How to Tell an Antique Oriental Rug

How To Recognize Antique Rugs

• 1

  Verify the age of the rug. Look for signs of wear. Any wear should look as if it occurred naturally. Some manufacturers "age" new rugs mechanically making them appear worn in places, and as if the colors became muted with age.

• 2

  Check to see if the rug is hand-knotted. Turn the rug over and look at the stitching on the back. Newer rugs are often machine-made and have uniform stitching. A hand-knotted rug will likely have imperfections. The knots are sometimes flattened on antique rugs.

• 3

  Learn if the rug is made of vegetable or synthetic dyes. Synthetic dyes were first used in the 1850s and contain colors that are bright and harsh. Rugs made with them have less value than those made with natural dyes. You can do a handkerchief test to help determine if synthetic dyes were used. Dampen a handkerchief and rub it across the rug. If the colors bleed, the dye is likely synthetic.