We’ve talked about all the different types of Handmade rugs, the different designs we see amongst Persian Handmade rugs, and why they are expensive compared to machine-made alternatives. But we know there will always be questions racing around your mind when looking to buy a luxury decor item such as a Persian Handmade rug.
Here we will answer some frequently asked questions to do with spotting an authentic Persian rug, how long they will last for, what countries make the best Persian rugs, the difference between Persian and Oriental rugs and also some serious stuff like if they are a good financial investment or if they lose value as they age…
Okay let's cut to the chase!
1. How Do I Know If I'm Buying a Real Persian Rug?
There are a few tell-tale signs of whether the rug in front of you is real or not.
Though you may look like a criminal investigator, determining an authentic Persian rug to a fake one could be the difference between losing hundreds of dollars or getting your own authentic slice of Persian artistry (a real Persian handmade rug). So here are some things to look out for:
Material is wool or silk
It will only ever be made of wool or silk (or both). Never will a Persian handmade rug be made of anything else like polyester, jute, artificial silk or polypropylene.
Knot size is not identical
When you flip the rug over, the hand-knotted knots on the back will not be uniform in shape. Slight variations in the size are only natural, whereas machine-made Persian-designed rugs will have identically-sized and shaped knots on the back, and a much ‘whiter’ backing than real Persian handmade rugs.
Tassels are not sewn on
All Persian handmade rugs will have tassels, whether long or short. This is because the tassels are just the left over warp thread which need to be tied up.
Machine-made Persian-designed rugs will have a band of tassels sewn onto the edge of the rug (with the attaching thread visibly exposing it as being sewn on).
They are flexible
All handmade rugs are flexible when scrunched/folded, with the most flexible being Afghan rugs, then Persian rugs, then Indian rugs.
The technique used by Persian weavers gives the rug stretch and foldability. Machine-made rugs will be difficult to fold, and will feel stiff compared to any handmade rug including Indian handmade rugs.
Imperfect edges
All handmade rugs will have their own flaws, including whether it has a straight edge or not.
It's common for the edges of handmade rugs to show some degree of …’zig-zag’. However, the higher quality pieces will be impressively straight and parallel.
What's even more impressive is the perfect straight edges of machine-made rugs! So take this into consideration when browsing Persian handmade rugs; if you see imperfect edges, it's okay.
They will last decades
Now, we don’t expect you to witness your rug stand the test of time just to prove this point (though you won’t regret it!), it is already proven by the stacks of Semi-antique (60-70 years old) Persian handmade rugs we have at Knot n Co.
With the right maintenance and care, Persian handmade rugs, and similarly, Afghan handmade rugs, will last decades without deteriorating like machine-made rugs or lower quality hand-tufted rugs will.
They can be passed down the generations of your family with no issues apart from a professional wash here and there.
2. What Countries Make The Best Persian Rugs?
With the birth of the art of handmade rugs dating back to about 1500BC in Persia, you can imagine the evolution and diversity that spawned in the hundreds of centuries following this.
Different Persian tribes added their own designs and colours, and, as it spread across the lands, different countries created their own techniques and patterns.
Today, we categorise handmade rugs into Oriental rugs and Persian Rugs.
Oriental rugs
This incudes all handmade rugs made in China, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Turkey, each with their own distinct colours, designs and patterns.
Persian rugs
Persian rugs became so well-known for their skill and quality in hand making rugs that it is often a category of its own along side Oriental Rugs.
Even today, the demand for Persian rugs is so high that the weaving of Persian-designed rugs has spread across to other countries, though not of the classic Persian handmade rug quality.
Therefore, Iran is still the best producer of Persian handmade rugs.
3. How can you tell if a Persian rug is good quality?
We spoke about how Persian handmade rugs all have a KPSI value (Knots per square Inch). This is very important when determining the value of a Persian rug.
When you see a Persian rug is described as ‘fine’ or ‘finely woven’, this means that it has a very high KPSI and would have taken many more weeks to weave. The result is a super velvety, soft, and cushioned rug compared to the average Persian Handmade rug.
Having straight edges, and no patches where the dye has ran (also known as bleeding), is a sign of a good quality rug too. Bleeding dyes are usually caused by water damage during or after the dyeing and washing process and is difficult to correct after the product is finished.
4. Are Persian Handmade Rugs a Good Investment?
Some people consider to buy an expensive Persian Rug to then sell after 20 years, in hopes that it will appreciate in value.
Although Classic Persian rugs will always have an audience, appreciation in value is very difficult to guarantee, as interior design trends and demands are always changing.
Another thing to consider is the wear and tear on such a rug that has been used for 20 or more years, and costs of any repairs. Major repairs can become quite costly.
Unless it is a very rare, high quality rug that is maintained exceptionally well, and is potentially an interest to collectors, it is conflicting to say whether it will appreciate in value.
5. Do Persian Handmade Rugs lose Value?
Similar to the above question, it really depends on the wear and tear on the rug. If you keep your handmade rug for 10 years, and have accumulated some minor stains and, perhaps you forgot to rotate your rug every few months, half your rug is faded and the other half is vibrant, then your rug will definitely depreciate in value.
At best, if you keep your rug in immaculate condition over the 10 years, it could be resold at a slightly lower price than what you bought it for (depends on where you originally bought the rug from too: showrooms will have double the price of wholesalers).
If you’re not sure what your rug is worth, feel free to contact us and we can assist you. You can also click here to see our full collect of handmade rugs.