QA

Question: How Can I Tell If My Oriental Rug Is Handmade

Are all Oriental rugs handmade?

All “true” Oriental rugs are hand knotted. Through this process, the weavers make the foundation of the rug as they go, and the pile becomes an important part of the rug’s overall construction. The result is an extremely durable, yet still soft and flexible work of art.

How can you tell if a rug is hand made?

Check the underside of the rug One of the best ways to tell if your rug is handmade rather than machine made is by checking the back or underside of the rug. If the knots and weaving are not perfectly uniform, then you will know it’s a handmade rug.

How can I tell what kind of oriental rug I have?

There are a few tips you can look for when trying to identify a handmade Oriental rug. Look on the back of the rug at the weave. Look for unevenness in the colored knots on the back of the rug. Now look at the front of the rug. You may notice slight color changes making thick or thin stripes in the rug.

How can you tell if an Oriental rug is valuable?

Check to be sure the color goes to the base of each tuft and look for knots at the base. These are also indicators that the rug is handmade. Handmade Persian rugs are considerably more valuable than machine-made rugs.

How do you know if a Persian rug is authentic?

Authentic Persian rugs are always hand-knotted. The process is such that the pattern on the underside of the rug matches the pattern on the top of the rug. There is no other backing added to the underside. The absence of any type of backing results in a soft underside.

How can you tell if a rug is wool?

Now for you at home that need to know if my rug is made of wool, you can remove one fiber and place it in a paper clip, Take a lighter (not a match) and burn the fiber and determine if it sputters and burns slow and has a orange glow. There should be no smoke color and it should smell like burning hair.

How can you tell if a rug is hand tufted?

A hand-tufted rug will have some sort of a backing to hold the tufts in place. Often a scrim fabric is glued to the back. To complete the rug, a fringe is added by either sewing or gluing it on.

How can you tell if a rug is antique?

Very old rugs will feel gritty, sandy, or even smooth on the back. A fine rug that looks tightly woven, but that still feels somewhat floppy or supple, is probably old, since even tightly woven rugs become supple with time. Color or rug dye quality can also help determine how old a rug is.

What is the difference between Oriental and Persian rugs?

Oriental rugs are those hand knotted only in Asia, which today is considered to be comprised of China, Iran, India, Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Turkey, and even Russia. Persian rugs also are hand knotted but a true Persian rug is one created in Iran (formerly known as Persia).

How do I know if I have an antique Oriental rug?

In short, a genuine Oriental or Persian carpet has no sewn-on fringes. The fringes form the end of the warp yarns and are therefore an integral part of the carpet. If you should see on the back of the rug that the fringes have been sewn on, then in all probability it is not a genuine oriental rug.

How much is an Oriental rug worth?

If the condition of the rug is poor, the value of the rug can be approximately equal to the cost of cleaning. These rugs, when new, have a retail value of $3-$15 per square foot. Comparitively, the retail price per square foot of hand made rugs vary from $30-$200 and up.

Are old Oriental rugs worth anything?

All oriental rugs appreciate in value. Most post-World War II rugs do not appreciate in value, nor will most rugs purchased new today appreciate in value. Consumers most likely paid more for some rugs in the 60’s and 70’s than they are worth today.

What are Oriental rugs called now?

Since many of these countries lie in an area which today is referred to as the Islamic world, oriental rugs are often also called “Islamic Carpets”, and the term “oriental rug” is used mainly for convenience. The carpets from Iran are known as “Persian Carpets”.

Why are Oriental rugs so expensive?

The finest of these carpets can take months, and even years to be made. Finer yarns like silk and cotton yields light-weight and intricate designs and takes much longer to weave compared to wool yarns. Hence, the prices of the rugs made from finer yarns are higher than the ones made completely of wool.

How do you tell if a rug is wool or polypropylene?

Tip 1: Check The Texture Wool rugs have a natural texture and polypropylene is smoother. Polypropylene has more of an artificial feel to it than wool does, which also feels much softer on your feet.

Are handmade carpets or rugs found in most houses made by Kyrgyz?

Kyrgyz women produce a wide range of textiles, mostly from felt made from the wool of local sheep. Ancient patterns are nowadays adapted to the tourist and export market, but it is still a living tradition, in that all yurts and most houses contain hand-made carpets or felt rugs called shyrdaks.

What is a handmade rug?

Hand knotted, handmade, hand tied or handwoven rugs can also be known as Oriental rugs or Persian rugs and considered collectible due to their quality. Hand knotted area rugs are made on a loom which is specially designed and knotted.

Are handmade rugs worth it?

If you want to buy a rug, it is always best to opt for a handmade rug even though you will pay more for it. There are many reasons why handmade rugs are a better choice: Handmade rugs are more durable and can last a lifetime. Each handmade rug is created with passion and creativity.