Miguel Strong’s recent showing of art in Nomad Rugs’ Gallery was a blast!
Check out Miguel’s astute art criticism here:
Miguel is one of the outstanding citizens of the Bay Area and we were delighted to showcase his unique whit, warmth and creativity. For his “day job”, he can be found makin’ sweet music with the magical music and dance troupe, the Yard Dogs Road Show.
Here is Nomad Rugs’ own Tora Fujimatic with my favorite piece from the show, “Elvis”.
And finally, the inimitable artist, Miguel. Thanks Miguel!
The age of the internet has created a vast resource of information. There is so much out there! And, the internet has allowed a small independent rug store like Nomad Rugs reach people throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, the US and the rest of the world! Although most of our clients are from within a couple of miles of the shop, I am proud to say that I have many happy customers on the East Coast, the Mid West, the South, the West Coast… the whole length and breadth of this nation! And, I have even reached clients as far away as Paris, France and Melbourne, Australia.
So what are people saying about Nomad Rugs. One thing I love on the web is that you can look up reviews left by Joe or Jane Public. I always read reviews of products I’m considering or businesses that I have visited. What are people saying about Nomad Rugs? Lot’s of good things! Thank y’all for all of the favorable reviews!
We are also listed as one of the San Francisco’s best Oriental Rug and Carpet Dealer on Barry O’Connell’s fabulous and expansive website, Spongobongo which is listed on our links page (here).
We are pleased to be a carry rugs which benefit the non-profit organization Barakat. Barakat, which takes its name from the Arabic word for blessing, was founded in 1999 by Chris Walter and Habibulllah Karimi. The goal was to create educational opportunities for children in the rug weaving communities. Initially, this meant building and staffing schools and allowing the children to attend classes for free. Today Barakat continues to support the schools as well as taking on new projects such as providing physical exams for children who may have never been seen by a doctor before. Barakat is a registered non -profit organization.
Currently, Barakat supports seven schools, 22 literary programs for girls and several other education programs. A girls’ scholarship program is being established in Afghanistan to encourage girls to pursue secondary education. More projects will follow. Schools have been built in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Click here to read Barakat’s mission statement.
The rugs that are woven in these communities and that benefit Barakat are truly stunning and unique works of art. Woven with all natural dyes and handspun wool, these rugs are amongst the finest that we carry.
Here are just a couple of the rugs we carry that are woven in cooperation and support of Barakat:
A word of Turkish origin normally used to describe the color of a horse; it means dappled, speckled or mottled. The term has long been used in the trade to describe the small variations in hue and saturation found within a single color in a carpet. It applies to two distinct phenomena. The first is caused by the crude technology of the tribal and village dyer, which, combined with variations in yarn diameter, makes small variations in the color of yarn dyed as a single batch. In the carpet this appears as a mottling which gives the color an attractive depth; an absolutely uniform color, by comparison, appears dull and dead. The second is the abrupt change in color occurring at the point where one batch of wool finishes and another, not quite matching, begins: a distinct horizontal line is visible at the junction between the two batches.
A Turkic speaking nomadic and partly settled tribal group in Southern Persia with summer pastures in the mountains south and west of Kerman; they are weavers of excellent pile and kilim rugs.
The asymmetrical knot is formed by thread going around two warps and fully encircling only one of them; it then passes behind the back and one side only of the other warp thread. Also called Persian or Senneh knot.
A nomadic group in southern Persia migrating between the central Zagros mountains and the low-lying areas around Ahvaz; in common with the LURS they speak a Persian dialect with archaic features. They are also settled in numerous villages in a wide area east of the mountains around Shahr Kord, know as the Chahar Mahal.
The exact origins of the Baloch are shrouded in some mystery and various theories are disputed by academics and historians. The Belouch speak a common language, Belouchi, which is derived from an ancient Indo-Iranian language. Modern day Belouch reside in the border areas spanning the countries of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The largest area of Belouchistan exists in western Pakistan with the city of Quetta as its capital. The Belouch of Pakistani Belouchistan, however, are not known for their pile weaving but for their intricate weft-substitution flat-weaves. Most pile rugs are made by the Belouch of Iran and Afghanistan. Learn more about the Belouchi people and Belouch weaving.
A pear-shaped figure (which inspired the “paisley” design) often used in Oriental rug designs. There is much speculation regarding the origin of this motif. Some consider it a representation of a tree swaying in the wind, a pear or pinecone. Other interpretations considered are more mystical: the holy flame of Zoroaster or the alembic of the spiritual alchemists.
Technique where the pattern is not constituted by means of pile knots but by inserting supplementary weft shoots. There are various brocading techniques, the best known of which is the soumac technique.
a) For centuries a center of Muslim learning and spirituality, and the principal trading point for Turkmen tribal carpets; many Turkman carpets as a result have erroneously been called “Bukhara”.
b) The trade name for inexpensive and uninspired carpets woven in Pakistan with Turkmen designs.
