Persian rugs or Persian carpets have been gracing homes across the world for a long time now. Yet their novelty doesn’t seem to wear off. Among the prime reasons for the popularity of these traditional carpets from Iran are their exquisite designs, craftsmanship, and quality. These hand-woven wonders can enhance the look of any room in an instant. But shopping for genuine Persian carpet requires a certain amount of care to be exercised. Else you might end up buying a fake Persian carpet. Outlined below are the factors that you need to consider when buying a Persian carpet.
Age
The age of a Persian carpet plays a big role in determining its price. A genuine hand-woven Persian carpet increases in value over time, when maintained in a good condition. Generally, Persian rugs that are hundred years or more old are considered to be antique pieces and hence, are quite expensive to buy. To determine the age of a Persian carpet, look at the knots from the underside. If there are single looped knots, it indicates that the piece is antique. This is because such knots were used by the Persian carpet weavers in the earlier days.
Quality
The quality of a Persian carpet can impact its value significantly. If you are investing your money in a Persian carpet, you need to go for a hand-woven one. A machine-made carpet can never match the quality and uniqueness of the hand-made ones. You can conclude whether a Persian carpet is hand-woven or not by inspecting the knots lying on the underside of it. Usually, hand-woven carpets have at least 18 knots per square cm. The more the knots per square cm, the better will be the quality of the carpet. Also, if the knots are all uniform, it can mean that the carpet is machine-made. Another thing to keep in mind is that hand-woven carpets always have a soft backing and the pattern is discernible through it.
Material
The most common material used to make Persian carpets is wool. You can also find cotton Persian carpets. But since wool is stronger than cotton, Persian carpets made of wool carry greater value than those made with cotton. Silk is one material that is used to create gorgeous Persian carpets. But such carpets are quite rare and so, are very expensive. If you are planning to buy a silk carpet, remember that they are not as strong and durable as the ones made from cotton or wool.
Dye
Before 1900, natural dyes were used to color Persian carpets. These days, it is common to use synthetic dyes while making carpets. When you go to buy a Persian carpet, look for one that has been colored with natural dyes. In order to determine if a carpet has been colored with natural dyes or not, isolate some threads of the carpet by bending it. If you can find some unevenness in the color, it indicates the use of natural dyes. Synthetic dyes tend to color the fiber uniformly.
I’m Carrie Phillips. I love to share my tips and tricks for home improvement, as well as provide ideas for how you can transform your space with DIY projects.
