How to Purchase an Oriental Rug


 The following are five basic areas you will need to be acquainted with in order to make a wise rug purchase.


Material of the Rug: Most rugs are woven in wool. Some are done in silk and some are a mixture of wool and silk. Today a number of rugs are also artfully done in cotton.

How the Rug is Made: An average-size Oriental rug can take an artist a full year or longer to weave. When the rugs is on the loom the vertical strings that form the foundation are known as the warp and the horizontal is known as the weft. The knots are hand-tied threads that form the pile. They are tied in rows on the warp. The pile is the thickness of the rug. Often, fine rugs have a thin, but dense, pile.

Country of Origin: To be a true Oriental, a rug must be woven by hand in one of a few traditional rug-weaving countries, including Iran (formerly Persia), Caucasus, Turkey,China,Pakistan,Afghanistan&kashmir. In past years the country of origin has been the main indicator of general quality and still is in evaluating old and antique rugs. New rugs from Pakistan and some from China can rival or surpass the quality standards set by authentic Persian rugs.

Significance of Rug Design: Oriental rugs come in geometric or decorative designs. The geometric rugs are usually hand woven by nomadic peoples usually in village environments and done in smaller production.
Some of the areas known for their geometric designs are the Caucasus, Hamadan, Tabriz and Turkey. Floral designs usually come from larger cities with more sophisticated looms such as Kashan, Heriz, Kerman, Mashad and Isfahan.

Density of Knots: Knot density refers to the number of knots per square inch that are woven into a rug. The finer the knot, the more labor involved in the hand weaving of the rug. Knot density should be used only as one of the criteria for judging a rug quality.

Distinguishing Quality and Price: Value and quality are determined by knot density, either its from China, Pakistan or Iran(persia) Iranian rugs are very selective now. Also, the more detail or the more elaborate the rug also influences the price . The floral designs done on city looms as well as the rugs that include floral bird and animal designs brig a higher price. A good Oriental rug, properly cared for, will increase in value over the years.

Our rugs, each with their own unique design, represent the finest, centuries-old craftsmanship from the weavers of Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and China. Our prices are so excellent because of our access to the best markets and weaving centers with low production costs.