The name 'Oriental carpets' is usually referred to all hand-knotted carpets; since this denomination is not inexact in view of their common Asiatic origin. However, the immensity of the producing areas, and the variety of techniques, styles, and materials used necessitate a detailed classification. As a rule, Oriental carpets are divided into four main groups:
- Caucasian;
- Central Asia or Turkestan;
- Persian; and
- Turkish or Anatolian.
In the second half of this century an important production of the hand-knotted rugs has developed rapidly in Europe, North Africa, and the United States of America; although they can not be classified with Oriental carpets, they merit no less of our attention, because, woven according to the same procedure, they attain today a worthwhile quality. |