The Arteverk Rug Encyclopedia
A rug's name usually tells you its weave — a centuries-old design tradition with its own look, history and feel. This is our honest, in-house guide to the great hand-knotted weaves we actually carry: what each one is, how it is made, and how to choose the right one for your home.
Every guide here is grounded in real, in-stock pieces you can see in our Houston showroom — not generic encyclopedia copy. Where a rug's design comes from one place but the rug itself was woven in another, we say so plainly. Start with a weave below, or read what makes a rug hand-knotted first.
Explore the weaves
Ziegler
Open, scrolling arabesque fields in soft, vegetable-dyed color. Our most-loved line — calm enough for any room.
Read the guide →
Kazak
Bold, tribal geometry and vivid color from the Caucasus tradition. Thick, substantial wool with real presence.
Read the guide →
Oushak
Large-scale, airy designs in luminous, soft palettes from the western Turkish tradition. Relaxed and elegant.
Read the guide →
Heriz
A bold, angular central medallion and a sturdy, hard-wearing build. The classic statement-floor rug.
Read the guide →
Kashan
A central medallion in a dense, finely drawn floral field, in deep jewel colors. Formal and richly traditional.
Read the guide →
Bokhara
Rows of the repeating “elephant-foot” gul from the Turkmen tradition. Quiet, symmetrical, soft underfoot.
Read the guide →
Gabbeh
Thick, plush pile and bold, pared-back design in warm, naturally dyed color. Cozy, modern and tactile.
Read the guide →
Kilim
A flatweave with no pile — hand-woven, not knotted — in bold tribal motifs and vivid color. Light and reversible.
Shop Kilim rugs →A note on names and places. Many of these designs were born in one country and are woven in another today. A “Ziegler” or “Peshawar” rug, for example, describes a Sultanabad-tradition design that is now hand-knotted in Afghanistan and Pakistan — beautiful, new, and one of a kind. We always describe each rug by where it was actually made and whether it is new, vintage or antique, in its own specs. That honesty is the whole point of this encyclopedia.
Before you choose
Rug size guide
Find the right size for every room, with diagrams.
Rug care guide
How to vacuum, rotate, blot spills and store a wool rug.
Hand-knotted, explained
What hand-knotted means — and why it lasts generations.
Not sure which weave is right?
Tell us your room, your size and your colors — we will hand-pick a few one-of-a-kind pieces for you, in person or over a live video call.