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The fringe on a rug is generally made from the warp threads of handmade rugs but on a machine made it is usually sewn onto the rug at the end of the making to make it appear that is is handmade. On a hand knotted rug the edges are overcast by hand whereas on a machine made rug the edges are stitched with a machine.
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 the difference between handmade and machine made rugs?
If the fringe is an extension of the rugs, then you can easily find out that it is a handmade rug, wherein if the fringe is added afterward then it is a machine-made rug. The edge finishing of a rug can also tell you the difference between a handmade and machine-made rug.
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 I tell where my rug came from?
Antique Rugs Origins – The truth of the origin is on the backside of the rug. This is why, when examining an antique carpet or vintage rug, most experts, after looking at color and design, will turn the rug over to determine its origin.
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 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.
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.
What does hand tufted wool rug mean?
Hand tufted rugs (also called hand made) are produced by punching individual yarns through a fabric sheet using a device called a “tufting gun”. Once the rug has been completed a second fabric is glued to the back to hold the yarns in place. Hand knotted rugs are the cream of the rug world.
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 do you tell if a rug is wool or synthetic?
Take them outdoors and clamp them with a pair of tweezers. Light the fibers with a lighter. If they melt and smell like burning plastic, you have a synthetic rug. If they crumble and smell like burning hair, you have a wool rug.
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”.
What is the difference between Persian and Oriental rugs?
These are the customers we love to discuss anything that has to do with rugs; such as knot counts and motifs. So the simple answer is that Persian rugs are Oriental rugs. Oriental rugs simply refer to rugs made in oriental countries. Persian rugs are made in Iran and Iran is an oriental country.
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.
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.
How old does a rug have to be to be an antique?
Historians agree that anything over 100-years-old can be classified as a classic antique. Antique rugs, however, can be anywhere from 75-years to 100-years-old. A semi-antique rug is one that’s roughly 50- to 74-years-old.
What is the markup on Oriental rugs?
Oriental Rug Retailers of America, which does not allow merchants who conduct GOBs to be members, estimates rugs sold at many such sales are marked up at least 10 times and then “discounted” 80 percent. That means a rug worth $1,000 could be marked up to $10,000, then sold for $2,000.
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.
What does a hand knotted rug mean?
What is a Hand-knotted Rug? A Hand-knotted rug, also referred to as Oriental rugs, is a rug that is made by hand on a specialized loom. The process of making a Hand-knotted rug is incredibly taxing. The method itself requires the weaver to insert knots into the rug and tie them each by hand.
