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By now, everyone has heard of the Persian vase carpet which sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York for $34 million a few years ago. Once in a while an antique Oriental rug will come on the market and a bidding war will ensue. To someone who is inexperienced in the rug trade, this may look like the perfect way to make some fast money.   Sadly, the likelihood of stumbling on a million dollar rug (sometimes literally) at a flea market for $5 is next to impossible. There are so many factors to consider when investing in a handmade Oriental rug...

Purchasing your first Oriental rug is a big deal. You want to be wary of dealers trying to take advantage of you, and watch out for bad deals. Recommendations from friends or acquaintances and online reviews are a great first step to finding a reputable dealer. Once you find a rug you like, there are a few items you want to look for including dry rot, moths, stains, and other damage. Cracks from dry rot are common in older Sarouk rugs and other antique carpets. Dry rot can occur from a variety of reasons, most commonly due to exposure to water that...

Rugs, Rugs, Rugs, and more RUGS. This last week we were adding rugs almost daily to the shop and more are coming.  This one of a kind Persian Lilihan was just listed seconds ago: It measures 4' 6 x 6' 11. The design is so unique and this rug has some serious personality. This is the first antique Lilihan I have had in the shop that has not had a painted field. These rugs were originally washed and painted like Sarouks in deep pink and purple tones to better appeal to Western tastes. Check it out > Seeing double? These...

A hand knotted Turkish carpet is made of natural materials. Historically speaking, Turkish rugs are made from similar materials as other Oriental and Persian rugs although they are of different qualities.  Above is a vintage Turkish Yagcibedir, one of the more easily recognizable types of Turkish rugs. This rug in particular has a wool pile woven on a cotton and wool mixed foundation. The weft threads are cotton, the warps are wool. Wool in Turkish Rugs Many Turkish carpets are woven with wool exclusively, especially when compared to their Persian counterparts which utilize cotton frequently for the foundation. Newer Turkish...

What is Oriental Rug Fringe? Fringe is the foundation threads at the end of an Oriental rug. Technically they are called warp threads, for more details on the anatomy of an Oriental rug check out our guide to Oriental rugs. What is Oriental Rug Fringe Made of? Usually if the foundation is cotton, the fringe ends will be white and if the foundation is wool it will be a natural wool color. Very rarely the fringe ends are dyed. Do Fake Oriental Rugs Have Fringe? Some do and some don't. If your rug doesn't have fringe, don't despair it may...