More Notes on Looms

A Ground Loom

A loom is the frame upon which a rug is woven. There are many types and varieties and here we will explore a few common ones.

Here we have a photo of a Ground Loom in use in Khorasan Iran in the late 70s. Looms like this are the very oldest type we know of going back over thousands of years. Often the flatwoven fabric called Jajim is woven in strips many times longer than it is wide. In one cover I saw from Afghanistan was woven in strips 18 inches wide and 14 feet long and then sewn together.

Rug Knotting, Khorasan Iran
used with permission
Photography by Robert Manz
copyright, Robert Manz

Here we have a photo of a sophisticated Ground Loom in use in Khorasan Iran in the late 70s. This is a common loom used for what we call tribal and village rug production. A good weaver can turn out a fairly sophisticated rug with one of these. It is not easy to see here but the woman is sitting on the pile she has finished.

Qashqai Ground Loom

Picture Credit Arash Dejkam/www.dejkam.com used with permission

Upright Loom

Here we have an upright loom and a rug in process. This is picture of Mark Traxler's loom and a rug he wove in Minnesota. See also The Traxler Bagface - Warps and Cartoon

A Bedu Ground Loom

A Bedu Woman weaving on a ground loom in Dubai. It is hard to find a much simpler loom.

Illustration 4. Workshop in Khotan. Unlike many rug factories, the management was pleased to show their plant. The working conditions are admirable, well lighted and very clean. All the looms were designed to give tremendous tension over a large surface area. The tools -- beaters, scissors, and knives -- appear to originate from one source, as there was no variation between workshops. East Turkestan Oriental Rug Weaving

Roller Beam Loom

The Loom is a Roller Beam Loom which allows them to weaver longer rugs then other looms. Notice how the rug is rolled to the back of the loom as the work. These are used in Turkey, India, Iran, as well as in Khotan. This type of loom is frequently used for coarser large rugs.

Tools

On the bench you can see the saitchi/shears and the punja/beater-comb. She appears to be hold the knife in this picture but it is hard to see.

Back Strap Loom

This is a picture of a woman in Guatemala weaving with a back strap loom. I do not know of these looms being used for Oriental rugs or other weaving. They are used primarily in the Americas, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.

I will be adding more pictures and information as I find them.

Looms and Weaving Tools

For Further Reading:

Guide to Rugs & Books

La Miniature En Orient

Notes on the War on Terrorism

Southwest Asia Time Line

Thanks and best wishes,

J. Barry O'Connell Jr.

SpongoBongo and Persian Carpet Guiden Site Search

Persian Rugs

Turkish Rugs