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Spain
Spain is located in Southern Europe. Spain is bordered by the Bay of Biscay, France and Andorra on the north, the Mediterranean Sea on the east and south, the Atlantic Ocean on the south and west, and Portugal on the west as well. Spain covers an area of 505,990 sq km (195,364 sq mi) with a population of approximately 39 million. The capital of Spain is Madrid.
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Spain is the oldest European producer of handmade rugs. Spain was under the rule of Moorish Muslims from the eighth until the thirteenth century. Moorish artisans introduced pile weaving to the Spanish by the twelfth century. As a result, Spanish rugs were strongly influenced by Islamic designs. Some designs were a combination of Islamic motifs and European motifs such as coats of arms and Christian symbols.
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| In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Turkish styles were introduced, and by the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Spanish weavers began copying French Aubusson and Savonnerie styles. |
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Today, Spain is one of few European countries which still produces handmade rugs. However, because only a limited number of rugs are produced, very few Spanish rugs reach the market place. In general, Spanish rugs are expensive high quality rugs. They sometimes come in extremely large sizes, which are mostly custom-made. Spain also produces less expensive pieces of nomadic nature, which are usually sold as Moroccans.
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