A Brief History of Cordoba Rugs

Interior of the Great Mosque of Cordoba in SpainCordoba is a city located in south central Spain and steeped in over 2,000 years of rich history - the Romans, the Visigoths, Jewish peoples, the Moors and then the Spanish all left their distinct imprint on Cordoba, making it one of the most interesting cities in Spain.

This very fine wool area rug is hand-knotted in pure wool and represents the influence of the Moors in Spain. Some of the palaces built in Spain by the Moors between the 8th and 11th century display this design on their interior walls. This design can be seen in the tile walls of the Alhambra royal palace, the fortress in Granada and the Alcazar of Seville Palace, originally a Moorish fort.

Sources and inspiration: Bérinstain, Valérie, et al. L'art du tapis dans le monde (The art of carpets in the world). Paris: Mengès, 1996. Print.; Jerrehian Jr., Aram K.A. Oriental Rug Primer. Philadelphia: Running Press, 1980. Print.; Herbert, Janice Summers. Oriental Rugs, New York: Macmillan, 1982. Print.; Hackmack, Adolf. Chinese Carpets and Rugs, Rutland and Tokyo: Tuttle, 1980. Print. ; De Moubray, Amicia, and David Black. Carpets for the home, London: Laurence King Publishing, 1999. Print.; Jacobsen, Charles. Oriental Rugs A Complete Guide, Rutland and Tokyo: Tuttle, 1962. Print.; Bashir, S. (n.d.). Personal interview.; Web site sources and dates of consultation vary (to be confirmed). Without prejudice to official usage.