Countless homeowners and home décor enthusiasts are head over heels with Persian rugs, and this makes sense considering that they’re some of the most high-quality area rugs found anywhere in the world.
Persian rugs undoubtedly are very unique, and it’s a good thing that the rug industry specialists at Rug Source have teamed up with us to provide a comprehensive list of what rug shoppers should be on the lookout for while they’re shopping for Persian rugs.
The vintage Persian rug marketplace is a vast maze of complications and intricate details, so take it from the pros in that this is what you should be aware of!
- Always Be Sure To Check The Back Of The Persian Rug
There are many types of rug repairs that you won’t be able to recognize when simply looking at the front of the area rug, but one simple way to check up on past repairs is to just flip the rug over and inspect the backside of the Persian rug.
You of course should be perfectly fine with a few minor blemishes and past repairs, but you should also understand that large repairs and major patches will ultimately take away from the rug’s overall value.
So most vintage Persian rugs that have undergone extensive repairs are generally best to be avoided.
- Then Closely Examine The Front Of The Persian Rug
The next thing you should closely examine while shopping for a Persian rug is the rug’s pile (fibers). When you’re looking at a rug’s pile, you should be on the lookout for any signs of uneven wearing.
You’re always going to want to get a rug that has an even wearing with no signs of patching throughout the entire field of the rug’s front side.
- Check To Make Sure That The Rug Has A Patina
Just like many other types of home décor antiques, a vintage Persian rug will potentially develop a patina. This is something that a lot of rug shoppers are looking for with these types of home décor investments, because it will indicate the rug’s age and overall durability for the long haul.
- Be Sure To Closely Examine The Edges Of The Area Rug
One of the most susceptible areas of a vintage Persian rug is the ends and edges of the area rug, so these are areas in which rug shoppers should pay close attention to. You don’t want to purchase a Persian rug only to find out that the fringes are beginning to unravel, because this will be a serious issues that will ultimately cost a ton in repairs.
Some rug dealers will “cut back” on a rug to make it seem as though the ends have not been unraveled, but what they actually do is unravel the edges and re-fringe the entire rug.
This is never a good option when you’re shopping for vintage Persian rugs, so look for warning signs of re-fringing!
- Closely Inspect The Rug’s Colors
Everyone loves the colors found in all vintage area rugs because they make them very unique and attractive, and this is especially the case for vintage Persian rugs. Authentic Persian rugs will always be made with natural dyes, and these mellow colors really cannot be reproduced through synthetic means.
What you should be on the lookout for in terms of rug color is a general high-quality throughout the entirety of the rug, as well as any obvious fading areas. When you notice blatant fading, it’s a clear warning sign to avoid that specific area rug.
- Listening To The Persian Rug
This may sound kind of funny for rug shopping, but if you actually fold the rug and bend it you shouldn’t hear any slight crackling sounds. This is a warning sign that the foundation of the rug has been damaged, which is many times pretty difficult for rug shoppers to realize!
Many area rugs will make crackling sounds when they’ve experienced water damage in the past, which of course is something that is best to be avoided!
- Making Sure The Persian Rug Sits Perfectly Flat
The vast majority of vintage Persian rugs are made of wool, which means that over long periods of time it’s possible for the area rug to develop permanent ripples. These area rugs are obviously not worth buying, but if you only see them hanging from a wall in a showroom then you’ll never realize that these ripples even exist.
That’s why you should always ask a rug dealer to lay the rug down on the floor when you think it’s the one for you and your home, because this final test can actually be huge determining factor on whether you should buy or not.
- Avoid Artificial Aging
Artificial aging is actually a really popular trend throughout the rug industry, but this can make vintage rug shopping much more difficult that it truly ought to be. A lot of overseas rug dealers will age their rugs through harsh chemicals to make it look much older than it actually is, so it’s absolutely critical for rug shoppers to be on the lookout for common faux aging signs!
- Always Work With An Experienced, Reputable Rug Dealer
When it comes down to it, you won’t have to worry about most of these warning signs when you work with a reputable rug dealer that you can trust to provide you with authentic, vintage Persian rugs.
You can reach out to the specialists at Rug Source to learn more about their online inventory of Persian rugs via the link at the top of the page!
Once you successfully picked the vintage persian rug you like, the next thing to know is how to properly take care of it. Since Persian rugs are known to be expensive, it’s important that you take proper steps in cleaning it to avoid damaging it. Or you can also book a rug cleaning service and let professionals clean your persian rug.