Jaipur Rugs’ new launch, ‘Jaipur Rural Tours...…back to basics’

Jaipur Rugs Company is a globally recognized manufacturer and exporter of rugs and carpets, embellishing the world with its exquisite creations since three decades. Company’s new venture is turning to be the latest buzz in the tourism industry. Jaipur Rural Tours (JRT) is a company launched with a motive to bestow the travelers a sojourn that is one of its kinds. We all are familiar with the number of tour operators and packages prevailing in the market, providing all fancy packages. These extremely target on facilitating the travelers with accommodations, food and activities like sightseeing, animal ride, etc. What they actually lack is, that true practical experience, which one can feel being at a beautiful ethnic village.

Mr. N.K. Chaudhary, Chairman & Managing Director of Jaipur Rugs, is fond of rich and rural culture of Rajasthan villages and is constantly striving to upgrade the deprived communities. He believes with such an exposure one can be a part of heritage and traditions intact in villages.

Jaipur Rural Tours…back to basics is conceived to let travelers experience the authentic village activities. Observing the manufacturing process is far more beyond than performing the same. Over here at Narhet along with the JRT team one can actually participate in making mud pots, handicraft items, rugs, etc.

Narhet village, Thanagazi block of Alwar district, Rajasthan, boasts an interesting history of more than 500 years, situated at a distance of about 60 km from Jaipur. It lays on Jaipur-Delhi highway, surrounded with Aravallis, one hour ride and you are there to relish a mesmerizing stay. The village is all set with basic amenities and loaded with a number of things to do. Through this venture, tourists and visitors can be facilitated to visit many authentic villages of Rajasthan, filled with aromas of charcoal fumes, combined with camel caravans and enthralling performances by traditional dancers and singers.
Jaipur Rural Tours mission’s to extend the reach and benefit travelers by enriching their visit with rich glorious culture of rural Rajasthan, benefiting a closer encounter.

URL: www.jaipurruraltours.com

RUGS IN THE WORLD

JAIPUR RUGS CO deals in decorative coverings, large or small, created by hand from one or more types of fibre. Although intended for the floor, their rugs can also be used as hanging panels. The bulk of the company’s production is made from rows of woollen knots in a combination of colours, applied to a rank of closely-placed, vertical cotton threads, set out on a loom like harp strings. These threads constitute the warp. The woollen yarn comes in a variety of colours and the knots are carefully placed to produce an often-complex pattern. Each row is separated from the next by strands of cotton weft woven through the warp and beaten down tightly. Some rugs, such as kelims, are made by a simpler flat weave process.

The creation of such rugs is an ancient craft and probably originates amongst the sheep-herding nomads of Central Asia. Vulnerable to decay, textiles rarely survive very long so details of the evolution of this technique are long lost. The knotted rug was already well advanced by the fifth century BC, the date of the oldest example so far discovered. Preserved in a Mongolian tomb by permafrost, it measures almost two metres square, bears figurative designs and, at 277 knots per square inch, is relatively fine. Both warp and weft are of wool and the techniques and dyes used are similar to those current in Central Asia into the 19^th century. This tomb and others nearby also contain fragments of kelims and felt mats. Amongst these nomadic people such rugs, easily folded for transport, represented a major part of the furnishing in their tented homes. Perhaps similar knotted fabrics were already is use for saddlebags to carry pots and other utensils on their annual wanderings.

The designs favoured by these nomads for their rugs were and are largely abstract, simple, repeated motifs within a geometric border. Many are angular derivatives from plant, mammal or bird forms, but the emphasis is on easily-reproduced angular patterns. Many were quite specific to a particular region or group of people. Such repetitive forms were simple to memorise and did not require the aid of any system of chart. The weavers were probably the womenfolk, who created rugs during long winter months.

It was almost certainly from a Central Asian base that the custom of rug weaving spread across Asia. Fragments of knotted and flat weave rugs dating from the first centuries of the Christian era have been preserved by the aridity of Egypt and the Middle East. These rugs were created using techniques and dyes current in the region into recent times. Early rugs discovered on the desert fringes of China seem to have come with nomads from further west.

