Blog
Identifying rugs by their colour and design
(Posted on 14/02/14)It is a common mistake to assume that oriental rugs can be identified by their designs alone. While it is true that certain designs are closely associated, even synonymous, with specific localities or weaving group, centuries of trade, migration...
Designs
(Posted on 01/02/14)A basic knowledge of oriental carpet design is essential, not only as an aid to identification, but also as an important means of gaining insight into the rich and infinitely varied religious and cultural heritage of the weavers themselves. Unlike...
Where and when to sell
(Posted on 18/01/14)Resale value This is impossible to predict with any degree of certainty. Do not be misled by assurances from dealers that all oriental rugs or at least the ones they are selling, will automatically increase in value; this simply is not true...
Care and Repair
(Posted on 07/01/14)Oriental rugs have a justifiable reputation for being extremely durable, but they are not indestructible, and proper care and maintenance will greatly enhance both the beauty and life of your rug. In addition to normal wear and tear, central heating...
Where and when to buy
(Posted on 28/12/13)There are a number of different types of retail outlet in most countries of the West, Far East and Australasia, each of which has its own slightly different set of advantages and disadvantages for the prospective buyer. However, the type of outlet...
What to pay
(Posted on 10/12/13)The amount you pay should primarily be determined by what you can afford. This may seem self-evident, but it is not unknown for people to be carried along by the atmosphere of an auction, or the sales patter of a dealer. The first step is...
Prices and value
(Posted on 03/12/13)Prices is determined by number of factors, including the cost of purchase in the country of origin, shipping, washing, import tariffs and the wholesaler's overheads; but by far the most important influence on the price you will pay in shops is the...
Dates and signatures
(Posted on 27/11/13)Dates and signatures sometimes woven into the pile of the rug, usually in the border; this can be taken as a clear indication of when and by whom the rug was made. (Copies of old rugs sometimes include the original date and signature, but there is rarely...
Dating
(Posted on 12/11/13)Discovering exactly when an undated rug was made is almost impossible. However, complete accuracy is not important, as a few years either way make little difference to its value or collectability; placing it in the right quarter of the appropriate...
Assessing Quality
(Posted on 02/11/13)CONTRARY TO POPULAR MYTH, assessing quality is not difficult as it might first appear; armed with a little basic information, anyone should be able to distinguish a good from a poor quality rug. Obviously, there is some truth in the old maxim that...