Antique Rugs > Antique Rugs > Treasures of Andes – peruvian rugs

Treasures of Andes – peruvian rugs

Southern American carpets, especially Peruvian rugs, are a curiosity among collectors. Not as popular as Middle Eastern or Oriental goods, they tend to be omitted in general discourse. However, due to the rising interest in this region, more and more beautiful carpets are being discovered with each passing day. Rugs form Peru are an excellent example of Southern American excellence in weaving.

Peru is a country located in the western part of South America. Its astonishing biodiversity exists thanks to its distinct geography. Apart from mountainous regions, there are also virgin rainforests. In the past Peru was a home of ancient civilizations, such as the great Inca Empire. The Incas had their own complex beliefs and culture. The Spanish Empire conquered this region in the 16th century. As a result, European influences enriched Peru and had a great impact on its craft.

The Aesthetics of Peruvian Rugs

Peruvian aesthetics are unlike any other. When it comes to the patterns, the Peruvians choose simplistic geometrized forms and combine them in a much more complex whole. It is common to see animals and plants re-imagined in a way typical for indigenous people of this region. However, due to the rising demand, more and more carpets are produced using more Western-oriented designs. Peruvian carpets have a rich and deep color palette, full of various shades of red, yellow, black and brown, often accompanied by lighter hues. The most common fiber used to make Peruvian rugs is wool, but not any kind of wool. Llama or alpaca fleece is delightfully soft and silky. Comparing to more common sheep wool it is less prickly, much warmer and hypoallergenic!

Peruvian rugs are treasures that are yet to be discovered by the connoisseurs of woven goods. It seems likely that due to their numerous advantages they will become much more popular than now.

 

Moroccan rug format