A Lori word to describe fairly coarse, long-piled rugs made by nomads of the central Zagros Mountains for use in the tent. They are decorated with bold abstract patters or naïve designs and used to be considered too crude to be worth trading but recently their artistic value has been recognized.
A term of disputed origin and significance. Perhaps it is a crude transliteration of the word for flower (Persian) or roundel (Turkish). In practice it is used to describe the discrete ornaments arranged in an endless repeat pattern used by Turkmen weavers to decorate their carpets, bags and other weavings. It is possible to say that each tribe had its own weaving style in which certain colors and guls were used in easily recognizable combinations.
Impression given by the texture of a rug when touched; generally, it refers to the quality of the surface, the feel when gripped, and the consistency of the back.
A design seen on certain Caucasian and Northwest Persian rugs composed of a polylobed palmette alternated to an almond-shaped cartouche with split-leaf arabesques sprouting from each end.
This refers to wool that was processed by hand. Although some people prefer the uniformity and formal appearance that machine-spun wool imparts to carpets, most connoisseurs value the effect produced by hand spun wool. When spun by hand, yarn absorbs more dye where it is loosely spun and less dye where it is spun tightly, thus producing pleasant variegation (know as “abrash”) in the colors of a rug. Hand spun wool naturally requires more labor and thus rugs woven with handspun wool are more costly. But, the hand spinning process is less abrasive to the wool; more of the natural oils (lanolin) are retained and less fibers are broken. This produces a wool thread that is more resilient and carpets made with such wool will last long and wear better. The drop spindle is the tool most commonly used for hand spinning in rug weaving countries.
The Hazara are an ethnic group that resides primarily in the central mountain region of Afghanistan known as Hazarajat. There is also a significant population of Hazaras in Pakistan in Iran. The Hazaraqai language is a unique dialect of the Persian language with some Mongolian and Turkish vocabulary. Most Hazara are Shia Muslem; a fact that has made them victims of persecution under the Taliban regime.
In origin, a tribal name, now a town, river and district in the extreme west of Azerbaijan, the Caucuses. Kazak rugs are noted for their coarse, long-pile carpets with shiny wool and vigorous designs. The weavers were Turkic nomads, now settled, who came to the region at the time of the great westward migration of Turks in the eleventh century.
The name given to the people of Kazakhstan (Central Asia) in 1936. Today they are the largest group of felt-tent nomads, known for their felts and reed screens; they are not strong in piled carpets.
The type of weaving most associated with Oriental rugs in which tufts of wool forming pile are wrapped around one or more (usually two) warps to project at right angles to the plane of the weaving. They are tied individually, one row at a time, and held in place by ground wefts. The process is to be distinguished from the making of hooked rugs in which tufts of wool are poked into pre-existing loosely woven fabric.
The Kurdish people inhabit a mountainous area of Southwest Asia which includes parts of Iraq, Turkey and Iran as well as smaller sections of Syria, Armenia and Lebanon. Kurds speak the mostly mutually intelligible dialects of the Kurdish language, which has Indo-European roots. Although many Kurds live in modern-day Middle Eastern countries, they differ from the Arabs, Turcs, Assyrians, Armenians as well as the Persians in a variety of ways which may not be apparent to the outside observer. Ranging anywhere from 25 to 27 million people, the Kurds comprise one of the largest ethnic groups without their own country in the world. Their weaving tradition is wonderfully rich and varied; from flat weaves to nomadic pieces to village rugs to intricate workshop carpets.
(or LORI) A tribe of black-tent nomads and settled villagers, long established in the northern and central Zagros mountains of south Persia, politically and linguistically linked to the Bahktiari. They make interesting piled and pileless weavings.
Ornament, usually having a rounded shape, circular, oval or star like; mainly in the center of the field, however often as a vertical repeat or an allover pattern.
Term used to define the niche in Oriental prayer rugs, adapted from the niche in the interior of mosques which indicates the direction of Mecca. The question whether or not there is such a direct connection between prayer rugs and the mihrabs of mosques has still to be answered.
From the Latin ‘to bite’, the term describes a substance used to prepare wool or silk for dyeing. The mordant attaches to receptor sites on the surface of protein fibers and makes a chemical bridge between the dyestuff and fiber. The most common mordants are alum and iron sulfite. Madder and the yellow plant dyes require a mordant, whereas indigo does not.
History
Until the end of the 19th century, natural dyes were the only dyes used in the production of textiles. During the Victorian era, chemists discovered formulas for producing cheap aniline dyes. These early synthetic dyes swept through rug producing countries like a plague. These aniline dyes faded rapidly and the colors bleed when washed with water. By the mid 20th century, the art of the naturally dyed rug was lost. Up until 1980, if you wanted to own a beautiful naturally dyed rug, you were obliged to buy an antique rug produced before the advent of synthetic dyes.