Rugs carried by passing nomads or brought into the bazaars must have attracted the eye of urban folk. Seeing a demand or responding to orders, local weavers started to produce their own versions, always maintaining geometric patterns. Such rugs, dating back to the 13^th century, appear in Konya, the Seljuk capital of Turkey, which Marco Polo names as the source of the best carpets in his day. The European fashion for Turkish rugs is reflected in Renaissance art, many paintings featuring them amongst interior furnishings. These western pictures dating back to the early 14^th century are a rich source of carpet information since few carpets survive from the period. Many are religious paintings, often showing a fine rug at the feet of the Virgin. Several of Lorenzo Lotto’s and Hans Holbein’s mid 15^th century pictures include Turkish rugs, often as table rather than floor covers. The fashion knotted rugs inspired their manufacture in England (Axminister) and, more importantly, France (Aubisson and Levallois). The industrial revolution led to the mechanisation of European carpet production, but a demand remained for handcrafted rugs.

The art of hand woven carpet manufacture reached its height in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, not among the nomads but in the urban imperial workshops of Turkey, Iran, India and China. Here, floor covering became ever more sophisticated, ever larger. The patterns quit the geometric model in favour of swirls of vegetal growth, realistic flowers, birds and animals, usually surrounding a central medallion. The royal ateliers demanded finer work from their artisans, who had to cram ever more knots into a square inch, turning from wool knotted on cotton to wool on silk then, finest of all, silk on silk. To produce their complex designs the weavers needed a map, naqsha, for reference. One team member would read the map, calling out the colour of each knot. His call was confirmed by the weavers as they worked.

Here, too, art recorded this move to intricate floral designs. Turkish and Iranian miniatures often pose their subjects on fine floral rugs. These countries, joined by India in the latter part of the 16^th century, took carpet design and manufacture to its highest point. Huge financial resources were required and three great dynasties: the Turkish Ottomans, the Iranian Safavids and the Mughals in India, each flourishing in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, had such resources. They produced large and magnificent carpets, designed to the glory of God or to decorate the imperial court. One of the finest of all, the Ardabil Carpet, dated 1539-40 and measuring 10.5m x 5.34m, was probably made in Tabriz in northwest Iran. Woven by one Maqsud of Kashan, it was almost certainly a royal commission. Its woollen pile is formed of 340 knots per sq in, and the warp and weft are of silk,

Iran has been a famous source of knotted rugs for many centuries, some fragments of pile dating back to the 3^rd/4^th centuries AD. Angular patterns gave way to a fashion for curvilinear plant designs and realistic flowers, which entered the country late in the 14^th century with Timur’s invasion from Samarkand. The result was the eponymous Persian carpets of the 16^th and 17^th centuries, amongst the finest ever produced.

There were four major areas of production in Iran: Tabriz in the northwest, Esfahan and Kashan in the centre, Kerman in the desert east and Heart in the northeast, now across the border in Afghanistan. Tabriz dominated in the early 1500s, when it was the Safavid capital but, too close to the frontier, it was under constant Turkish threat. Shah Abbas the Great founded a court manufactory around 1600 in his new capital, Esfahan. This is still an important rug manufacturing city although less so than in 1964, when I remember six camels laden with rugs coming into the closed souk. There passers-by walked over light-grounded carpets being broken, lying across the street. Kashan was famous for its intricate silk pile rugs. There are literary references to 16^th and 17^th century Kerman rugs but few can be identified as from there prior to the 19^th century. Herat, an important city in the Safavid era, was a centre of sophisticated floral carpets.

As an Afghan provincial capital, Herat specialised in angular abstract or stylised Baluchi and Turkmen nomad rugs. There have been other, more recent, developments amongst the Afghans. During the 1990s, when millions of refugees descended into Pakistan to escape war with the Russian occupiers, many settled in camps around Peshawar. There, many refugees started manufacturing rugs featuring tanks, planes and guns against a yellow ground! I know - I bought one. They also brought fine rugs with them, following a tradition my grandmother remembered. The first camel caravans descending the Khyber in the spring carried rugs, which found an easy market amongst British colonials like her.

Traditional Chinese rugs never really competed in the western market with Iranian and Turkish designs. But often it is the skill and low cost of an artisan force that creates demand. During the 20^th century western dealers commissioned Chinese weavers to reproduce Iranian patterns and in the 1930s even commissioned art deco work, aimed at the current European fashion. Tibetan designs were made almost entirely for a local market, usually just for the household of the weaver. Nepal, not a traditional manufacturing country, only took up the craft in the late 20^th century.

