On this page Dr. Paydar will discuss several topics related to buying a pre-owned rug. For any additional questions, please use the Contact Us page.
What To Look For When Buying a Pre-Owned Rug
Purchasing handmade rugs, especially pre-owned Oriental rugs, can be tricky if you buy through the sources other than from a well-known and reputable dealer. While you may find bargains in buying through sources such as auctions, estate sales, or from individual sellers, you need some knowledge of rugs to avoid serious mistakes. The objective of this article is to provide a guideline for purchasing rugs through alternative sources.
The term “pre-owned” automatically reminds us of the times we plan to buy a used car or furniture. “Pre-owned” furniture can apply to pieces that are simply used or to find antiques. A “pre-owned” car can be a well-kept bargain that’s a good value or a “lemon” that the seller wants to unload. There are both similarities and differences in buying a car and in buying an Oriental rug. One main resemblance is to look for the problems.
In the case of a pre-owned car, usually there are some references available for guidance. For example, for the year the car was built, the mileage and condition of the motor and body are guidelines that help the buyer to make a decision, based upon certain standard deductions. However, in purchasing Oriental rugs, no set standards for wear make the decision clear. In a broad, crude categorization, one might see two types of rugs from alternative sources: first, genuine handmade rugs that are copies of famous patterns; second, rugs that are unique or one of a kind. Generally speaking, Persian rugs, Caucasian rugs, and certain Turkish rugs are in the second category. If the buyer finds out the difference between the two, it can be a good start. For instance, taking the first category into consideration, there are numerous rugs available that were made in Romania, China, India, Turkey, and Pakistan in which the designs are copies from Persian rugs, Caucasian, etc. The buyer should be aware that these rugs are originally acquired by square footage, colors are changed from time to time to reflect current fashions, and the fluctuation of pricing has been minimal in the past fifteen years. Often the wholesale price of such rugs has decreased rather than increased. In short, buying this category of rugs is more craft than art. Therefore, when buying this type of rug, one should follow similar procedures to buying a car. Hypothetically, if the dealer who sold the rug made eighty percent on top of the original cost and, as is frequently the case, the interior designer made twenty percent, an offer of half of the original purchased value sounds appropriate—assuming the rug is in good shape.
Rugs in the second category are totally different, especially if the rug is a Persian or certain unique piece from Turkey, such as Oushak, or an old Agra from India, or an authentic Caucasian. Unlike buying a car, here the general rule is: the older the rug, the better. However, there are many variations within that generalization. Not just any old rug is valuable. Certain criteria need to be considered.
Aesthetic Value
Look for beauty. The rug should be beautiful in the eyes of the buyer or in its absolute sense. That means that if the rug is not well defined or drawn, not clear, or the choice of the colors are not harmonious, who wants it? Just like furniture, if it was never beautiful, being old does not change the aesthetic.
Origin
Where was the rug made? It is just like buying a violin: the location where the rug was made is very important. Certain parts of the world that have a long history in rug weaving—such as Persia, Russia, China, Turkey, India, etc.—automatically give a rug a different status. Old Serapi, old Heriz, antique Agra, antique Oushak, and various Caucasian pieces such as Kazak, Shivan, Karabagh, etc. are among the types in this category. The scarcity of these rugs—particularly if in good condition—makes them more valuable because of the demand.
Quality
What is the knot count? It is always wise to look at the back of the rug and take the knot count into consideration. If you run into an imitation rug like an Indo-Persian and it is coarsely made (such as 25-50 knots per square inch), consider that as a low quality rug. This is, however, not an absolute criteria. It is ironic to see that some unique tribal or village pieces from well-known areas, although not fine rugs follow a different measure in this regard. A comparison of knot count is not always definitive of value. For example, the value of an old Persian Heriz in good shape exceeds by far the value of a very fine Chinese Persian with several hundred knots per square inch. Perhaps the best explanation for this is the difference between an art and a craft.
Appearance
What is the condition of the rug? Buying an old rug can be most tricky if you are not aware of what to look for in evaluating the condition of the rug. Here are a few tips:
Like cars, or furniture, or musical instruments, there is a vast difference between the value of a carefully kept, old and beautiful object and an inferior quality object that is merely pre-owned. These guidelines and knowledge gained from observation can help a buyer to know what to look for before any financial commitment.
Purchasing handmade rugs, especially pre-owned Oriental rugs, can be tricky if you buy through the sources other than from a well-known and reputable dealer. While you may find bargains in buying through sources such as auctions, estate sales, or from individual sellers, you need some knowledge of rugs to avoid serious mistakes. The objective of this article is to provide a guideline for purchasing rugs through alternative sources.
The term “pre-owned” automatically reminds us of the times we plan to buy a used car or furniture. “Pre-owned” furniture can apply to pieces that are simply used or to find antiques. A “pre-owned” car can be a well-kept bargain that’s a good value or a “lemon” that the seller wants to unload. There are both similarities and differences in buying a car and in buying an Oriental rug. One main resemblance is to look for the problems.
