How Do I Learn About Antique Oriental Rugs?

There are two aspects of learning about Antique Oriental rugs, first it to be able to see and handle old rugs. You have to be able to distinguish different types of structures, colour palettes and "handle". There are a number of ways, learning from a dealer who has a stock you can look at, joining a local rug appreciation society and regularly visiting auction houses.
This way you can begin to appreciate wool quality, fine workmanship, natural dyes and designs. Oriental rugs have a real tactile quality that invites you to touch them and feel them. This can never be replaced by mere images of them. You can also talk to the people who come with the rugs who are usually willing to talk to you about it and there is always something to learn. They may even be able to tell you about its recent history and age.
The other aspect is to study and research them. There are many books available, there is a trade magazine (Hali) old auction catalogues and internet research. With this vast resource you can see pictures of the very best of all the different types of rugs and gives you the context for a particular rug that you have in front of you. You need to have mixture of general books and specialist publications.
When I have a new Antique Rugs come into my hands I first spend time looking at it, the design, the colours, structure and handle. My initial thoughts lead me to look up similar rugs in the books and magazines.
This way your aesthetic appreciation develops and you begin to find your way in this wonderful subject.

Margaret Demers is well known author and has written many articles on Rugs, oriental rugs, antique rugs. Shop for, natural dyed and hand spun wool rugs and Oriental rugs and carpets.

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Decorating with Antique Oriental Carpets

When you want a unique look and feel in a room or your entire home, adding Antique Oriental rugs can create magic. Decorating with antique rugs give your interior decorating a lift that updates, revitalizes and beautifies your home, by combining contemporary flair, with classic elegance. Rugs can add dramatic color, a focal point, a warm look and protection for stone and hardwood floors without sacrificing visibility. The right choice can add lasting value to your living spaces.
Color is probably the most obvious aspect in choosing an antique carpet. When working with a room with a variety of color and patterns, a carpet with simpler colors and patterns can accent without conflicting. If the room has fairly neutral colors, choosing vibrant rugs with more intense pattern will brighten your atmosphere and add a splash of interest. If you have not chosen a color or pattern for your room, find the rug that you like and decorate around it. A hand-woven carpet is enough of an investment to make it worth creating the room around the rug as a focal point.
It is a good practice to add padding under the rug to keep it from sliding or bunching. Padding will also make it easier to clean and will prolong the life of your floor and rug. Most rug dealers can provide you with an appropriate pad for any carpet they sell.
Carpets can be used in any size home or building, from small rooms, to palatial expanses. Use a tape measure, to get an idea of the size you need. You'll want to achieve at least an illusion of evenness, so measure accordingly. There should no be no more than two feet of empty rug extending out from behind the furniture, when creating a conversation area. Diagonal placements add a twist of creativity to the room.
Oriental carpets may be found in a range of common fibers. Natural fiber rugs can be made of wool, cotton, jute, silk, and hemp, but antique carpets tend to be made primarily from hand-spun wool - this was the material most available to traditional weavers. Select by look and feel when originality, unique appearance and high quality standards are important to you.
Whatever you choose to do while decorating, set a budget ahead of time, get opinions from friends or professionals if you don't feel confident of your own knowledge, and then have fun with the choosing process! Prepare to be astonished at the wide array of unexpected loveliness that is available in antique carpets. Choose wisely, and your investment will bring you comfort and enjoyment for years to come.

Ingrid Gonzalez, marketing assistant for Image Carpets, Inc., [http://www.imagecarpetsinc.com]
Image Carpets, located in New York City, offers the trade, designers and retail clients a discerning choice of hand-made antique Persian, Indian hand made oriental rugs, Turkish hand made rugs and European rugs and other hand knotted rugs and carpets.

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