Rug gallery FAQs
Q. I recently bought an Oriental rug at an estate sale. How do I tell where it came from and what its worth?
A. The only way to accurately gauge a rugs value is to have it inspected by an expert. The value of the rug will be based on its condition, when and where it was made. A professional appraiser will evaluate patterns on the rug, the color and composition of dyes used, and the style of knots and wefts. It takes years of training to accurately appraise Oriental rugs. After all, they’ve been in fashion for more than 3,000 years.
Q. What’s the difference between a Persian rug and an Oriental rug?
A. A Persian rug is a specific variety of Oriental rug. The nation we know as Iran was officially called Persia until 1935. An authentic Persian rug is any rug that was crafted in Persia (or Iran). The term “Oriental” essentially means “Eastern”. An Oriental rug may have been made in any of several Asian countries. Nearly all of central, southern and southeastern Asia is known for producing Oriental rugs.
Q. I ordered a braided area rug online, when I pulled it out of the box it was lumpy and there were strings poking out. I called customer service and they told me it was normal, is that true? What should I do about this?
A. A few bumps and bulges are normal as a result of the rug being rolled up for shipping. Just start using the rug, reverse and rotate it regularly and it should relax and lay flat in no time. As for the strings, as long as they’re just yarn sprouts, they’re nothing to worry about. Use scissors to trim them at the base, do not pull them out. If the sprouts are stronger threads that hold the braids together, the rug should be repaired immediately. Send it back, take it to a rug doctor or use a whip stitch to fix it yourself.
Rug Gallery | Area Rugs | Learning Center | Site Map | Links | Contact | Home
Copyright © 2010