The Atlas Obscura Podcast Weaving Together the History of Carpets
Nov 26, 2025
Join historian Dorothy Armstrong, an expert on South, Central, and West Asian material culture, as she unravels the rich tapestry of carpet history. Discover how carpets transcend decoration, connecting master weavers to empires. Dorothy shares how they became status symbols in Renaissance art and discusses the influence of religion and power through textiles. She explores modern weaving in Pakistan and the resilience of Turkmen culture. Plus, get insider tips on what to look for when buying a carpet!
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Career Pivot To Follow A Curiosity
- Dorothy Armstrong left a banking career to research carpets after her children left home.
- She wanted the biography of the carpets in her own home and wrote the book she wished existed.
Carpets Map Global Trade And Status
- Carpets reveal networks between weaving regions in West/Central Asia and imperial consumers in Europe and North America.
- They functioned as status symbols in portraits and domestic displays across eras.
Prayer Rugs Hanging In A Lutheran Church
- Lutheran churches in Transylvania hung Anatolian prayer rugs woven by Muslim women.
- Dorothy Armstrong explores why Protestants displayed Islamic non-figurative textiles as spiritually compatible.
