or right-hand as shown in Figure 10 (2) and (3), while the Turkish knot is always symmetrical. Consequently, a rug made with a Turkish knot has its pile lying in one direction, namely: toward one end of the warp; while the Persian knot produces a pile that lies toward the left-hand corner or the right-hand coiner when looking at the pile end on, depending upon whether the knot is a lefthand or a right-hand knot. Therefore, the direction of the pile is a simple indication of the type of knot used.

A rug that has been washed may mislead anyone examining the direction of the pile, as in such cases the pile will lie in which ever direction it was brushed when washing. In fact, it is a sure sign that a rug has been washed if the pile; lay is crossways of the warp instead of toward one end.

The Turkish knot is used in all rugs of Asia Minor, Caucasia, some in India and extensively in Persia, while the Persian knot is used in Turkoman and Chinese, in many Persian and in some Indian; most arc right hand. The Persian knot permits closer weaving and cleaner definition of the pattern on account of the shorter pile.