General Rugs Shop
An investment in Oriental rugs is sound. The main problem which arises is the lack of knowledge. Books are sometimes misleading as they tend to generalise and people who read them and study them word for word usually find themselves in a muddle.
When choosing a Persian rug the most important thing is that the rug should be pleasing to the eye of the purchaser. One has to live with these rugs for a lifetime and no matter how finely made, or how long the history, they must possess an attractive appearance. Exceptions can be made by the collector, who wants examples of each type of rug, irrespective of colour or furnishing. The best advice one can give is to find a reputable dealer who specialises in Oriental rugs. Put yourself in his hands and ask the following important questions:
The ten rules for buying
- Is the rug of vegetable dye?
- Is the rug of aniline dye?
(Aniline dyes were introduced in approximately 1870, vegetable dyes were used up to 1930, although 1914 was the turning point. There are, of course, rugs made with vegetable dyes today, but they are few and far between. Therefore, rugs which have age and are of vegetable dye are invariably antique, i.e. over 100 years old.) - Is the rug in good condition?
(A worn out ninety-year-old rug is of very little use, as there are quite a few examples of worn seventeenth-century and eighteenth-century rugs available at reasonable prices.) - Has the rug been repaired; if so, would you please show me the repairs?
(One must always expect to find a certain amount of repair work in old rugs; this does not detract much from the value unless the repairs have been executed badly.) - Is the rug complete, i.e. are there any borders, ends or sides missing?
(This can reduce the value of the rug quite considerably.) - If it is an old rug would you repurchase it from me in four years, and perhaps show me a profit?
- Have you given a full and true description, and why is this a sound investment?
- Has this been process washed?
(This is a treatment given to modern rugs to make them look old.) - Has this been chemically bleached, removing all colours save two or three?
(For example, Golden Afghans.) - Has the rug a natural patina?
(The early rugs were made of wool taken from the breast of the sheep; being the most protected part of the sheep the wool has its own natural lustre.)
Above all get to know your dealer well, treat him more as a friend than just another shopkeeper. You will find that he is more than willing to explain the idiosyncracies of the weavers' art, and you will spend many pleasant and rewarding hours. You will learn that when a good rug is in your possession it becomes part of you, one of the family, and it will radiate the love and devotion that has been put into its creation.
Coupled with all these facts is the cost of weaving hand- knotted rugs today, for it takes as long as nine months to weave a fine quality rug. Basing this on present day wages of a master weaver in Europe (say about £3,000 per annum), it seems impossible that one can still buy a hand-made rug of this quality for between £350 and £400. The value is tremendous, and the investment speaks for itself.