Geometric Rugs

Geometric rugs have been a firm favorite of style-conscious homeowners for many decades. Modern and elegant, this timeless style is constantly reinvented. Changes to the scale and color of a design can give a pattern a hugely different aesthetic, from quiet and subdued to bold and brash. The number of geometric designs available on the market is always increasing as designers strive to meet demands for fresh on-trend pieces, yet the roots of these designs can often be traced back hundreds if not thousands of years, with early geometric motifs being dated at 5000 years old. 
Geometric rugs have been created for thousands of years with many different areas of the world having their own interpretation. One of the most famous is Northwest Persia, with many designs featuring obvious rectilinear geometry. However, the term geometry is not only confined to designs with straight lines, but also those with medallions, scrolls and arabesques.  All of these require precision in angle and curve, in symmetry, size and positioning. The Islamic mathematicians and geometers were as much a part of the creation of the rug as the weavers themselves.
However, there is a clear divide between town and tribal rugs. Town designs tend to be finer in weave and more presise in their construction. One example of a town design is the Ardabil carpet, featuring the famous Sheikh Safi Medallion. Another example is the Serapi carpet. This type of rug features a very detailed small-scale design featuring a central medallion surrounded by an open space which is bordered by a palmette and vine border. This is one such example of a geometric design that has been inspired by floral patterns.
Tribal geometric designs can be found all over the world, including Caucasus, Turkey and Morocco. These designs are often woven from memory so have a wonderful sense of charm. Perhaps the most famous example is the Moroccan Berber Rug. These rugs feature a long shaggy pile and a diamond design. The interlocking lines that form the diamond shapes or not entirely straight or regular, but the imperfection of these designs is a large part of their appeal.

Modern Geometric Style Rugs

Modern geometric rugs are often influenced by the Art Deco Period of the early 20th Century as well as modernist art. However, inspiration can also be drawn from much further back in time. Geometric patterns can be traced back 5000 years to ancient Sumer, and also features heavily in ancient Egyptian, ancient Greek and Roman design. Motifs can featfeatureuring in anything from jewelry to pottery to architecture, but perhaps the most obvious is mosaics- after all like rugs they were designed for the floor. The designs of many contemporary geometric rugs are identifiable as historical patterns.
Here are some examples of the most famous of these historical designs and how they have been used in contemporary rugs.

Fretwork / Greek Key

Fretwork is the name given to a series of interlocking lines held at right angles, that don’t meet or seal each other off, creating a continuous design. It has no beginning and no end, so is a well known symbol for eternity. This pattern can be used as an allover design, creating a maze-like structure, or as a border. Probably the most famous Fretwork design is the Greek Key design. This was used in ancient Greek religious artwork as well as many aspects of design, and has been revisited many times throughout history during times of classic revival style.

Harlequin / Diamond

This is the name given to a diamond (or parallelogram) shape which is arranged to butt like a checkerboard, rather than spaced out against a background. This name derived  from the 16th-century Italian theater movement ‘Commedia dell’arte‘, as the jokers used to wear a patchwork costume created from pieces of fabric arranged in this design. However, this style of diamond design has been in use for far longer, and when created in less contrasting colours, can give an appearance of elegant simplicity.

Chevron / Herringbone

This design if formed of repeating rows of V shapes, sometimes aligned to create a zig-zag-like pattern. The name derives from the ribcage of a herring, which gives a similar design and is also used for a type of weave which gives this effect. You may also hear this word in the context of flooring or brickwork as pannels of wood or bricks can be arranged in this design. Herringbone shapes have been used in many types of arcticture, but perhaps most memorably, in the red brick walls of Tudor Houses.

The thrill of a new visit to the magnificent country of Nepal last year, gave us a fresh burst of inspiration for a stunning new collection to be released this Autumn. In Nepal, colour really is everywhere. From the bustling market places to the Buddhist temples, and of course the continually crisp blue skies. We have interpreted this riot of colour in a range of exuberant new designs, combining energetic tones with modern neutrals that fit seamlessly with contemporary styles.