The Comprehensive Guide To Collecting Oriental Rugs And Carpets

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The Comprehensive Guide to Collecting Oriental
Rugs and Carpets
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Do you think carpets and rugs cannot be
collectors items? Of course, it can be as is
evident from the tens of thousands of collectors
who have carpets and rugs among their most prized
possessions. The history of carpets and rugs
reveals that one of the biggest collectors of
these items was Henry VIII. He had hundreds of
rugs in his collection, dominated by Turkish rugs
which are seen in many of his portraits. Other
prominent collectors of rugs were Cornelius
Vanderbilt and Sigmund Freud. They displayed some
rugs prominently so that guests and clients could
get an excellent view of these wonderful
creations.
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Oriental and Persian Carpets Know the
DifferenceIt is generally assumed by many
carpet buyers that all Oriental carpets are the
same and come from the same place. Thats
factually wrong. Oriental carpets and rugs are
made in many countries and the most popular ones
come from countries like India, Afghanistan,
Iran, Turkey, Tibet, and Pakistan.On the other
hand, Persian rugs are produced exclusively in
Persia, which is known as Iran in the modern era.
Persian carpets and rugs are believed by experts
to be of superior quality and are better crafted
than most other types of rugs available on the
market. These rugs are reputed and acclaimed for
their detailed and intricate craftsmanship. This
is because carpet making stretches back to more
than 2500 years in Persia. The artisans here have
a distinctive experience and expertise in making
carpets which results in products that have a
clear stamp of superiority.
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• Which Oriental Carpets Should I Choose Handmade
  or Machine Made?
• When you are out in the market shopping for
  Oriental carpets and rugs, you will be shown a
  wide range of products. A few will be handmade,
  but a large number of carpets and rugs on display
  will be machine-made. Which one is better?
• While ancient Oriental carpets were all
  painstakingly made by hand using traditional
  weaving tools and methods, in the modern world,
  handmade carpets are a rarity. The growing demand
  for these types of carpets and rugs across the
  world has resulted in commercial manufacturing
  taking precedence over traditional methods of
  carpet weaving.

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• Modern-day carpets are made using mechanical
  power looms. They are powered by computers.
  Machine-made rugs use a variety of materials such
  as wool and synthetic fibers. Artificial fibers
  such as polypropylene, nylon, polyester, acrylic,
  and art silk are commonly used in machine-made
  carpets and rugs. As they are produced in mass
  quantity and faster than handmade carpets, they
  come cheaper. However, they do not last for as
  long as traditionally woven carpets do.
  Machine-made carpets have zero investment value
  and are used solely as decorative pieces to boost
  aesthetics.
• Depending on whether you are buying carpets as
  collection items or for home/office decoration,
  you can choose between handmade and machine-made
  carpets. Your budget can also be a deciding
  factor.

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Know Your Knots, Warps, and Wefts

• Installed wool carpets accThe original form of
  oriental rugs was created using a traditional
  loom using threads of cotton, wool, or silk. The
  threads called warps were stretched between two
  wooden beams placed horizontally and stretched
  vertically. Rows of silk, cotton, or wool were
  passed within the threads in alternation by
  passing them over and under each wrap. These are
  called wefts. ount for a small percentage of the
  total carpet market globally. It must be noted
  that carpets manufactured using different methods
  react differently to the presence of dirt and
  moisture.

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• The warp and the weft form the core of almost all
  types of carpets. Once these are in place, a
  third crucial element is introduced by the
  weaver. They are called knots and appear as rows
  in between wefts. Knots are an important matrix
  of carpet quality because
• The fine quality of a rug is determined by the
  number of knots.
• More knots indicate a finer rug with intricate
  designs and patterns.
• The knots are clipped uniformly to produce a
  pile.
• This technique has stood the test of time because
  of the high durability it brings to carpet and is
  used even today by modern weavers.

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• How Are Carpets Classified?
• Nearly all ancient carpets and rugs are
  classified by taking into account the place of
  their origin meaning where they were created.
  Carpets and rugs were created in many different
  places in the early days
• Woven by hand in the small loom by a nomadic
  tribe
• Created in a cottage industry in a local village
• Produced in a professional setup carpet industry
• Made in any royal workshop in a city

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Types of Carpets

• Royal Carpets
• These were premium design carpets made in the
  16th and 17th century for use in the Islamic
  courts. Royal carpets influenced the carpet
  designing methods in a big way. They were popular
  around the 18 th and 19 th century but there are
  very few of these carpets available today.
• Tribal Carpets
• Tribal carpets were created by the different
  ethnic groups of those times. These carpets are
  also known as nomadic carpets and were created
  more for the tribes own use and less for
  commercial considerations. These carpets do not
  have any defined length, but the width was always
  limited to around eight feet, which is the
  standard size of the loom on which these carpets
  were made.

