A Persian rug is a rug that is made specifically in Iran. Traditionally, the rugs have unique knots that give your floor a perfect look. The cool thing with them is that they are durable, comfortable and come in a wide range of colors, motifs, designs and patterns.
The rugs are made from wool; however, there are others that are made from cotton. The most common wool used include: camel hair, kork and Manchester wool.
Antique Persian rugs are usually made from silk. While they are awesome to look at, they are less durable and very expensive.
Tips on how to identify a genuine Persian rug
Due to the good quality of Persian rugs, many people have come up with other rugs. If you are unsuspecting, these people can sell you these rugs pretending that they are Persian rugs. To help you out here are tips on how to identify a genuine Persian rug:
Label: a genuine rug will have a label at the back. The label lets you know the country where the rug was made. As mentioned, a Persian rug is one made in Iran. If a rug is made in Nepal, India, Caucasus, or Pakistan, it’s not a Persian rug—it’s an oriental rug.
Rug knot: Traditional Persian rugs are made using one looping knot. Currently, manufacturers are making rugs with two or even more looping knots. The knots are either handmade or machine-made. One way of telling the difference is looking at the underside of the rug and see if the pattern is visible through the backing. If you are able to see the pattern, it means that the rug is machine-made.
A machine-made rug on the other hand has a thick backing and a pattern that doesn’t show through.
Factors to consider when making the purchase
Rug size: The size of rug that you need depends on the size of your room. The cool thing is that Persian rugs come in different sizes and shapes thus you will get one that is ideal for you. Always remember that the larger the rug, the more expensive it is.
Age: a rug that is 100 years old is said to be an antique rug, one that is between 50-99 years is semi-antique and there are modern rugs. An antique Persian rug is a valuable collectible item and its value increases with time.