It was the Persian designs that inspired carpet manufacturers of the Indian subcontinent. They copied or adapted those designs and, finding that they sold best, have continued to do so. Although it has tried many different types of design, even including motifs copied from local wall paintings, the great majority of JAIPUR RUGS CO’s production is based on Iranian models.

Ilay Cooper 2010 www.ilaycooper.com

ABOUT MODERN RUGS

“Beauty in things lies in the mind which contemplates them.”_ David Hume
Modern rugs are an emblem of sheer magnificence and exquisiteness. These are new interior styles of home decoration designs, which are hallmarked by clean, straight lines, and an uncluttered look.

Modern rugs complement today’s interior designs and inspirations. They are very trendy and hip. Such an art excites the senses to a pleasurable experience.
But for amateurs, it is a bit tricky to distinguish between a traditional, transitional, and modern rug. To make it clear, we can categorize them within pattern, design and colors.

Pattern:
• Traditional carpets: The patterns in traditional carpets are very basic with heavy borders and dense fringes. Such carpets can easily be identified, as they hold a very formal look.
• Transitional carpets: Basically, transitional carpets are a blend of traditional and modern carpets. The patterns can be experimental. Sometimes they may fashion a border or fringes, or both, or simply nothing. Such carpets can best suit a home, which holds an amalgamation of modern and traditional decorative furniture.
• Modern carpets: Modern carpets personify clean and uncluttered look. These carpets do not have fringes and heavy borders. The carpets are chic in style.
Designs:
• Traditional carpets: The designs in traditional carpets are very common like floral, damask, etc. These motifs are set in a proper format, which give a formal look to the carpet.
• Transitional carpets: The motifs in transitional carpets may vary. Transitional rugs can be better explained as traditional motifs with bright colors or modern motifs with subtle color combinations.
• Modern carpets: Very hip and modish designs can be discovered in modern style carpets. The carpets are every neat in look and the motifs incorporated are elegant.

Colors:
• Traditional carpets: The colors seen in traditional carpets are very basic like red, black, and navy blue. You can find very royal and flamboyant carpets that can suit best to a formal set up.
• Transitional carpets: The colors in transitional carpets are bright enough. However, they are pleasing to the eyes.
• Modern carpets: Modern rugs and carpets are very vivid, and incorporate bright and dashing colors.

This change has proven this saying wrong. The saying is, “The best and most beautiful thing in life cannot be seen, not touched, but are felt in the heart”. Today modern technology has brought drastic and dramatic changes in the taste and choices of people. The houses have been transformed to ultra modern and posh à la mode. You can titivate your contemporary dwelling with modern rugs and carpets. Modern rugs can be epitomized as “A subtle sense of sophistication”.

CLEANING OF RUGS AND CARPETS

Cleaning of rugs and carpets is a very tedious job, but is really important for endurance. This article will facilitate and inspire carpet lovers to maintain their master pieces.

“The rugs make the home a place where it feels right to walk around without shoes”.
Carpets are an emblem of standard residential dwellings worldwide. Carpeting is an eternal investment and it is essential to maintain the rugs and carpets for their endurance. Carpet lovers take lots of measures to keep their rugs and carpets beautiful, such as not allowing foot wears. These small tactics may help to keep the floor coverings clean, but these restrictions do not work in high- traffic areas. Thus, a thorough cleaning of rugs and carpets add life to them.

How to judge that your floor covering needs cleaning?
Basic cleaning, such as vacuuming cannot reach to the root of the knots, the resting place for dust. There are few universal ways to judge that the floor covering is dirty. First, kick the back of a corner of carpet, if a thick dust cloud appears the cleaning is required. And second, hold the pile and fold it facing upward so that the pile opens along the line of knots. If the foundation of the pile is dirty you need to clean the rug. Sometimes you can easily judge just by vigorously rubbing hand for a few seconds on the rug.
Vacuuming is one of the way by which you can take out a lot of dust from the floor coverings. And it is must to vacuum the rug or carpet from both the sides’ at least twice a week. This can fluctuate according to the amount of traffic on the carpets. Small mats on the entrance at the doors even catch a lot of dirt and help in keeping rugs and carpets clean, these mats should be kept clean.

