Reference
Glossary.
The words used across the store, defined once, in plain language, with links to the pieces they describe.
Terms
Hand-knotted
- A rug in which each knot of pile is tied by hand around the warp threads on a loom. At RS Living, hand-knotted rugs are made in imported high-end wool. See hand-knotted rugs.
Hand-tufted
- A rug made by punching wool through a backing cloth with a hand-held tufting tool, then backing and finishing it. Tufting suits bold shapes and carved pile. See hand-tufted rugs.
Flatweave
- A rug woven on a loom with no pile: the pattern is in the weave itself, so both faces are flat. All RS Living flatweave rugs are wool. See flatweave rugs.
Handloom
- A rug woven on a hand-operated loom. RS Living handloom rugs are wool or a wool and silk blend, as stated on each product page; one design still has its fibre being confirmed, so its page leaves the material out. See handloom rugs.
Jute
- A natural plant fibre spun into a coarse, strong yarn. RS Living jute rugs and baskets are natural jute. See jute rugs.
Knot density
- How many knots are tied in each square inch of a hand-knotted rug. Higher density allows finer detail. Where we state it, our designs are 100 or 80 knots per square inch, or lower knot density.
Pile
- The raised surface of a rug made of cut or looped yarn ends. A flatweave has no pile.
High-low or carved pile
- A rug where parts of the pile are cut shorter than others, so the pattern reads as relief as well as colour.
Warp and weft
- Warp threads run the length of a rug on the loom; weft threads run across. Knots are tied on the warp, and weft holds each row in place.
Fringe
- The ends of the warp threads left visible at the short ends of some rugs.
Binding
- The finished edge along the sides of a rug, wrapped to stop it fraying.
Wool and silk blend
- A yarn mix used on rugs with a sheen: wool gives body, silk gives light. On RS Living the shiny-looking rugs are a wool-dominant wool and silk mix.
Free Form
- Our name for rugs with round, oval or irregular outlines rather than a rectangle. See Free Form rugs.
Pouf
- A firm, low, upholstered seat or footrest with no frame. Most RS Living poufs are wool; three are cowhide and one is a jute and wool blend. See poufs.
Cowhide
- Animal hide with the hair left on, used as the cover of three RS Living poufs.
Sheesham
- Indian rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo), a hardwood used in some of our furniture and in the frames of our wall hangings.
Teak
- A tropical hardwood used for most RS Living furniture frames, often paired with woven cane.
Cane
- Woven strips of rattan used for seat backs, doors and panels on our teak and cane furniture.
Made to order
- Nothing is held in stock: each piece is made after you order it. See how made to order works.
Custom size
- A rug made to your own width and length, priced to your size at checkout. Rugs delivered to the UK, EU and EEA are sold in custom size only.
Underlay or rug pad
- A layer placed under a rug to stop it slipping and to cushion it. See do you need a rug pad.
Bhadohi
- A town in Uttar Pradesh, India, known for carpet weaving, and home of Raheem & Son since 1927.
CEPC
- The Carpet Export Promotion Council, set up by India's Ministry of Textiles. Raheem & Son is registered with CEPC; it is the only body we are registered with.
DAP and duty on delivery
- For deliveries outside India, import duties and taxes, if any, are paid by you to the carrier on delivery and are not collected by us. See shipping and duty.