Vintage Rugs

WHAT CHARACTERISES A VINTAGE RUG?

Our vintage rugs originally come from private homes where they spent the first part of their rug life. Each rug therefore tells its own story. The vintage rugs were hand-knotted in Iran or Turkey between the years 1940-1960. The rugs from Iran are also called Persian rugs. The raw pieces usually have traditional colours like dark red, blue and brown. Today our rugs also shine in shades of purple, pink or turquoise or discreetly in grey and beige. To give them the modern look, they go through different process steps. First, the pile of the rugs is shortened to enhance the used look and take away some of the heaviness. The lightness gained allows a vintage rug from THE KNOTS to be used more flexibly in all living categories. Not only the traditional image of a heavy rug as a centre of tranquillity in the rustic living room, but also contemporary implementations in the hallway, bedroom or bathroom are part of today's home trends. After the pile has been cut, the rugs are bleached in the sun for several weeks outdoors. Here, only the power of nature is used and no chemicals are involved. As the original colours of the rugs are plant-based colours, the appearance of the vintage rugs changes in a natural way. In the next step, the rugs are washed and then partially re-dyed. Some of the rugs already have the desired look after sun bleaching, so we do not dye them again. In each case, the result is a beautiful, 100% unique piece with a certain X-factor that makes the process so exciting. The high-quality dyes we use for the rugs are certified colours that pose no health risk whatsoever.

KNOTTING OF THE VINTAGE RUGS

Our vintage rugs are oriental rugs, more precisely mostly Persian rugs, i.e. Iranian rugs, which are knotted according to traditional methods. The craft of rug-making has a centuries-old tradition. While the rug is significant as a symbol in various cultures, one focus of its history is in the Orient. It is therefore no coincidence that THE KNOTS is closely linked to the region and maintains personal connections with local producers from Berlin. The origin of a rug is of great importance to us. It also reveals something about the conditions under which a vintage rug was made. Traditionally, in many cultures, rugs are usually knotted by women. The men's task is to source the materials for the production and to string the warp beam. The warp threads are the basis of a rug. They are clamped in the knotting loom. Those who make the rug by hand finally tie the knots in this warp and then secure these knots by one or two wefts that they enter after each row of knots. There is the symmetrical and asymmetrical knot. The tying chairs are usually vertical, but in rural nomadic areas, they are also horizontal. When the knotting process is finished, the rug is taken off the knotting loom, i.e. the warps are cut at the ends and thus detached from the warp beam. These chain ends then form the fringes of the rug. The technique determines the character of a rug. The use of traditional methods reflects the quality of the vintage rugs, which are based on the wealth of experience of generations. THE KNOTS transports a piece of rug culture to Berlin with every article. Past, present and future are interlinked like a patchwork pattern.

HOW INDIVIDUAL ARE THE VINTAGE RUGS FROM THE KNOTS?

Since each vintage rug is 100% handmade, the main difference between the rugs is their individual look. No two rugs are alike. The choice of colours is limitless and offers very different shades from purple, pink, red, beige, orange, yellow, green, blue, turquoise grey to black. In addition, the dimensions vary greatly, with standard rectangular sizes around 240 x 170 cm. Of course, there are also much smaller rugs, runners, square dimensions and oversizes of up to 20 square metres. Furthermore, the rugs have a different number of knots per square metre. The number of knots ranges from 60,000 to over 250,000 per square metre. The more knots, the finer the rug is knotted. The pattern of the rug is also individual for each item. On the basis of the patterns, statements can be made about the origin of the vintage rugs. The respective design provides information about the provenance of a rug. The provenance is the place of origin of an oriental rug, which refers to a town, a village or a tribe with a long tradition of weaving. Classic provenances where our rugs come from are Tabriz (Tabriz) and Kerman (Kirman), both located in Iran. Via THE KNOTS, the rugs come from Berlin to Germany to a new home. There, unique rug situations are created that give each room a special quality. The patchwork of colour, shape, pattern and space is always absolutely individual. And every vintage rug is unique.

HOW DO YOU COMBINE A VINTAGE RUG?

