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Which country makes the best handmade rugs?
All the weaving countries make a range of qualities, so one must
look at an individual rug to make an assessment.
What determines the price of a rug?
There are many components of a rug-design, wool and dye grade, warp
material, time on the loom, weaving, shearing, how ends and edges
are finished. If all these components meet the highest of standards,
then the rug will be priced accordingly.
Are all handknotted rugs durable?
No, it depends on the quality of the rug and the care during the
rug’s lifetime.
Can you use water to clean a wool rug?
Absolutely. The only time a rug can not be washed with water is
if the rug has a pure silk pile. Don’t attempt to wash your
own rugs though, leave it to the professionals.
Do rugs appreciate in value?
The better quality rugs will hold their value, and, can actually
increase depending on the market at the time of resale, and of course,
the condition of the rug. Semi-antique and antique rugs can increase
dramatically in value if the condition is excellent. Low quality
rugs will not hold their value, no matter what condition they are
in.
Do oriental rugs come in other colors besides red and blue?
Traditional oriental rugs in the early 1900’s were usually
red, and sometimes blue. However, since the 50’s and 60’s,
rugs have been woven in colors to suit any decor.
Are machine made rugs a good substitute for handknotted rugs?
No. Machine made rugs can be very expensive and do not have the
beauty, quality or durability of handknotted rugs. If inexpensive,
the machine made rug will not wear, clean or look well.
How can you tell a machine made rug from a handknotted rug?
This can be confusing, but the surest way is to spread apart the
pile of the rug with your fingers and look for a knot at the base
of the wool. This is the best indicator that a rug is handknotted.
Are oriental rugs delicate?
No. High quality oriental rugs are very durable. They are meant
to be walked on and lived on. The only exception to this would be
the pure silk pile rug, which we recommend to be used as a wall
hanging, draped decoratively on a piece of furniture, or used in
a very low traffic area.
Is knot density or knot count an important factor when selecting
a rug?
Knot count alone can not be the deciding factor when selecting a
rug. Some of the most expensive rugs have weaves that use coarse
knots and some low quality rugs have fine knots. Knot count is just
one of the components of a rug. The weave of the type of rug you
are looking at will dictate what type of knot it has. More knots
per square inch can mean a very fine quality rug, but many other
factors need to be taken into consideration when judging quality:
complexity of design; number of colors; dying techniques; integrity
of the materials; time taken to produce rug.
How will the recent lifting of the embargo with Iran change
the rug market in the U.S.?
Since the early 1980’s, the United States could not legally
import rugs made in Iran. The Iranian weavers have been weaving
rugs throughout this embargo that were imported all over the world,
they have not been idle. New rugs imported from Iran will be reasonably
priced because the weavers want to make a showing in our market.
Should I get my furniture first or pick my rug first?
If you can, start from the floor up. If you buy your rug first,
the fabric is easy to match. There are many more fabrics available
than rugs. Don’t despair if you own furniture already and are
trying to match a rug to it. Bring in a swatch or pillow that matches
the color palette you are working with and your rug dealer should
be able to give you some great choices in rugs.
How long does it take to make a rug?
A finely woven 8x10 takes 2 to 3 people about a year to make. Weavers
work as far as their arms reach across the width of the carpet.
(approximately 3 feet per person)
How do the weavers remember the patterns?
Weavers usually weave the same type of rug, so they are quite familiar
with the pattern. Sometimes the “talim” is sung by a weaver
or elder. A talim is a scroll that contains the location and color
of each and every knot of the carpet. Designs are also drawn on
what is called a cartoon, (similar to what we know as graph paper)
or are actually woven from memory.
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