News & Information

Friday, 05 January 2007
Owning a fine antique Oriental rug, especially a fine antique, is not only a pleasure, but a responsibility. Owners of antique rugs should actually think of themselves as the current owner, one in a series extending from the past into the future. Maintenance is perhaps the most important and simplest aspect of owning a rug since it it vital to protecting the condition and value of the piece. In order to enjoy a fine rug over the long term, and to insure that others will enjoy it after you, it is important to follow these simple precautions.

Rugs are susceptible to various types of damage:

- wear due to to foot traffic and rough vacuuming
- damage due to moths and other insects, stains from food or beverages
- burns from smoking or fireplaces
- damage to edges from roller brush vacuum cleaners.

Any such damage. If left unattended will eventually unravel and wear down to foundation or deteriorate further into an actual hole, tear, or gap. Any such losses to the fabric - holes and torn edges – must be repaired as soon as possible to prevent them from getting larger and then requiring more extensive repair.

Prevention -
The best way minimize such damage is simply to avoid it.

1.Be on guard for the tiny moths that eat rugs. Check the underside of your rug periodically to look for evidence of moths, especially the white silky cobwebs of the larvae.

2. If you store rugs folded or rolled, use moth balls or cedar shavings, and check the rugs every month or two.

3. Some residences tend to have moths. If you fall into this category use moth spray periodically, even on the reverse side of rugs in active use.

Cleaning -
Rugs will be come dirty in time no matter how careful the owner. Accumulation of dust
and silt also contributes to wear.

1. Every four years or so, a rug should be washed as routine maintenance. Urban environments will deposit airborne grime and soot on rugs and textiles. Rugs can also dry out from central heating, and washing not only cleans the rug but re-moisturizes the wool.

2. Spot cleaning may be necessary in the case of stains from spills, but do not use any chemical cleaners or stain removers, since they may damage the rug irreversibly. Red wine, tea, coffee, milk, and pet stains require immediate attention. Such spills should be blotted up and then flushed with water. This can be done by putting a disposable towel or cloth under the rug and pouring water through it until the stain is rinsed out. Test the rug with a bit of water first to make sure that the colors do not run before flushing extensively with water.

3. Red wine spills can also be treated by putting table salt on the stain after blotting and flushing, but the salt should be removed after five minutes or it will bleach the rug.

4. If you soak an area on the rug, lift it from the floor surface to allow air circulation on both sides until it is thoroughly dry. A damp rug left on the floor may lead to dry rot.

Major washing and even spot cleaning are best left to professionals. A professional cleaning service can do wonders getting out stains, especially if one has the rug attended to quickly.

Foot traffic -
Even the finest rug will wear down if subjected to repeated traffic.

1. It is important to rotate the rug every two years or so that traffic is spread evenly over the
piece. to
2. Frequent vacuuming is essential to remove dust and grit which will wear the pile down under foot traffic. But it should be ordinary suction vacuuming

Light -
Contrary to popular opinion, vegetable dyes do not fade substantially when exposed to light. It is synthetic dyes that will fade extensively. But prolonged, intense sunlight is not good for textiles of any type. Intense light will dry and oxidize the wool, weakening the fibers.

1. If you have rugs in a very sunny room with southern exposure, it is advisable to use shading,
not to block the light, but to reduce it somewhat.

2. It may also be advisable to use UV films on the windows.

Things not to do:

1. Do not store rugs in a closet or attic without checking every month or so for moths

2. Do not store rugs in a basement, which will lead to irreparable dry rot.

3. Do not leave a rug that is damp or wet directly on the floor surface. Moisture that cannot
escape from under the rug may also cause dry rot.

4. Do not use vacuum cleaners with brush roller bars, unless the roller feature can be turned
off. Roller or beater bars can cause the ends and sides of the rug to fray, leading to
extensive loss or damage to the pile.

5. Do not attempt to treat stains with chemical cleaners. These may make things worse and
prevent a professional cleaner from removing the stain later on.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Written by David Castriota
Wednesday, 03 January 2007

Rugs meant for a business environment will meet different requirements than those for use at home. A rug in a business setting is to some extent an expression of the image that the business seeks to project, so it may require something formal, reserved, or bold and playful; it all depends. But a rug for a place of business will need to stand up to considerable traffic,so it must above all be durable.

