In the showroom, we are often asked, "How can I tell the quality of an Oriental rug?" The most well-known rug masterpieces were woven in Persia, and those revered patterns set the standard for many reproduction rugs today. Today's new reproduction rugs are woven with such great care and quality that they retain their value and should last decades and decades, when subjected to ordinary wear and tear. Because of this, even experts can find it difficult to identify reproduction rugs from a distance. Gone are the days when a rug's origin predicted its quality. Now, Pakistan, India, Turkey and other rug producers create rugs in good, better, and fine quality.
So, what must you look for when choosing an Oriental rug? Good quality wool rugs have healthy wool which is soft and pliable and shows no evidence of being dry, course or brittle. Silk rugs have good sheen and exhibit fine detail in the outline of color boundaries and include more knots per square inch due to the finer fibers.
A good quality rug will not shed significantly, but care must also be taken to thoroughly vacuum a heavily traveled rug, as small sharp grit particles will cut the wool at the foundation and cause unnecessary shedding of a good quality rug. If there are any repairs to a good quality rug, they should have been performed professionally and thoroughly with no structural damage remaining. A good quality rug is evenly woven with consistent knot size and is evenly sheared. There should be no odors or permanent stains.
Wear, if any, should be even with little variation of pile height and should have relatively straight edges and lay flat. Except for very modern rugs woven on commercial metal frames, handmade rugs will have a slightly longer edge. An heirloom wooden frame is used and passed down by families who have woven rugs for generations, and it is not likely plumb. It may take over 18 months to complete a room size rug, and as mother and daughter sit side by side, the mother's experienced hand is able to weave tighter knots than the daughter's, but as she becomes skilled, her knot gauge becomes similar to her mother's.
The most formal rugs have symmetrical designs; however there may be noticeable differences in the pattern when inspected closely. This is due to the human element involved in weaving for several hours each day. These subtle variations give a distinct identity to the rug. The primary difference between a good quality and fine quality rug is the number of knots per square inch.
Bad quality rugs may have heavy color run due to improper care or washing and may exhibit sun fade, having been used in an area of direct sunlight and not having been rotated. The damage we see most often in the showroom includes water and rust damage. Water damage occurs most often when a plant that is displayed on a rug is unknowingly over watered and the water spills repeatedly on the carpet, causing damage. Rust damage occurs most often when furniture with legs containing metal rest on top of the carpet, such as a sofa or bed, and moisture causes oxidation and rust damages the rug.
Though these problems can be professionally repaired in our on-site repair and restoration department and the rug restored to good quality, we often see good rugs go bad due to poor and patchy repairs. Hazy lines and gaps in edge stitching are clues that reveal uneven weaving technique. Varying pile height is due to uneven shearing and/or wear and is found on bad quality rugs. Bad quality rugs may also have permanent creases, hard curled edges or the foundation visible in areas. Markered, chalked or painted rugs in an attempt to disguise flaws, wear or other damage is also indication of a bad quality rug. As you can see, not all the features of a bad rug are permanent. Some bad rugs are good quality rugs in need of emergency care. We would be happy to evaluate your rug to see if it can be rescued and restored to its formerly treasured past condition.
The ugliest of rugs has no hope. Ugly rugs may have permanent pet stains, dry rot, or water damage. A sure sign of an ugly rug is markered pile or foundation to disguise wear or may masquerade large areas of exposed foundation.
Grading a good quality antique Persian rug is slightly different. It must have all the above qualities, plus have beautiful and desirable colors, be in a condition appropriate for its age, and like all the rugs we sell, speak to your soul.
We hand select every rug for the showroom and choose only the best to include in our collection. Rugs needing tender loving care before they hit the showroom floor are sent to our on-site professional hand washed cleaning department, or if in need of repair or restoration, upstairs to our on-site expert repair department. Rest assured that every rug in our showroom is in its best possible condition before we offer it for sale. With our exclusive trade-in policy, you can feel confident in your investment. For more on quality, care and cost visit our website and register for a free fine quality 2 x 3 Oriental rug to be awarded when you visit the showroom.
Stop by the showroom and it would be our pleasure to evaluate any rug you are considering tossing. We may be able to restore it to its former glory, and at a reasonable price. Adore the floor you walk on!
Chrystal Safari is Marketing and Public Relations Director for The Persian Rug House of Pineville, a fixture on Pineville, North Carolina's Main Street for over 22 years. Visit http://www.persianrughouse.com for more information on rug quality, cost and care, and mark it your new Favorite!
