Glossary DOBAG A Turkish Acronym meaning Natural Dye Research and Development Project. In the late 1970s the government of Turkey began this program to improve the quality and profitability of the rug industry. The program reintroduced the use of natural dyes and traditional weaving methods. Double-ended mihrab A prayer niche with two opposing high points. Do-zar (Persian) Rugs of about 7 feet (two zars) in length and about 4.5 feet in width. Dyes Dyes are used in coloring pile materials such as wool, silk and cotton. There are two types of dyes: Natural Dyes and Synthetic Dyes. Return to Top Egypt Egypt is located in North Africa. The capital of Egypt is Cairo. Egypt gained its independence from the British Empire in 1922. Early Egyptian rug weaving can be divided into the two periods of Mamluks and Ottomans. Even though the contemporary Egyptian rugs are of great quality, only a small number of them are exported. If we travel to Cairo today, we will see many small local rug shops trying to attract the tourists. Ensi A rug used in place of a door or curtain in a Turkoman tent. Return to Top Fine A fine rug is a rug in excellent shape with no holes, tears, or stains and no previous repair work. Since handmade rugs are very durable, most rugs are in fine condition. Flat Weave A technique of weaving where no knots are used. The weft strands are simply passed through the warp strands. Foundation The basic structural components of handmade rugs, which consist of Warps and Wefts. Foot A unit of length. One foot is equal to 12 inches or approximately 30 centimeters. Foot and inch are the measurements used in the United States and England for measuring the length and width of rugs. France France is located in Western Europe. The capital of France is Paris. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, France was the most important center of rug weaving in Europe. Today, French Savonnerie and Aubusson designs are copied by countries such as China, India and Pakistan; however, France itself does not have a great production any more. Fustic A small dioecious tropical American tree (Cholorophora tinctoria) also called old fustic or dyer's mulberry. A yellow dye is derived from its wood. Return to Top Geometric Patterns created with straight lines. Georgia Georgia is located in Southwest Asia. Georgia gained its independence from the ex-Soviet Union in 1991. The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi. Georgia is near the Caucasus Mountains. That is the reason the styles which have originated from this area are called Caucasian. There is still a market for the older Caucasian rugs; however, since the new productions have not adapted their colors and designs to the Western taste, they are now produced on a smaller scale. Gul, Gol (Persian for "flower, rose") A motif in the shape of an octagon used in Turkoman rugs. Usually, one gul is repeated in an all-over layout. Gul Farangi A design consisting of all-over repeating naturalistic roses. Gul Hannai The henna flower used as a motif mainly in Persian rugs such as Farahan and Joshaghan. This motif could be used in an all-over or medallion layout. Sometimes it is arranged in a diamond format as seen in Joshaghan rugs. Return to Top Heraldic Devices Coats of arms and the symbols associated with them. Herati Pattern, Fish Pattern A motif consisting of a flower inside a diamond and curving leaves outside the diamond which are parallel to each side. This motif is commonly used in the field of an all-over layout. The leaves sometimes look similar to fish. Many versions of Herati pattern exist from geometric to curvilinear and simple to complex. Return to Top