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• Village Carpets
• Village carpets were created in well-settled
  environments such as villages. The loom for
  weaving the carpets was set up within the homes
  of the weavers. Village carpets did not follow
  any pre-design and were generally created by
  recalling the design by memory by the women who
  wove them.
• This made each carpet different as they had minor
  errors and design mistakes. This was seen as a
  value-enhancer, as every carpet had the stamp of
  authenticity and uniqueness. They were moved to
  the market located near the villages. The carpet
  was known by the name of that village and was
  sold either to a local buyer or a carpet merchant
  for export.

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• Before you start the modern carpets and rugs
  cleaning process, check the place for airflow,
  water drainage, and ventilation. Check whether
  the carpet can be put up for drying at the same
  place or needs to be taken elsewhere. Some
  carpets can become extremely heavy after washing
  and may require special arrangements to move.
  Also, the carpet drying must be done in a
  secluded place as far as possible. Pets and
  children must not have access to the drying area
  until the carpet has completely dried.

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Town Carpets

• Town carpets, as the name indicates, are those
  that were made in the leading carpet making
  cities of those times. These workshops were
  established in the 19 th century to meet the
  growing demand for authentic carpets of the
  Western markets. Town carpets consisted of finely
  woven, premium quality rugs and carpets.

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• A famous workshop of these times was called
  Kashan of the famed weaver Hajji Mollah Hassan
  Mohtasham. His carpets were unique as they stood
  apart for the harmony of their design and color
  combinations. The carpets have the symbolic
• purple silk finish that held each side of the
  cord. Lanolin was liberally used in these
  carpets.
• Ziegler Carpets
• The demand for Persian carpets was at its peak
  around 1883. This led to a Manchester-based firm
  Ziegler amp Co launching its own factory to
  meet the demand and deliver the unending stream
  of orders. The first factory was launched in the
  district of Sultanabad, West Persia.

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• Ikat Carpets
• These types of rugs and carpets are identified by
  their unique design pattern. It is achieved by
  dyeing and over-dyeing the threads. It is aimed
  at creating more color variations and an intense
  depth. Some of these Ikat designs may have a
  historical connection or significance. But
  generally, they are influenced by aesthetic
  needs. As Ikat rugs and carpets have a lower knot
  count, they are less expensive than other
  high-end rugs.
• Bokhara Rugs
• This Oriental rug has its origins in the historic
  Bukhara, which is todays Uzbekistan. There is a
  robust carpet-making industry still active in
  Uzbekistan, but Bokhara rugs are made in many
  other countries as well.

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• Bokhara rugs stand apart because of their
  asymmetrical knot counts. The pricing is also
  based on the number of knots in the carpet. Some
  key aspects of Bokhara rugs are classic colors,
  oval-shaped motifs, and a neat, clutter-free
  background which are absent in other Oriental
  rugs. Red is the dominant color in Bokhara rugs
  with hints and traces of gray, ivory, green, and
  rose also interspersing the red threads.
• Kilim Rugs
• The name comes from the Persian word Gelim which
  means spreading roughly. Kilim rugs stand apart
  because of their unique and linear designs. It is
  common to find rugs having squares, straight
  lines, and rectangles as designs on Kilim rugs.
  They are crafted using a flat weave. This makes
  the rugs less plush than other forms of Oriental
  rugs and carpets. Kilim rugs are generally bold
  in color. The colors used include deep gold, navy
  blue, red, and forest green.

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• Kilim Rugs
• The other types of Oriental rugs you can look for
  while shopping for the best ones are
• Baluchi
• Gabbeh
• Heriz
• Kazak
• Khan Mamdi
• Shairwan
• Qashqai

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• What To Look For While Buying Carpets
• One of the key factors to consider while buying
  carpets is their design. It must be well-spaced,
  and there should a sense of visible balance in
  the design. Another important factor is the
  materials used. Clarity is another vital element.
  If these factors are missing or not very
  prominent, then the carpet is unlikely to catch
  attention or create the desired impact.
• Materials
• Persian carpets are rugs are crafted using a
  single type of fiber. They either use wool,
  cotton, or silk. And one type of fiber is never
  mixed with any other in the same carpet. Also,
  you will never find synthetic fibers such as
  jute, nylon, acrylic, or polypropylene in
  authentic Persian carpets.