Luckily for us, this changed in the 1980s. A German scientist, Dr. Bohmer, with a passion for antique carpets unlocked the formulas for creating natural dyes. With the help of Turkish authorities, he founded the DOBAG project: creating Turkish rugs made entirely with naturally dyed wool. Soon, other entrepreneurs followed this example and now a small but passionate group of rug producers chose to make their rugs with these superior dyes.
What are natural dyes?
Natural dyes are dyes that are sourced from traditional plant and mineral sources. Some of the most widely used dyes in carpets are Indigo, which creates all shades of blue, and Madder root which creates reds, from light pink to brilliant burgundy. Other natural sources include pomegranate skin for yellows and walnuts husks for black. Green is created in a two-part process by first dyeing wool blue with indigo and then over-dyeing with yellow.
Advantages of natural dyes.
The synthetic dyes used today are excellent and far superior to the earlier aniline dyes. Nevertheless, natural dyes have many advantages over their synthetic counterparts. Natural dyes are more beautiful. The colors they produce tend to have a more organic and natural hue. Wool dyed from plant sources has a more variegated palate (know as ABRASH) that shifts in intensity and saturation creating a pleasing hand-made look. In addition, natural dyes tend to be more color-fast. They fade very little when exposed to sunlight. And, when they do fade, they develop a warm patina of age. They do not bleed when washed with water. And finally, natural dyes are not toxic. They do not pose a risk to the dyers or to the environment.
Fan-like ornament frequently occurring in Persian art and on Persian carpets; it has either the shape of a richly composed blossom or of a similarly constructed leaf.
A political confederation of nomadic tribes in southern Persia officially disbanded in 1956. They speak a Turkish dialect, use black goat-hair tents and migrate between the coastal plain and the central Zagros Mountains. They are known for the quality of their weavings.
The Safavids were an Iranian dynasty that ruled from 1501 to 1736. This was a time of great artistic and cultural development. Some of the great master-works of Persian carpets were created under this dynasty. Many of the designs from this period still influence and inform the carpets of today.
This refers both to the carpets made in the soumac technique and the technique itself. Primarily practiced in the eastern Caucuses, this technique produces a flat-woven carpet using weft wrapping in which wefts are pulled over then wrapped under a series of warps.
The process whereby a continuous thread is formed by twisting fibers together. The twist may be imparted by the rotation of a weighted rod (drop spindle) suspended from the thread. Alternatively, the rod may be attached to a rotating wheel driven by hand (spinning wheel) or a machine.
The symmetrical knot bears this name because he thread forming the knot fully encircles two warp threads and reappears between them; occasionally around three or four warp threads; also called Turkish or Ghiordes knot.
The dominant Turkmen tribe in the second half of the nineteenth century, makers of a great variety of refined weavings. Their carpets, eagerly collected by Europeans, were baptized ‘Royal Bukhara‘ by merchants wishing to enhance their appeal.
An ethno-linguistic term referring to people of speaking a Turkic language living in what is now called Turkmenistan, northeastern Iran and north Afghanistan, with refugee groups in Pakistan and east Iran. In the nineteenth century they were divided into several tribes including the Salor, Tekke, Saryk, Ersari, Yomut, Chodor and Kizil Ayak. They are outstanding weavers and some ethnologists have postulated that the technique of pile weaving may originate from the Turkmen.
A tribal name referring to a people claiming Mongol descent but speaking a Turkic language. Nomadic groups of Uzbeks still exist in remote regions although, as is true with all tribal groups, most are today farmers and city dwellers. Most live in Uzbekistan but there are also many in Afghanistan as well as refugees in Pakistan and Iran. They speak the Turkic language, which distinguishes them from the Tajiks, descendent of the indigenous Indo-European population who have retained their Persian language.
(also WOOF) The threads which are added in succession to the warp, crossing at right angles in the direction of the width of the fabric. In piled carpets they are invisible on the surface in kilims the wefts are the only threads visible.
A Turkmen tribe found in Turkmenistan and northeast Persia. They are farmers, semi-nomads and nomads and in remote regions still retain much of their ancient life-style.
A term used in Turkey for nomad. Apart from the Kurdish-speaking tribes, most of the nomads in Turkey are of central Asian Turkmen origin and some still call themselves Turkmen. Most carpets called ‘Yoruk’ in the market place are made by Kurdish-speaking people in eastern Turkey.
Miguel Strong’s recent showing of art in Nomad Rugs’ Gallery was a blast!
Check out Miguel’s astute art criticism here:
Miguel is one of the outstanding citizens of the Bay Area and we were delighted to showcase his unique whit, warmth and creativity. For his “day job”, he can be found makin’ sweet music with the magical music and dance troupe, the Yard Dogs Road Show.
