How to Learn About Oriental Rug Quality

Learn Who Makes Oriental Rugs

• 1

  The term “Oriental” traditionally refers to rugs made in the East. The Islamic Arts and Architecture Organization states that “the great carpet-producing areas include Turkey, Persia, the Caucasus and Turkestan. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India and China also must be added to the list. And under Arab influence, Spain, too, has produced hand-knotted rugs of distinction.”

• 2

  Look for a label under the corner of the rug. The label should state the country of origin. By looking at rugs from various countries, you will be able to identify patterns and characteristic traits of that area.

• 3

  Learn to distinguish designs from different tribes. In an interview with CNN Money, Mary Jo Otsea from Sotheby’s says, "the Kazaks from the southwestern Caucasus have strong geometric patterns and loose weaves while the Ladiks from Turkey create colorful borders and a central arch design."

Learn What Materials Are Used

• 4

  Antique rugs are made of wool, cotton, and silk. New rugs are made from a variety of fibers such as mercerized cotton, faux silk, silk blends, and artificial fibers such as olefin.

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  Read rug labels to identify materials. Observe the qualities of the fibers: notice how wool holds color and how silk shines.

• 6

  Note the price differences among materials.

Learn to Identify Antiques

• 7

  Oriental rugs that are 100 or more years old are called antiques.

• 8

  Rugs made 50 to 99 years ago are referred to as semi-antiques.

• 9

  Mary Jo Otsea from Sotheby’s explains the beauty of older rugs: “...older rugs were made using natural vegetable dyes, as opposed to the chemical dyes used on younger ones. Years of use soften these colors and make the wool more lustrous."

  Separate the threads of the rugs; learn to identify after-weave dying, a sign of a newer rug of poor quality.

• 10

  Note if the rug has signs of wear but remains vibrant; this is an indication of a real antique.