Unicorn Persian Rugs
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between tribal/nomadic, village rugs and city rugs?Tribal/Nomadic village rugs belong to a long tradition. Originally woven for home use only, their designs are very strong in character often featuring bold geometric designs, inspired by architecture (Balouch, Luri), while some like Shiraz and Quashqai are whimsical and inspired by gardens.
Their colours can be vivacious or dark and mysterious and often echo contemporary paintings.
All Persian rug designs are free, full of surprises, with changes according to the whim of the weaver. Their spontaneous creation by individual weavers assures that every rug is unique – there are no repeats.
On the other hand, “City Rugs” are rugs which are manufactured in carpet workshops or factories. Their designs are often finely woven floral motifs where the weaver follows a set design or "cartouche". They repeat the same patterns and no rug is unique. Unicorn does not sell “City Rugs”.
How do I know that no child labour was involved in the making of my rug?Unicorn only imports rugs made by nomadic, tribal and village people. The rugs are often made by women as a part-time occupation. Children often help in the family which teaches them skills and gives them pride and self-confidence. However, they do not produce the rugs under factory “sweat-shop” conditions as they do in some City Rugs.
How do I clean and maintain my rug?Because all our rugs are hand woven, they are easy to maintain. You should vacuum clean your rug regularly (preferably working with the lay of the pile). Occasionally you may like to also vacuum the back of the rug. We also suggest that you turn the rug end-to-end once or twice a year to allow it to wear evenly and equalise its exposure to light The woollen pile is full of lanolin which repels most spills. For water spills, simply soak up with tissues or a towel. Sticky drinks should be soaked up with tissue or towel as for water and then apply a wool wash. Any major staining should be attended to by a specialist Persian carpet cleaner and the rug should be fully hand-washed approximately every five years. The natural dyes and poor wool of a Persian rug should not be subjected to the high temperatures and harsh detergents used by commercial carpet cleaners. The rug fringes and side cords which are the only parts of the rug that may need repair can also be checked by the specialist cleaner/repairer.
Moths may attack some carpets that are hanging on a wall, left undisturbed, or under furniture. The biggest danger in Queensland comes from the tiny (approx. 3mm) creamy-coloured case moth. If your carpet could be at risk, you may like to lightly apply an insecticidal surface spray.
Please phone us at Unicorn Persian Rugs to arrange professional cleaning and repair of your rug. Brief Overview of Rug Characteristics (fix it!)
The study of Persian rugs can take a lifetime! Following below is a very brief overview of the main characteristics of the different rug styles – even though there are be exceptions to all rules. In the Muslim religion, a perfect representation of nature is a sin. This is why, in all Persian rugs, animals, birds and vegetation are presented in a geometric and naïve fashion which is part of their unique charm. For a more comprehensive study, please go to the following websites and or publications.
Balouch(i) – inspired by architecture – tiles, windows and buildings, they are often geometric. They are often dark and mysterious with a minimalist in choice of colours.
Shiraz – Made in the capital city of the Province of Fars, Shiraz rugs are inspired from the garden. They can be minimalist in colour – often deep reds and blues. Very luscious. Shiraz rugs often contain a centrepiece representing the water pools in a garden. Often have a strong border which represents the wall around the garden.
Qashqai or Kashgai – The Qashqa’i are a confederation of tribes from Fars Province, South-West Iran. Usually inspired by the garden, Qashqai rugs sometimes have a centrepiece of one or several medallions or can be a field of randomly placed elements: birds, flowers, animals, leaves etc. Qashqa’I people have a wonderful way with colours and their rugs can be very vivacious and exuberant – stunning!
Gabbeh – Initially woven for domestic use only, some Gabbeh are woven using un-dyed neutral coloured wool, while others can be brightly coloured fields with small scattered naive rendering of people or animals.
Kilim – flat weave. These bright, light weight decorative rugs with their very bold geometric designs make ideal wall hangings. We specialise in unusual semi-antique Kilim pieces mainly from Anatolia, Russia and Iran.