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History of Oriental RugsThese authentic, hand-knotted Persian rugs are truly works of art. The Evolution of Rugs Since pre-historic times, man has tried to make life easier by using the things around him. Animal skins were used for clothing, and it seemed only natural that they would also be used to cushion the floor of their caves, providing softness and warmth. Then social, economical and fashion influences dictated how rugs would evolve. Man wanted to improve their surroundings, for both practical and aesthetic reasons. The materials used in carpets decay over time, so archaeologists rarely find significant discoveries in their archaeological excavations. Often only remnants of worn-out rugs remain. Some of the oldest pieces discovered were those found in Eastern Turkestan dating back to the third to fifth centuries AD, and also some of the hand-weavings of the Seljuks of Asia Minor on exhibit in Ala'edin Mosque in Konya and Ashrafoghlu Mosque in Beyshehir, Turkey. These pieces are on display in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art in Istanbul and the Mowlana Museum in Konya. The art of rug making was discovered by Marco Polo in 1000 AD in Central Asia during his trading missions, but it is believed that the art of carpet-weaving is at least 3300 years old. It was another 500 years before Pierre DuPont began weaving carpets in Paris in 1596 and William Sprague opened the first U.S. woven carpet mill in Philadelphia in 1791, soon followed by others in the early 1800s. In 1839 U.S. manufacturer Erastus Bigelow invented the power loom, and then in 1926, U.S. industrialist Marshall Field modified a weaving loom to create machine-made rugs that simulated the handmade Oriental carpets with complicated designs and color. In 1947 nylon yarns were introduced, providing quality fibers similar to wool, but less expensive and in 1965 Polyester carpets were introduced. So that is how modern carpet making evolved and these inventions led to the extensive variety and options that we have today. 
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