Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a real oriental rug? By definition an oriental rug is a hand knotted, wool or silk floor covering that is made in the orient, historically considered to the land east of Vienna.
2. Is it true that antique rugs are better than new rugs? Workmanship, not age, determines the quality of a rug. The fundamental weaving and knotting of oriental rugs have not changed over the last 2,500 years. Sometimes the look of older or worn rugs is a trendy preference, but is not a statement of quality.
3. Where are the best oriental rugs woven? One country or a single region can not honestly claim that it produces the best rugs. Geographical boundaries do not dictate, nor confine, the capacity to produce fine art. Artists everywhere are performing their work at various levels of skill. This is true of every art medium, so it is true in carpet weaving.
4. Do knots per square inch account for quality and price? Generally, the more knots in the rug the higher the price of the rug. The number of knots indicates the amount of labor consumed in the rug's production. Occassionally, certain intangibles such as sentimental value, remarkable history of a specific piece, or exceptional beauty, will supercede knot count and affect the value of the rug.
5. What is the difference between a hand made and a machine make oriental rug? It is easy to see the difference by looking at the fringe and the back of the rug. The fringe on a hand made rug is the warp of a rug, onto which the individual knots are hand tied. The fringe on a machine made piece is optional and is sewn on to imitate the look of a hand made piece. The back of a hand made rug has obvious inconsistencies in the bumps or knots; the back and sides of a machine made rug are more perfect and uniform looking.