Here is Nomad Rugs’ own Tora Fujimatic with my favorite piece from the show, “Elvis”.
And finally, the inimitable artist, Miguel. Thanks Miguel!
The age of the internet has created a vast resource of information. There is so much out there! And, the internet has allowed a small independent rug store like Nomad Rugs reach people throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, the US and the rest of the world! Although most of our clients are from within a couple of miles of the shop, I am proud to say that I have many happy customers on the East Coast, the Mid West, the South, the West Coast… the whole length and breadth of this nation! And, I have even reached clients as far away as Paris, France and Melbourne, Australia.
So what are people saying about Nomad Rugs. One thing I love on the web is that you can look up reviews left by Joe or Jane Public. I always read reviews of products I’m considering or businesses that I have visited. What are people saying about Nomad Rugs? Lot’s of good things! Thank y’all for all of the favorable reviews!
We are also listed as one of the San Francisco’s best Oriental Rug and Carpet Dealer on Barry O’Connell’s fabulous and expansive website, Spongobongo which is listed on our links page (here).
We are pleased to be a carry rugs which benefit the non-profit organization Barakat. Barakat, which takes its name from the Arabic word for blessing, was founded in 1999 by Chris Walter and Habibulllah Karimi. The goal was to create educational opportunities for children in the rug weaving communities. Initially, this meant building and staffing schools and allowing the children to attend classes for free. Today Barakat continues to support the schools as well as taking on new projects such as providing physical exams for children who may have never been seen by a doctor before. Barakat is a registered non -profit organization.
Currently, Barakat supports seven schools, 22 literary programs for girls and several other education programs. A girls’ scholarship program is being established in Afghanistan to encourage girls to pursue secondary education. More projects will follow. Schools have been built in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Click here to read Barakat’s mission statement.
The rugs that are woven in these communities and that benefit Barakat are truly stunning and unique works of art. Woven with all natural dyes and handspun wool, these rugs are amongst the finest that we carry.
Here are just a couple of the rugs we carry that are woven in cooperation and support of Barakat:
Miguel Strong’s recent showing of art in Nomad Rugs’ Gallery was a blast!
Check out Miguel’s astute art criticism here:
Miguel is one of the outstanding citizens of the Bay Area and we were delighted to showcase his unique whit, warmth and creativity. For his “day job”, he can be found makin’ sweet music with the magical music and dance troupe, the Yard Dogs Road Show.
Here is Nomad Rugs’ own Tora Fujimatic with my favorite piece from the show, “Elvis”.
And finally, the inimitable artist, Miguel. Thanks Miguel!
The age of the internet has created a vast resource of information. There is so much out there! And, the internet has allowed a small independent rug store like Nomad Rugs reach people throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, the US and the rest of the world! Although most of our clients are from within a couple of miles of the shop, I am proud to say that I have many happy customers on the East Coast, the Mid West, the South, the West Coast… the whole length and breadth of this nation! And, I have even reached clients as far away as Paris, France and Melbourne, Australia.
So what are people saying about Nomad Rugs. One thing I love on the web is that you can look up reviews left by Joe or Jane Public. I always read reviews of products I’m considering or businesses that I have visited. What are people saying about Nomad Rugs? Lot’s of good things! Thank y’all for all of the favorable reviews!
We are also listed as one of the San Francisco’s best Oriental Rug and Carpet Dealer on Barry O’Connell’s fabulous and expansive website, Spongobongo which is listed on our links page (here).
We are pleased to be a carry rugs which benefit the non-profit organization Barakat. Barakat, which takes its name from the Arabic word for blessing, was founded in 1999 by Chris Walter and Habibulllah Karimi. The goal was to create educational opportunities for children in the rug weaving communities. Initially, this meant building and staffing schools and allowing the children to attend classes for free. Today Barakat continues to support the schools as well as taking on new projects such as providing physical exams for children who may have never been seen by a doctor before. Barakat is a registered non -profit organization.
Currently, Barakat supports seven schools, 22 literary programs for girls and several other education programs. A girls’ scholarship program is being established in Afghanistan to encourage girls to pursue secondary education. More projects will follow. Schools have been built in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Click here to read Barakat’s mission statement.
The rugs that are woven in these communities and that benefit Barakat are truly stunning and unique works of art. Woven with all natural dyes and handspun wool, these rugs are amongst the finest that we carry.
Here are just a couple of the rugs we carry that are woven in cooperation and support of Barakat:
Just a few times each year, Nomad Rugs will send email announcements regarding in-store events, online discounts, or other news. Thanks for your interest.
Miguel Strong’s recent showing of art in Nomad Rugs’ Gallery was a blast!
Check out Miguel’s astute art criticism here:
Miguel is one of the outstanding citizens of the Bay Area and we were delighted to showcase his unique whit, warmth and creativity. For his “day job”, he can be found makin’ sweet music with the magical music and dance troupe, the Yard Dogs Road Show.