Vintage oriental rugs are timeless companions that can make a very different statement depending on the colour and design. In intense colours like turquoise, pink or green, they become the eye-catcher of a room and look like a work of art on the floor. In subtle shades such as grey, beige or light blue, they blend into the existing design of a room and make it complete. In its original look without the addition of new colours, the rugs have a retro or shabby chic look and act as a traditional element. Whether in the dining room, bedroom or living room, hallway or children's room - the style of these vintage rugs suits any room. On different floor coverings, the vintage rugs develop different effects. On modern concrete floors, colourful rugs in yellow, orange, red, blue, pink or purple can create real eye-catchers. Alternatively, items in beige, grey or black elegantly match such coverings. Vintage rugs also look their best on warm wooden floors in bedrooms or living rooms. Even the combination with tiles in bathrooms is modern and can create an unusual look. And even the little ones are happy about a rug in the children's room. The home trends for 2022 undoubtedly include furnishing various living spaces with rugs. A classic is a runner in front of the bed in the bedroom or a vintage rug that is rectangular in front of the sofa in the living room. The combination with furniture pieces also allows for a lot of design freedom and makes a vintage rug per se a design classic. Different sizes, rectangular, square or runners can be brought together as an extended patchwork. In addition, different types of rugs can be brought together. THE KNOTS also offers an extensive selection of Kelim or Berber rugs. Trends like used look or shabby chic go hand in hand with the vintage idea and can be picked up with an old rug. Our durable vintage rugs offer the appropriate quality and can be used in a variety of ways.

HOW DO YOU CLEAN A VINTAGE RUG?

A vintage rug is very durable and long-lasting - just like its history. However, over a long period of time, every rug gets dirty naturally. Below you will find information on how to care for our items. The material of the high-quality vintage rugs is particularly suitable to use them as floor rugs, as wool is naturally insensitive to dirt. The short pile and the firm weave of a vintage rug ensure that dust and dirt cannot settle. Over the years, the rugs are subject to natural wear and tear, for example if they are used in frequently used rooms such as living rooms or dining rooms. As an alternative to professional rug care, there are some precautions and home remedies that support the longevity of rugs. The maintenance routine includes vacuuming and beating. Beating out a rug is the best way to get rid of stubborn dust and is especially recommended for long-pile Berbers, but can also do no harm to vintage rugs. Beating is also a proven technique for kilim rugs. A runner is easy to beat out because of its size. The prerequisite is that you have the possibility to hang the rug outdoors, i.e. in the open air. There, the rug can be beaten thoroughly with a rug beater. Vacuuming and/or rug beating should be carried out regularly to maintain the good condition of the vintage rugs for a long time. In addition, table salt can be used for cleaning. This is moistened and spread over the entire rug and then vacuumed off again after a few hours. Before using this method of rug cleaning, the durability of the colours on the rug should be tested on a concealed area of the vintage rug, for example on the back. In addition, the following home remedies are recommended for special stains: Red wine stains, for example, are particularly annoying on the surface of a beige, grey or light blue rug. Such stains in the rug can be treated with salt. Put salt on the stain, moisten it with a little water (if the stain has already dried) and rub it from the outside to the inside (not the other way round!). When everything has dried, you can vacuum the salt off the rug. Alternatively, you can try to remove the stain on the vintage rug with white wine. The best way to get rid of chocolate stains is to let them solidify with the help of ice cubes. Then they can be rubbed off. Coffee stains on a rug can be cleaned with little effort by putting mineral water or baking soda on the stain. To do this, moisten the baking soda, wait for a while and vacuum when everything has dried. Simple glass cleaner or classic bile soap is also often suitable as an all-purpose stain remover for rugs. If all else fails, try this before having the rug professionally cleaned.

SHIPPING OF THE VINTAGE RUGS

In nomadic rug tradition, every vintage rug from THE KNOTS goes through its own travel story until 2019 - first from its place of origin to Germany. In order to then bring the rug into different living rooms, further shipping rugs from Berlin within Germany is free of charge - regardless of whether it is a vintage, kilim or Berber rug. The rugs are packed in a cardboard box of the appropriate size for runners or wider pieces. We attach particular importance to ensuring that our rug deliveries arrive safely, undamaged and in an environmentally friendly manner. The duration for the delivery of the rugs is 5-7 days. Every vintage rug order is subject to free return shipping within 14 days to our return address in Berlin.