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Khotan is today known as Hotan and is a part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, this however was not the case until the late nineteenth century. Today you can find Khotan rugs adorning many antique emporiums and shops the world over.
The Earlier TimesThe earliest Khotan rugs originate from the Tarim Basin region when this town was one of the three carpet manufacturing areas in East Turkestan. The other two regions were Yarkhand and Kashga. Situated between the Karakash and the Yurungkash rivers on the northern corner of the Tibetan Plateau, Khotan was famous for its high quality rugs and skilled weavers. At one stage there was no comparison to Khotan rugs anywhere in the world. Such was the skill of the weavers who used sophisticated weaving methods to produce rugs that could stand the test of times. For over 1000 years these rugs flourished before Khotan was annexed by the Chinese in the late eighteenth century.
Understanding the Popularity One of the major reasons for the popularity of these rugs was that Khotan was a major desert oasis on the famous Silk Route for traders, merchants and caravans. The town was famous not just for Khotan rugs but also for its silk and fine jade craftworks. Research has shown that rug making tradition was quite ancient yet very sophisticated and the ancient rug making techniques lasted for over a 1000 years. Even today one can make out these techniques at a few Buddhist sites belonging to the third century. Even though much of the local population came under Turkestan in the ninth century, the carpet and rug making techniques influenced by Buddhism continued to flourish on the Silk Road for a very long time.
The Making of Khotan RugsTraditionally, Khotan rugs have been made by using dyes made from the Kashmir valley in India. In fact indigo and madder dyes were in great demand by Khotan weavers as they could derive amazing colors from these natural dyes made in Kashmir. More earthy hues like brown or beige were derived from local plants produced in the Tarim Basin region only. These rugs were manufactured by highly skilled craftsmen who were well versed in the art of carpet and rug making. Most Khotan rugs were woven from a pile of wool that is knotted around a warp made of cotton. For every row of knotted wool pile the weavers would add a couple of weft shoot, a common trait normally found in carpets and rugs made in Kazakhstan. Finally, fine hand made Khotan rugs can add a lot of elegance and beauty to your homes.
Jimmy auston has vast experience in carpets and rugs business and has written many articles on rex ray rugs Beverly Hills, oushak rugs and oriental carpets Beverly Hills .
Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/Learning-About-Khotan-Rugs/1354211