Here is Nomad Rugs’ own Tora Fujimatic with my favorite piece from the show, “Elvis”.
And finally, the inimitable artist, Miguel. Thanks Miguel!
The age of the internet has created a vast resource of information. There is so much out there! And, the internet has allowed a small independent rug store like Nomad Rugs reach people throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, the US and the rest of the world! Although most of our clients are from within a couple of miles of the shop, I am proud to say that I have many happy customers on the East Coast, the Mid West, the South, the West Coast… the whole length and breadth of this nation! And, I have even reached clients as far away as Paris, France and Melbourne, Australia.
So what are people saying about Nomad Rugs. One thing I love on the web is that you can look up reviews left by Joe or Jane Public. I always read reviews of products I’m considering or businesses that I have visited. What are people saying about Nomad Rugs? Lot’s of good things! Thank y’all for all of the favorable reviews!
We are also listed as one of the San Francisco’s best Oriental Rug and Carpet Dealer on Barry O’Connell’s fabulous and expansive website, Spongobongo which is listed on our links page (here).
We are pleased to be a carry rugs which benefit the non-profit organization Barakat. Barakat, which takes its name from the Arabic word for blessing, was founded in 1999 by Chris Walter and Habibulllah Karimi. The goal was to create educational opportunities for children in the rug weaving communities. Initially, this meant building and staffing schools and allowing the children to attend classes for free. Today Barakat continues to support the schools as well as taking on new projects such as providing physical exams for children who may have never been seen by a doctor before. Barakat is a registered non -profit organization.
Currently, Barakat supports seven schools, 22 literary programs for girls and several other education programs. A girls’ scholarship program is being established in Afghanistan to encourage girls to pursue secondary education. More projects will follow. Schools have been built in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Click here to read Barakat’s mission statement.
The rugs that are woven in these communities and that benefit Barakat are truly stunning and unique works of art. Woven with all natural dyes and handspun wool, these rugs are amongst the finest that we carry.
Here are just a couple of the rugs we carry that are woven in cooperation and support of Barakat:
The requested NomadRugs.com page was not found. The page might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.
Please try the following:
Miguel Strong’s recent showing of art in Nomad Rugs’ Gallery was a blast!
Check out Miguel’s astute art criticism here:
Miguel is one of the outstanding citizens of the Bay Area and we were delighted to showcase his unique whit, warmth and creativity. For his “day job”, he can be found makin’ sweet music with the magical music and dance troupe, the Yard Dogs Road Show.
Here is Nomad Rugs’ own Tora Fujimatic with my favorite piece from the show, “Elvis”.
And finally, the inimitable artist, Miguel. Thanks Miguel!
The age of the internet has created a vast resource of information. There is so much out there! And, the internet has allowed a small independent rug store like Nomad Rugs reach people throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, the US and the rest of the world! Although most of our clients are from within a couple of miles of the shop, I am proud to say that I have many happy customers on the East Coast, the Mid West, the South, the West Coast… the whole length and breadth of this nation! And, I have even reached clients as far away as Paris, France and Melbourne, Australia.
So what are people saying about Nomad Rugs. One thing I love on the web is that you can look up reviews left by Joe or Jane Public. I always read reviews of products I’m considering or businesses that I have visited. What are people saying about Nomad Rugs? Lot’s of good things! Thank y’all for all of the favorable reviews!
We are also listed as one of the San Francisco’s best Oriental Rug and Carpet Dealer on Barry O’Connell’s fabulous and expansive website, Spongobongo which is listed on our links page (here).
We are pleased to be a carry rugs which benefit the non-profit organization Barakat. Barakat, which takes its name from the Arabic word for blessing, was founded in 1999 by Chris Walter and Habibulllah Karimi. The goal was to create educational opportunities for children in the rug weaving communities. Initially, this meant building and staffing schools and allowing the children to attend classes for free. Today Barakat continues to support the schools as well as taking on new projects such as providing physical exams for children who may have never been seen by a doctor before. Barakat is a registered non -profit organization.
Currently, Barakat supports seven schools, 22 literary programs for girls and several other education programs. A girls’ scholarship program is being established in Afghanistan to encourage girls to pursue secondary education. More projects will follow. Schools have been built in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Click here to read Barakat’s mission statement.
The rugs that are woven in these communities and that benefit Barakat are truly stunning and unique works of art. Woven with all natural dyes and handspun wool, these rugs are amongst the finest that we carry.
Here are just a couple of the rugs we carry that are woven in cooperation and support of Barakat:
You don’t need to know a lot about oriental rugs to buy a good rug. Most important, I would urge you to buy what you love. Buying an oriental rug is buying art that will fill your home with beauty you’ll appreciate every day. Find a rug that speaks to you and you will cherish your purchase forever.