Such commercial needs will generally be met by new rugs, but certain types of business, those that seek to project tradition and refinement may require an antique Oriental carpet. Rugs for use at home must reflect the taste of the owner, and in a very profound and personal way, since they provide a constant feature or part of one’s private environment.

But here too, there are practical considerations.I the rug is needed for insulation or to absorb sound, a thicker, perhaps more coarsely woven rug may be required. If it is primarily intended as a home furnishing, a new rug may be the right way to go. If one is a rug enthusiast, it may may be worth the added expense to look for an antique.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Written by David Castriota
Friday, 22 December 2006

Collectors are a special breed of rug enthusiast. While they are motivated fundamentally by a “passion for rugs” and the world that produces them, their interest tends to inordinately intense, knowledgeable, and idiosyncratic. There is no telling what particular set of concerns and objectives will motivate an individual collector, but every collector has such a unique motivation along with a huge store of knowledge accumulated over the years. Collectors literally see rugs differently from other people. They look at rugs creatively, through the lens of knowledge, in a way that allows them to see past problems of condition or damage in order to appreciate the artistic worth of a great piece. At times they are not motivated by the immediate impression that the rug may make, but rather by its uniqueness or its historical importance. In the latter regard, collectors depart substantially from the great majority of rug users and enthusiasts.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Written by David Castriota
Thursday, 14 December 2006

Some people buy a rug purely as a household furnishing. For them a rug is an integral piece of a larger puzzle, like a sofa, table, or a drapery. Others have what may be called a passion for rugs. They are rug enthusiasts, rug lovers. They like the very idea of rugs. They may be quite knowledgeable in terms of rug history or typology, or they may have a purely visual interest and response to the rug, a reaction that perceives the individual personality that all handmade rugs have, especially antique ones.

To a rug enthusiast, the rug is more like a painting. It is a focus of detailed attention. It should go with the accompanying décor, but it is not immediately subordinate to it. For this type of buyer there are various levels of concern and interest.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Written by David Castriota
Friday, 08 December 2006

One of the the more subjective aspects of judging a rug have to do with assessing its quality and its imperfections. When quality is assessed on the basis of the wool, dyes, and weaving technique, it is a fairly objective process. When the issue turns to drawing style, it becomes more of an issue of taste. The same is true with “imperfections.” Dropped knots, looseness or inconsistencies in tightness are technical imperfections. But are abrash - abrupt changes in color, sudden changes in design, or adjustments in proportion at the corners or the borders or ends of the field to be judged as imperfections, or as changes that are part of the deliberate intention of the weaver, and therefore part of her creative expression?

Some buyers may be put off by such qualities. They may prefer a workshop rug that is perfectly straight, with consistent color and design. But others will appreciate that the personality of the village weaver confronts us every time she inserts a willful twist and turn of color or pattern, or in her struggle to maintain straight proportions in a wool foundation, that that she is in a sense alive in the rug in all such variations or inconsistencies.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Written by Joan Guryan
Friday, 17 November 2006

Focus, or accent?

Is this rug the focal point of my room, or an accent? Do I want you to walk into the room and have your eye go directly to the rug. If this is the criteria, then I am buying the rug, as I would any piece of art. The quality should be fine, and the design should be unique. Your furniture should have good lines, but the fabrics you use can be neutral. When the rug is the focus, you often want to pick it first, before the fabrics.

If I am looking for a rug to bring a room together, give it warmth, enhance the existing furniture then criteria is different. This choice is no less important than the focus rug. In some ways it is the more difficult rug to pick. It must be beautiful, but soft; it must complement, or increase the beauty of the rest of the room. When I buy a rug this way, I bring large enough swatches to put next to the rug. You will usually know which rugs will definitely not work. More likely, you will find several that you think will work. The next step will be to bring them into your home; most fine rug dealers will allow you to do this for you.The quality of the rug must equal to the other furnishings in the room.

Medallion, or open field?

The medallion rug is one with a definite design in the center of the rug; it is the focal point of the rug. An open field rug has an all over pattern in the center of the rug surrounded by a border. If I am looking for a rug that is going to sit under a coffee table or dining table, or a bed, I am not interested in a medallion rug. Why cover up the most important part of the rug? Then I am more interested in an open field rug. But, I want to find one that has a great border, the area that is going to get the most attention.