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• Materials
• Most Persian carpets are created with wool. As
  the Persian tribes reared sheep for food, the
  wool came as a by-product that was used for
  making beautiful and creative rugs and carpets.
  Experts believe that Persian carpets have high
  durability because of the lanolin present in wool
  procured from domestic sheep. It can preserve the
  fibers and make them last for decades and even
  centuries. They must be cleaned and maintained
  properly to ensure their longevity.
• Designs
• The following designs are generally seen in all
  authentic carpets crafted in Persia. They are

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• Carpets with a Central Medallion
• The center of the carpet has a circular, oval
  design which is in contrast with the design of
  the rest of the carpet. The medallion can be a
  geometric design, an animal pattern, text, or
  even a blank space.
• Carpets with Patterns All Over
• A geometric or floral pattern that is repeated
  across the entire length and breadth of the
  carpet is another common design pattern seen in
  Persian carpets.
• Carpets with Compartment Designs
• The compartment design is similar to the all-over
  design because it follows the repeating pattern
  process. The artisan may use geometric or floral
  designs all over the carpet but in the shape of a
  patchwork. Each compartment is shaped like a
  diamond, square, or even as an interlocked design.

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• Carpets with Asymmetrical Pattern
• In this type of design, the patterns are
  different on each half of the rug when seen
  lengthwise. However, there is symmetry between
  each half.
• The Use of Dyes In Ancient Carpets
• Antique carpets stand apart as they are made
  using hand-spun yarns that are dyed naturally. It
  is almost impossible to recreate the unique
  patterns and subtle design elements on carpets
  made using synthetic dyes.
• The use of synthetic dyes in carpet marking began
  around the 1860s. They are not regarded as of
  good quality as they are conspicuous by the
  absence of soft hues and natural appearance that
  natural dyes impart. Synthetic dyes also fade
  over time. Thats why such carpets do not find
  favor among collectors and connoisseurs of
  carpets.

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• Why Colors Are Important
• Some colors are considered rare in the field of
  carpet making and are hence in demand. These
  include Tyrian purple, saffron yellow, specific
  shades of green, and cochineal rose. How to tell
  if a carpet is woven using natural colors or
  synthetic dyes? Look for tonal changes within the
  color. There will be visible bands of slight
  variations in carpets with natural colors as each
  yarn is dipped in a freshly prepared batch and
  hence bound to have slight variations in the
  absence of any standardization in the dye-making
  process.
• Wear And Tear Signs of Genuineness?
• Antique carpets require careful handling and lots
  of care. The general rule is that some amount of
  restoration is acceptable for rugs and carpets of
  a certain age. The focus of collectors is on
  artistic merit and rareness of the carpet while
  accepting that perfection and finishing will be
  rarely seen in antique pieces.

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• Wear And Tear Signs of Genuineness?
• A rug that has undergone multiple restorations or
  poorly restored can lose value. It is better to
  leave the natural wear and tear visible. The
  carpets value will also be affected adversely by
  factors such as chemical washing, staining,
  reduction in size, and fading due to extreme
  exposure to the sun.
• If you prefer carpets made of silk fibers, you
  must note that they are highly fragile when
  compared to other materials and hence more prone
  to wear and tear. They are also cannot withstand
  extreme humidity. If silk carpets are dried
  improperly, the fibers can become dry and
  brittle. This can cause splits to appear at
  random places. If you follow the basic rules of
  carpet caring and maintenance, they can last a
  lifetime provided the carpet is made of quality
  fibers and crafted by expert hands.

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• Caring For Your Carpets
• Carpets need proper and regular cleaning and
  maintenance. It is always better to let a
  professional carpet cleaner handle the cleaning
  part instead of trying it yourself. Regular
  cleaning done in a proper manner can keep your
  carpet in great shape for long.
• It is important to clean carpets regularly. This
  can be done using simple hoover with light
  setting. However, for carpets that require a more
  thorough cleaning, it is better to let a
  professional carpet cleaner handle the task.
• Storage of Carpets
• There is an established way of storing carpets.
  Follow these steps and you will be able to handle
  them more conveniently.

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• Storage of Carpets
• Roll carpets up from the bottom with the pile
  facing inside
• Silk carpets must be rolled with the pile facing
  outside as it will not put pressure on the
  foundation
• Always roll and never fold a carpet. Folding can
  result in the formation of lines and carpets may
  crack along those lines over time.
• One of the most common problems associated with
  poorly stored carpets is the damage inflicted by
  insects and water. Check regularly for mold and
  mildew formation by unrolling the carpets.

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• Where To Buy From?
• When you begin your search for the best Oriental
  carpets online, you will come across hundreds of
  resources. Look for a name with a long-standing
  reputation and experience. One name that stands
  apart is Istanbul Rug. The premier rug
  distributor is the favorite of many people
  looking to buy Oriental carpets and rugs as an
  investment or for decorating their homes and
  commercial establishments. The ompanys showroom
  has moved from San Francisco to Bay Bridge in
  Berkeley and offers one of the largest
  collections of exquisite 19 th and 20 th -century
  handmade carpets and rugs.

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