Spain is undoubtedly the first European country to engage in hand-knotted rug-making. The very first rugs arrived in Spain with the return of crusaders in the 11th Century and traces of rug-making in Spain emerged in the 13th Century. Historically, each Spanish rug was meticulously hand-woven by highly skilled artisans who had been trained in the traditional style of rug-weaving by the Arabs. Even the dyeing procedure was conducted manually to produce rich colors, which made the rugs stand out. Vintage spanish rugs have a distinct pile weave comparable to no other pile carpet. Unlike other rug designs, Spanish rugs have a distinctively different visual appearance and can be recognized in an instant. The essence of Spanish rug design has always been characterized by the use of geometric patterns. These Spanish carpet patterns can range from simple to extremely complex and hence communicate different aesthetics. With designs heavily influenced by those of the Roman Empire, many early Spanish carpet motifs were copied from mosaic and architectural elements. Yellow is found in many carpets made in Spain and seems to be the predominant color among Spanish carpets. Their coloration has always been soft, with dominant ivory grounds and pastel greens, corals and yellows.