Any area, where the view of the rug is unobstructed , the choice is yours. It is often a good place to use a rug with a medallion.

Where to use a great runner?

If I have a large room that has multiple purposes, I may use a runner to act as a natural divider. A runner can direct traffic flow between to adjacent rooms. I may use a very narrow runner as a table decoration.

Prayer rug?

I can see using a prayer rug, if it is in good condition, in an entry way. It is a rug that goes in one direction, drawing your guests into your home. If I find one that cannot handle a lot of traffic but is really unique, and the design is very pleasing, I can always find a place on the wall for it.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Written by Joan Guryan
Thursday, 09 November 2006
Twenty years ago, when I first became interested in antique rugs, I was spending my summers in a small rural town in Vermont. I was definitely a novice, though I thought I knew a little more than I did. One of the major events of the weekend was the local auction, at the firehouse.

You always arrived at these auctions early, to preview the auction items, and catch up on the local gossip. You could fine anything from farm implements to fine china. So, occasionally there were antique rugs. While very often these were American antique, such as hook rugs, sometimes there were antique Persian rugs.

One particular auction day, my husband and I arrived early; as we looked around I spotted what I thought was a Sarouk. The rug, though beautiful, with rich blues and reds, did not meet my criteria for buying it. Simply put, I did not love it. Being a novice, I was not sure of it’s value. I was swept away by the excitement of bidding on something I thought might be a treasure. Someone else thought so also. I was approached by a gentleman, who sensed my interest. He asked me if I was interested in becoming his partner on thisrug . I decided that half the investment on something I was unsure of was better than 100%. In hind sight, he probably just wanted me out of the picture, so I would not drive the price up.

Well the gentleman and I bought the rug very cheaply; no one else was bidding seriously on it. We went back to my home to settle up. When I looked the rug over carefully, I decided that not only did I not like it for myself, but it was not such a prize. So I was happy to have Ali buy me out.

I learned a valuable lesson. Stick to my criteria; buy only what I love, from someone I trust. Also, continue search for knowledge about antique rugs.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Written by Joan Guryan
Thursday, 02 November 2006
A rug has many uses, to cover an unpleasant looking floor, to define, a space, to set boundaries in a room. It can be a focus, or bring a room together.

The presence of a rug in a room can be a statement in itself, much like a piece of art on the wall. the choice to own a unique rug with a particular design, or weave says much about a person’s lifestyle, and sense of design.
A rug can be used to warm up a room. It can totally change the mood of a room. Whatever you reason to place a particular rug in a room, you are creating your own unique environment.
Enjoy!!

Popularity: 7% [?]

Written by Joan Guryan
Friday, 27 October 2006

Consider the fact that many Caucasian weavings prior to 1800 were discarded by their Nomadic owners, once they wore out. It was not until these pieces were discovered by traveling dealers, that they were recognized for their folk art beauty.

Museums and some collectors do not believe in repair, or restoration. The most they will consider is the prevention of further deterioration. They feel that even the state that they are in most represents their authenticity in design and weave.

However, if we choose to do more than admire these works of beauty, if we choose to use them as they were intended, than some repair, or restoration is necessary. Then, it is important to find the right craftsman, and obtain good advice on how far to go.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Written by Joan Guryan
Tuesday, 17 October 2006
Antique Caucasian carpets, pre 1920, are rare but greatly desired because of their simplicity in design. This was before the area came under Russia, and it’s rug weaving craft was truer to its culture.

Because these areas were influenced by nomadic tribes, it is harder to determine the exact origin by design. The structure and materials use are a more reliable tool in identification. Generally the warp and weft from natural wool, and a Turkish knot is used.
Carpets using a thicker wool usually came from the more rural mountainous areal, while we can look toward Shirvan, or Kuba for a finer wool. In area populated by both Christians and Muslims, it is easy to distinguish the weaver by religion. Muslims, as it is forbidden by the Koran would have no animals depicted in their carpets; they leaned more toward producing prayer rugs. the Christian weaver did not have these restrictions.

Generally Caucasian rugs are geometric in design. However the closer we move toward the Persian border, the more likely the shapes are to be rounded.

Though many fine Caucasians have been produced after 1920, if you are really attracted to the Caucasian Antique rug, look for the earlier ones.

Popularity: 9% [?]