There are several methods for cleaning rugs and carpets, few are mentioned below:

Powders: Powder type cleaners are sprinkled on the rug surface for approximately 15 minutes. Interestingly, the powder based solvent attracts dust and grim out of the rug. Since powder is already a dry agent it doesn’t need any drying time. The carpet can be vacuumed or brushed to clean.

Shampooing: The rug or carpet is cleaned with a rug shampoo or mild liquid soap. It should be tested on a corner first, never use strong detergent as they may ruin the texture. Brushing firmly will help to smoothly remove the dirt. Rinse thoroughly with running water, squeeze properly and leave flat to dry.

Foam: There are two prominent foam types for domestic and professional purpose. The home foam is mixed with water to create a solvent which is sprayed on the rug surface. Once it dries up, the powder-turned foam can easily be vacuumed.

Bonnet Cleaning: Bonnet cleaner is a type of rug cleaner which is a heavy-duty absorbent pad. Actually, it uses a spin pad which is fastened with a low paced rotary brush. The pad is soaked with the cleaning agent which is rotated against the surface. This rapid rotating action helps in collecting dirt but doesn’t let it penetrate deep into the fabric. Ideal for long loop or high rugs.

Spot Rug Cleaner: Spot rug cleaners are vaporizing sprays specially formulated for smaller stains. Such aerosols are applied directly and aptly dried.

Steam Cleaner: Also known as ‘Steamvac’, steam cleaner utilizes a method of emitting tiny steam particles combined with a cleaning solution, onto the carpet. Brushes and hose attached with the device help loosen grim, and clear off soiled particles.

Moreover, you can seek professional help for cleaning your master pieces. Professionally trained these cleaners can take the best care of rugs and carpets considering the age, the fiber and the depth of the dirt. There are number of professional carpet cleaning companies that work to restore the beauty of your carpets.

Thus, it is important to know your carpet to take good care of it. Numerous websites are selling rugs and carpets, and are making profits. But only few websites are educating people about rugs and carpets, one such website is Carpetandrugpedia.com. This website is an encyclopedia of rugs and carpets and shares great information about floor coverings.

TRANSITIONAL RUGS

One master piece that suits exactly to the room can do wonders. These days lots of accessories are available to adorn each and every corner of your dwelling. A blend of traditional and contemporary decorative enhances the beauty of the space. Rugs have always played a vital role in embellishment. Selection of a rug should be done considering each aspect as they are beautiful and important assets of artwork.

Modern era trends are a concoction of traditional and contemporary styles which is termed as ‘Transitional’. Transition is defined as the act of changing smoothly from one state or situation to another. Harmonizing with the trend, transitional carpets are easily available in the market.

Transitional rugs are an amalgamation of traditional and contemporary rugs. The purchaser should be well aware of the features that transitional rugs offer. The difference between the two can be easily judged. The three major categories are listed below:

Style – The design of a transitional rug is not very old, seems very stylish and fuses easily with the any space. A traditional rug gives formal touch to the room, whereas the transitional rug gives casual and chic look.

Colors – Transitional carpets are very vivid and incorporate bright colors like orange, blue, and grey whereas traditional carpets have limited the scope in terms of colors.

Motifs – The patterns in transitional carpets are very experimental. The motifs are arranged in an innovative and stylish manner, and are infused with bright colors.

This is one of the specialties of transitional rugs that they go well with almost every style of room. No matters if your room is adorned with traditional furniture you can still match a beautiful transitional rug with it. The motifs integrated in traditional carpets are arranged in a modern style in transitional rugs, and the colors used are bright yet very soothing. The softness and elegance of a transitional rug can take away your heart. A number of retailers and exporters are trading transitional carpets, but you need to be sure about the quality, durability and price.

‘Desire rug from the Le Reve Collection shown.’ of Jaipur Rugs

This beautiful carpet comes in transitional category, the very traditional damask patterns are fused with beautiful colors. ‘Desire cloud white’ is a Hand Knotted rug and is made of hand spun 100% New Zealand wool.

Le Reve Collection of Jaipur rugs holds number of transitional rugs.