Sampler Rugs: Wagireh

WAGIREH: antique sampler rugs

Made as a sample or template for a much larger rug. These pieces only show a small section of the overall rug motif, part of a medallion or border and often elements were woven in both small and large scale.

Just as new rug production today weave a strike off before a custom order, Wagireh were woven as “short hand rugs” ; abbreviated rug versions that could be easily carried from place to place. They not only showed the pattern but also the structure, texture, pile thickness, and knot count.

As these are no longer made, they are highly collectible in today’s market.