There is no better bargain than buying a rug you love from an honest dealer. There are many phony and dishonest sales (”Going Out of Business Sale” “Seized Customs Auction”, etc.) where the original price of a rug is falsely inflated to give customers the impression that the sales price is a huge discount. In reality, these are no bargains. And often, the rugs offered in these sales are second-rate goods that a reputable retailer wouldn’t dare sell. A good dealer will select only fine pieces for their inventory.
A good dealer will also always allow you to try a rug out before making your selection. Before you buy, try a rug out at home. A rug you see in the showroom will always look different when you bring it home. Trying a rug out allows you time to inspect the subtleties in design and color that make a great rug. As a policy, we encourage customers to take rugs home for five days so they can live with them and see how they work. This is all part of your rug education.
Often, your first choice will not be the ideal rug for you home. Finding the right rug may require you to try a couple of different rugs out. Don’t feel rushed to buy a rug. And be sure to find a dealer that will allow you to try them out.
If you are about to buy your first rug, spend some time educating yourself and training your eye. With time, subtle differences in design and color will become more apparent. The rugs to which you were initially attracted may appear less interesting as you get a better sense of good color, good wool and balanced design.
These days, there is a lot of good information on the Internet. Click around on the links on this site and explore. There are also some good books that can provide background knowledge. Yet, nothing beats seeing and touching actual rugs.
Come by our shop or visit the shops in your area. Touch and feel as many rugs as possible; some rugs are thicker, some rugs are thinner; some have soft wool, some have scratchy wool. Look at the back of the rugs to learn about the tightness of the weave and the uniformity of the knots. Ask lots of questions. We encourage looking and touching and learning how our rugs are made.
Oriental rugs are different than all other rugs in that the wool pile is hand-tied to their foundation. The average rug has around 100 knots per square inch. This helps explain their longevity. A good rug will last 50 to 100 years. Many of the antique rugs in our collection are well over a century old. This also accounts for their expense. Each knot is tied in place by hand. A large rug represents well over a year of work.
Not all oriental rugs are created equal. Materials are paramount. Rugs in our shop have a distinct look and feel because they are made with handspun wool and natural dyes. Handspun wool is stronger and more textured than machine spun wool. This wool has a noticeable glow. It feels fleecy, perhaps a little oily and soft. It absorbs dye well and it takes heavy use. And natural dyes have a pleasing organic quality. In my opinion, color is more important than design.
Natural dyes and hand-spun wool add to the expense of producing rugs but they also add to their value. And, it is safe to say that no rug buyer will regret the beauty that superior materials guarantee.
There is a wide range of prices for oriental rugs. Our new naturally dyed rugs sized 8′x10′—a size that usually fits most living rooms—are priced between $2,500 and $5,500. Factors that influence the price include the quality of materials, the knot density and the country of origin. Rugs made with synthetic dyes and machine spun wool cost less than those made with natural dyes and handspun wool.
Furthermore, the cost of the rug rises when there is a greater amount of knots per inch (KPI: a standard measure of knot density). This measure can be compared to the resolution of a digital camera. More knots per inch allows for a more detailed design or higher resolution.
And finally, the cost of rug production is more expensive in some countries than in others. Producing rugs in Turkey and Iran, for example, is more expensive than in Pakistan or Afghanistan. We are happy to work with your budget to find the rug that is right for you. All our prices are listed on our web site.
One final word of caution: Watch out for the rug bug! Oriental rugs can be addictive. I made my first purchase over fifteen years ago. I got bit. And now, I couldn’t imagine life without oriental rugs.
Miguel Strong’s recent showing of art in Nomad Rugs’ Gallery was a blast!
Check out Miguel’s astute art criticism here:
Miguel is one of the outstanding citizens of the Bay Area and we were delighted to showcase his unique whit, warmth and creativity. For his “day job”, he can be found makin’ sweet music with the magical music and dance troupe, the Yard Dogs Road Show.
Here is Nomad Rugs’ own Tora Fujimatic with my favorite piece from the show, “Elvis”.
And finally, the inimitable artist, Miguel. Thanks Miguel!
The age of the internet has created a vast resource of information. There is so much out there! And, the internet has allowed a small independent rug store like Nomad Rugs reach people throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, the US and the rest of the world! Although most of our clients are from within a couple of miles of the shop, I am proud to say that I have many happy customers on the East Coast, the Mid West, the South, the West Coast… the whole length and breadth of this nation! And, I have even reached clients as far away as Paris, France and Melbourne, Australia.
So what are people saying about Nomad Rugs. One thing I love on the web is that you can look up reviews left by Joe or Jane Public. I always read reviews of products I’m considering or businesses that I have visited. What are people saying about Nomad Rugs? Lot’s of good things! Thank y’all for all of the favorable reviews!
