Turkish rugs that are ornamented with flowers and leaves can be distinguished from Persian and Indian products by the ruler-drawn character of their patterns. A keen observer describes them as quasi-botanical forms angularly treated. Turkish rugs that contain the patterns common to the Caucasian and Turkoman families can be recognized by their brighter, sharper, and more contrasting colors. The key to the identification of this most difficult rug family is to be found in the Turkish prayer rugs. To know Turkish rugs, one must see many of them; to know the other families one need see only a few.
Reduced to a minimum statement, the identification of the six oriental rug families amounts to this:
Persian rugs—floral designs drawn free hand.
India rugs—floral designs photographed and copied.
Turkoman rugs—geometric linear design, blood red, web ends.
Caucasian rugs—geometric linear designs, numerous blended colors.
Chinese rugs—floral and geometric linear designs, silk colors.
Turkish rugs—floral designs, angular, ruled; and geometrical designs, bright contrasting colors.
To be able to identify an oriental rug as a particular kind of Persian, Indian, Turkish, Turkoman, Caucasian or Chinese weaving is somewhat more of an accomplishment. The way to begin is to study first the rugs that have distinct or fairly constant characteristics. Take Persian rugs, for example:
Bijar—rugs as thick as two or even three ordinary rugs.