In the case of a pre-owned car, usually there are some references available for guidance. For example, for the year the car was built, the mileage and condition of the motor and body are guidelines that help the buyer to make a decision, based upon certain standard deductions. However, in purchasing Oriental rugs, no set standards for wear make the decision clear. In a broad, crude categorization, one might see two types of rugs from alternative sources: first, genuine handmade rugs that are copies of famous patterns; second, rugs that are unique or one of a kind. Generally speaking, Persian rugs, Caucasian rugs, and certain Turkish rugs are in the second category. If the buyer finds out the difference between the two, it can be a good start. For instance, taking the first category into consideration, there are numerous rugs available that were made in Romania, China, India, Turkey, and Pakistan in which the designs are copies from Persian rugs, Caucasian, etc. The buyer should be aware that these rugs are originally acquired by square footage, colors are changed from time to time to reflect current fashions, and the fluctuation of pricing has been minimal in the past fifteen years. Often the wholesale price of such rugs has decreased rather than increased. In short, buying this category of rugs is more craft than art. Therefore, when buying this type of rug, one should follow similar procedures to buying a car. Hypothetically, if the dealer who sold the rug made eighty percent on top of the original cost and, as is frequently the case, the interior designer made twenty percent, an offer of half of the original purchased value sounds appropriate—assuming the rug is in good shape.
Rugs in the second category are totally different, especially if the rug is a Persian or certain unique piece from Turkey, such as Oushak, or an old Agra from India, or an authentic Caucasian. Unlike buying a car, here the general rule is: the older the rug, the better. However, there are many variations within that generalization. Not just any old rug is valuable. Certain criteria need to be considered.
Aesthetic Value
Look for beauty. The rug should be beautiful in the eyes of the buyer or in its absolute sense. That means that if the rug is not well defined or drawn, not clear, or the choice of the colors are not harmonious, who wants it? Just like furniture, if it was never beautiful, being old does not change the aesthetic.
Origin
Where was the rug made? It is just like buying a violin: the location where the rug was made is very important. Certain parts of the world that have a long history in rug weaving—such as Persia, Russia, China, Turkey, India, etc.—automatically give a rug a different status. Old Serapi, old Heriz, antique Agra, antique Oushak, and various Caucasian pieces such as Kazak, Shivan, Karabagh, etc. are among the types in this category. The scarcity of these rugs—particularly if in good condition—makes them more valuable because of the demand.
Quality
What is the knot count? It is always wise to look at the back of the rug and take the knot count into consideration. If you run into an imitation rug like an Indo-Persian and it is coarsely made (such as 25-50 knots per square inch), consider that as a low quality rug. This is, however, not an absolute criteria. It is ironic to see that some unique tribal or village pieces from well-known areas, although not fine rugs follow a different measure in this regard. A comparison of knot count is not always definitive of value. For example, the value of an old Persian Heriz in good shape exceeds by far the value of a very fine Chinese Persian with several hundred knots per square inch. Perhaps the best explanation for this is the difference between an art and a craft.
Appearance
What is the condition of the rug? Buying an old rug can be most tricky if you are not aware of what to look for in evaluating the condition of the rug. Here are a few tips:
- Symmetry. Almost all Persian rugs or those made under the influence of Persian rugs should be symmetrical. That means, whatever pattern you see in the right should also be found in the left; the same thing from top to bottom. While some variation in symmetry is acceptable, since handmade rugs do vary, there is a balance to the design. Also, almost always the rug should have a border or multiple borders, according to the size. The borders should be seen all around the rug. Often, because of wear or moth damage, one or more borders may be taken out, which reduces the value of the rug significantly. Sometimes a rug is reduced lengthwise to fit another location. This problem can be detected by a lack of continuity in design and also can be seen from the back of the rug.
- Moth damage. A common problem that you might see in some old rugs is moth damage. Simply look for holes in the rug. Do not overlook any anomaly that you might see. Be sure to look at the back of the rug. Sometimes moths might get into the back of the rug and yet the front still looks undamaged. In such cases, the moth has eaten the yarn underneath and vacuuming the rug will gradually cause the loose yarn to come out.
- Repair. Look for repairs, if any, whether in the form of patch work or reweave. Patch work simply means a part of another rug similar in design and color is patched into the problem area. This can be feel by a keen eye because the patch usually does not have the continuity or repetition of the patterns in the rug. Any patch work as such reduces the value of the rug significantly. However, good reweaves by professionals do not decrease the value to that extent. Even good repair can be detected by touching the area suspected; the boundaries of the reweave are stiffer and can be better detected by looking at the back.
- Painted rugs. Beware of this problem. If the rug is low in pile to threadbare, the warp thread will start to show and is almost always white. In order to improve such worn rugs, many are touched up or painted. If you are suspicious that this has been done, you can test it by rubbing a damp tissue on the problem area. If color comes off on the tissue, the rug has been painted.
- Pet stains. Perhaps the most common problem that you should watch for in pre-owned rugs is to look for pet stains. Yellow stains, particularly in the ivory or white part of the rug, could be due to pet stains—a problem that is next to impossible to get rid of.
- Dry rot. Many old rugs that have not been cleaned and/or had the soil removed on a regular basis, or that have had water permeate into the rug but not extracted immediately, can have this problem. A simple test of rolling or folding the rug can reveal this condition. Usually, stiffness and a cracking sound when this is done allow the detection of this problem.
- Color run. Check all the patterns, particularly the ivory parts of the rug, to see if the colors of one motif run into another. Often, the breakdown of a hot water heater or the rug at some point mistakenly being washed by hot water can create this problem.
Like cars, or furniture, or musical instruments, there is a vast difference between the value of a carefully kept, old and beautiful object and an inferior quality object that is merely pre-owned. These guidelines and knowledge gained from observation can help a buyer to know what to look for before any financial commitment.