We are also listed as one of the San Francisco’s best Oriental Rug and Carpet Dealer on Barry O’Connell’s fabulous and expansive website, Spongobongo which is listed on our links page (here).
We are pleased to be a carry rugs which benefit the non-profit organization Barakat. Barakat, which takes its name from the Arabic word for blessing, was founded in 1999 by Chris Walter and Habibulllah Karimi. The goal was to create educational opportunities for children in the rug weaving communities. Initially, this meant building and staffing schools and allowing the children to attend classes for free. Today Barakat continues to support the schools as well as taking on new projects such as providing physical exams for children who may have never been seen by a doctor before. Barakat is a registered non -profit organization.
Currently, Barakat supports seven schools, 22 literary programs for girls and several other education programs. A girls’ scholarship program is being established in Afghanistan to encourage girls to pursue secondary education. More projects will follow. Schools have been built in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Click here to read Barakat’s mission statement.
The rugs that are woven in these communities and that benefit Barakat are truly stunning and unique works of art. Woven with all natural dyes and handspun wool, these rugs are amongst the finest that we carry.
Here are just a couple of the rugs we carry that are woven in cooperation and support of Barakat:
Our Privacy Policy was developed as a reflection of our continuing commitment to combine the highest-quality products and services with the highest level of integrity in dealing with our clients and partners. This Policy is designed to assist you in understanding how we collect, use and safeguard the personal information you provide to us. We never share any private information we gather from our site with any other parties.
YOUR CONSENT
By using the Web Site, you signify your consent to NomadRugs.com’s collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Policy.
WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT
When you visit NomadRugs.com, you may provide us with two types of information: personal information you knowingly choose to disclose that is collected on an individual basis, and usage information that is automatically collected on an aggregate basis as you and others browse our Web Site.
Information that is Automatically Collected Non-Identifiable Information
Like many other Web sites, NomadRugs.com automatically collects certain non-identifiable information regarding Web Site users, such as the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer, the IP address of your Internet Service Provider, the date and time you access the Web Site, the Internet address of the Web site from which you linked directly to the Web Site, the operating system you are using, the sections of the Web Site you visit, the Web Site pages read and images viewed. This non-identifiable information is used for Web Site and system administration purposes and to improve the Web Site. Your non-identifiable information may be disclosed to others and permanently archived for future use.
Information You Choose to Provide
If you decide to order a rug from us, you will be asked to provide certain personal information (such as your name, email address, postal address, telephone number, or credit card information) for the purpose of carrying out a transaction. Use of Your Personal Information
NomadRugs.com may use your personal information to contact and correspond with you, to respond to your inquiries, to process transactions and payments. If you choose to correspond further with us through email, we may retain the content of your email messages together with your email address and our responses. We never share any personal information nor the contents of emails with any other parties.
HOW DO WE USE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDE TO US?
We use your personal information to process orders and to provide you with marketing material. If you provide us with your address or email address, we will add you to our NomadRugs.com mailing list. We typically send out several postcards and emails per year to inform clients about promotions and specials. By voluntarily providing us with your personal information, you consent to allowing NomadRugs.com to send you these marketing materials. If you prefer not to receive these marketing materials, contact us by phone or email and we will gladly remove you from our mailing lists. NomadRugs.com does NOT sell or rent client information.
HOW DO WE PROTECT AND SECURE YOUR INFORMATION?
Nomad Rugs’ online store uses industry-standard, SSL encryption to handle all credit card and personal information securely. You’re welcome to call the store at 415-401-8833 if you’d like to place an order by phone instead.
OTHER MATTERS
Legally Compelled Disclosure of Information
We may disclose information when legally compelled to do so, in other words, when we, in good faith, believe that the law requires it or for the protection of our legal rights.
Other Web Sites
The Web Site may contain links to other Web sites or Internet resources. When you click on one of those links, you are contacting another Web site or Internet resource. NomadRugs.com has no responsibility or liability for or control over those other Web sites or Internet resources or their collection, use and disclosure of your personal information.
Further Information
Further information about our complete commitment to privacy and security is available upon request. If you have any comments or questions about this Policy or your personal information, please email us at info@nomadrugs.com or contact us at (415) 401-8833
Miguel Strong’s recent showing of art in Nomad Rugs’ Gallery was a blast!
Check out Miguel’s astute art criticism here:
Miguel is one of the outstanding citizens of the Bay Area and we were delighted to showcase his unique whit, warmth and creativity. For his “day job”, he can be found makin’ sweet music with the magical music and dance troupe, the Yard Dogs Road Show.
Here is Nomad Rugs’ own Tora Fujimatic with my favorite piece from the show, “Elvis”.
And finally, the inimitable artist, Miguel. Thanks Miguel!
