Fascinating Rug Trivia
Who crafted the inaugural rug?
Rug weaving has been a tradition among nomadic tribes for over 5,000 years. Pinpointing the exact origin of the first rug proves challenging as various cultures have woven and utilized rugs throughout history. Nonetheless, weaving textiles and rugs dates back millennia, with area rugs ingrained in human civilization's fabric for eons.
The earliest documented rug, the "Pazyryk carpet," surfaced in an archaeological excavation in the Pazyryk valley, dating back to the 5th century BCE. Unearthed from the Pazyryk burial mounds in Siberia, it stands as a well-preserved relic of early rug craftsmanship.
Ancient Persia, modern-day Iran, also boasts a rich history of rug making spanning thousands of years, renowned for its intricate designs and masterful craftsmanship. Rug making likely burgeoned independently across different regions globally, as cultures endeavored to fashion functional and ornamental floor coverings. Thus, attributing the invention of the inaugural rug to a solitary individual or culture remains elusive.
What are the linguistic origins of "rug"?
The term "rug" traces its roots to the Scandinavian languages, stemming from the Old Norse word "rokk" or "rokkr," signifying a coarse cover or blanket. Evolving into "rugge" in Middle English, it referred to a shaggy fabric for bedding or floor covering.
Over time, "rug" evolved to denote a thick textile for floor coverage, offering warmth and comfort. Widely embraced in English, "rug" signifies a smaller floor covering compared to a carpet, often adorning specific areas within a room.
How did "carpet" originate linguistically?
Derived from the Old French "carpite" or "carpette," originating from the Latin "carpere" meaning "to pluck" or "to card," "carpet" initially referred to a thick fabric for table or bed coverings. As trade flourished, carpets from the Middle East, notably Persia, influenced Europe's carpet-making industry.
Gradually integrated into the English lexicon, "carpet" embodies a soft, woven floor covering, sometimes encompassing wall-to-wall installations or larger area rugs.
What humor surrounds rugs?
"I have a rug fetish. Rugs make me happy." – Ellen DeGeneres "The rug really tied the room together, did it not?" – Jeff Bridges AKA “The Dude” in "The Big Lebowski" "When someone beats a rug, the blows are not against the rug, but against the dust in it." – Rumi "What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I definitely overpaid for my carpet. If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss bank." – Woody Allen, Without Feathers "The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness & cost of the carpet or rug." – Murphy’s Laws
What's the backstory of "snug as a bug in a rug"?
Popularized during Shakespeare's Stratford Jubilee in 1769 by English actor David Garrick, the phrase "snug as a bug in a rug" embodies comfort and contentment, emerging in the late 18th or early 19th century. Likely stemming from bugs seeking warmth under rugs, it evolved into a metaphor for coziness and security, echoing a sense of comfort in literature, poetry, and everyday language.
What's the tale behind "sweep under the rug"?
"Sweep under the rug," a metaphor for concealing problems, originates from physically hiding dirt under rugs to mask untidiness. Over centuries, rugs served to cover floors, concealing accumulated debris. Metaphorically, the phrase reflects avoiding or ignoring issues rather than confronting them directly, resonating across cultures and languages.
What's the genesis of machine-made rugs?
The late 18th century ushered in the production of machine-made rugs with the advent of the power loom. Notably, the 19th century witnessed significant growth propelled by innovations like John Heathcoat's Willesden carpet loom in England and Erastus Bigelow's power loom for ingrain carpets in the United States. Technological strides, including Jacquard looms and synthetic fibers, burgeoned machine-made rugs during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, rendering them accessible and diverse.