The age of the internet has created a vast resource of information. There is so much out there! And, the internet has allowed a small independent rug store like Nomad Rugs reach people throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, the US and the rest of the world! Although most of our clients are from within a couple of miles of the shop, I am proud to say that I have many happy customers on the East Coast, the Mid West, the South, the West Coast… the whole length and breadth of this nation! And, I have even reached clients as far away as Paris, France and Melbourne, Australia.
So what are people saying about Nomad Rugs. One thing I love on the web is that you can look up reviews left by Joe or Jane Public. I always read reviews of products I’m considering or businesses that I have visited. What are people saying about Nomad Rugs? Lot’s of good things! Thank y’all for all of the favorable reviews!
We are also listed as one of the San Francisco’s best Oriental Rug and Carpet Dealer on Barry O’Connell’s fabulous and expansive website, Spongobongo which is listed on our links page (here).
We are pleased to be a carry rugs which benefit the non-profit organization Barakat. Barakat, which takes its name from the Arabic word for blessing, was founded in 1999 by Chris Walter and Habibulllah Karimi. The goal was to create educational opportunities for children in the rug weaving communities. Initially, this meant building and staffing schools and allowing the children to attend classes for free. Today Barakat continues to support the schools as well as taking on new projects such as providing physical exams for children who may have never been seen by a doctor before. Barakat is a registered non -profit organization.
Currently, Barakat supports seven schools, 22 literary programs for girls and several other education programs. A girls’ scholarship program is being established in Afghanistan to encourage girls to pursue secondary education. More projects will follow. Schools have been built in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Click here to read Barakat’s mission statement.
The rugs that are woven in these communities and that benefit Barakat are truly stunning and unique works of art. Woven with all natural dyes and handspun wool, these rugs are amongst the finest that we carry.
Here are just a couple of the rugs we carry that are woven in cooperation and support of Barakat:
We offer free shipping on all orders shipped via UPS Regular Ground Shipping option to addresses within the contiguous US and Canada. There will be delivery costs when shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, & the US Virgin Islands.
For our International customers please be aware that any shipping, customs duties or VAT are the responsibility of the International resident. Free Shipping for International orders is not available.
If you require a speedy delivery such as next day service, additional shipping charges will apply.
Delivery time to the West Coast is approximately 3 days. Delivery time to the East Coast and the Midwest is approximately one week.
After you have placed your order, you will receive a confirmation email from NomadRugs.com. Once your order has been shipped, we will email you again with the necessary shipping/tracking information. You may use that information to login at the UPS website to track your shipment by confirmation number or directly from the link provided within the email.
Return Policy
If you order rugs from our website, you may inspect them for a period of 5 days. If you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase, you may ship any rugs back within 5 days of delivery for a full refund. Any rugs that are damaged, stained or altered will not be accepted for return or exchange.
To return a rug within 5 days, just send us an email or give us a call, then package up the rugs and ship them back to us. We will inform you when we receive any rugs and refund your card in full.
If you would like to return an item, you pay only the return shipping fees.
After 5 days of delivery, all sales are non-refundable. Any items may be returned for store credit within 30 days of purchase.
Please call us with any additional questions at 415-401-8833
Miguel Strong’s recent showing of art in Nomad Rugs’ Gallery was a blast!
Check out Miguel’s astute art criticism here:
Miguel is one of the outstanding citizens of the Bay Area and we were delighted to showcase his unique whit, warmth and creativity. For his “day job”, he can be found makin’ sweet music with the magical music and dance troupe, the Yard Dogs Road Show.
Here is Nomad Rugs’ own Tora Fujimatic with my favorite piece from the show, “Elvis”.
And finally, the inimitable artist, Miguel. Thanks Miguel!
The age of the internet has created a vast resource of information. There is so much out there! And, the internet has allowed a small independent rug store like Nomad Rugs reach people throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, the US and the rest of the world! Although most of our clients are from within a couple of miles of the shop, I am proud to say that I have many happy customers on the East Coast, the Mid West, the South, the West Coast… the whole length and breadth of this nation! And, I have even reached clients as far away as Paris, France and Melbourne, Australia.
So what are people saying about Nomad Rugs. One thing I love on the web is that you can look up reviews left by Joe or Jane Public. I always read reviews of products I’m considering or businesses that I have visited. What are people saying about Nomad Rugs? Lot’s of good things! Thank y’all for all of the favorable reviews!
We are also listed as one of the San Francisco’s best Oriental Rug and Carpet Dealer on Barry O’Connell’s fabulous and expansive website, Spongobongo which is listed on our links page (here).
We are pleased to be a carry rugs which benefit the non-profit organization Barakat. Barakat, which takes its name from the Arabic word for blessing, was founded in 1999 by Chris Walter and Habibulllah Karimi. The goal was to create educational opportunities for children in the rug weaving communities. Initially, this meant building and staffing schools and allowing the children to attend classes for free. Today Barakat continues to support the schools as well as
