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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History of Antique Persian Rugs

Antique rugs can add a look of warmth and elegance to a home's decor. The beautiful, rich colors and patterns of an antique Persian rug makes these items among the most well known floor coverings available. As wonderfully detailed as these woven masterpieces tend to be, so is the history of their existence.
The art of carpet weaving can be traced through recorded history. The first written documentation of antique Persian rugs appeared in Chinese writings from over 1500 years ago. An unusual archeological find in 1949 of remnants of what is called the Pazyryk carpet was found to be over two thousand years old. Though examination of this carpet indicated a long history of developing advanced weaving techniques, such ancient finds are unusual due to the properties of natural fiber, which degrades over time. In what remnants that have been found from so long ago, it is often difficult to tell much about the weaving techniques or patterns because of their worn out nature. As techniques and trends changed over time, little is known about the true origins of these old rugs.
Though historians believe that most aspects of the creation of these carpets has been altered slightly over time, the most common materials for the rugs has stayed the same. Wool and silk are the desired materials in the newer as well as the antique rugs. Wool carpets are the most common, as silk is not as durable. The rich history surrounding the creation of these floor coverings are a large part of the surprising variety and complexity of the patterns available on the old rugs. The decorative representations of a multitude of cultural and historical elements make antique Persian rugs a desirable home accent. Common motifs present include architecture, plant life, geometric patterns, and other all-over patterns that make each rug special.
Antique rugs have traditionally been woven by hand, which is a part of why they have been considered so valuable. Depending on the skill and experience of the weaver, rugs can have a wide range of complexity and quality. The highest quality rugs, of course, would require more time to complete. The increased time taken to make the rug by hand meant that each work of art would take months to complete. When looking for the perfect rug, research and contact with an antique rug dealer online or in person can help find the right accent for the home.

Woven Accents
Antique rugs are more than just floor covering- they are works of art. Woven Accents seeks the finest woven floor coverings from all over the world and works hard to match each customer with the perfect antique carpet for each space. Of course, many new rugs are also made by hand and Woven Accents is happy to offer a comprehensive selection. See the gallery at: http://www.wovenonline.com

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Buying Oriental Rugs at Auction - What You Need to Know

In order to buy Oriental rugs at auction, you have to be able to evaluate them. They can be rather complicated so the more knowledge you have, the better off you will be. Once you know what to look for, you will have a leg up on most of the other people in the audience.
No one at an auction is going to help you measure the value of an Oriental rug. You will have to do this yourself. Rugs can be a wonderful bargain at auction as long as you know what you are doing.
Here is what you need to know about Oriental rugs:
What is an Oriental Rug?
It is a rug that has been hand-made in Iran, China, India, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, Morocco, the Balkans, Mongolia, Egypt, Tibet, Nepal, Afghanistan or the Caucasus Mountains - the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
Persian rugs are usually broken out into a separate category under the group heading of Oriental. This is because they are in a class all their own. There is no finer rug than a Persian rug. Not only that, there were more rugs made in Persia than in any other country. Persia is now known as Iran.
What is the Difference between a Rug and a Carpet?
An Oriental carpet is generally considered to be anything larger than 35 square feet. It is considered a rug if it measures anything under this. You may also come across the term "Palace carpet." True palace carpets are usually antique and they measure 14 feet by 10 feet or larger. Years ago they were made in these dimensions so as not to be overwhelmed by the larger size of the rooms found in a palace.
When is an Oriental Rug Considered an Antique?
Unlike most other items that are considered antiques when they reach one hundred years old, an Oriental rug is an antique at 50 years. Rugs that are between 10 and 50 years old are semi-antique and anything under 10 years is looked upon as new. Although most Oriental rugs have value, antique rugs bring the most money and some of them bring huge sums of money.
How Can You Tell if an Oriental Rug is Older?
Determining age can be difficult unless you are an expert. The majority of antique rugs have a design in each corner such as a bird's head. This was quite common back in the day but no longer.
Also, if you separate the rug pile and use a magnifying glass to look at the base of one of the knots, you should see an even and consistent reduction in color all the way to the top of the pile. This is evidence of the fading of the dyes over time. If the reduction in color is more sporadic or uneven, then the color was purposely altered in some way to give the appearance of age.
How to Tell a Hand Made Rug from a Machine Made Rug?
There are many rugs out there that have the look of an Oriental but they are just inexpensive machine made rugs. It is very easy to tell the difference between the two. You can fold an Oriental rug. No matter how big it is, it can be folded like a blanket, although it is considerably heavier and bulkier. Large Oriental rugs can be folded in half and then folded again in thirds for easier moving - as long as you can lift it. A machine made rug has to be rolled up because it has no capacity to bend.
There are two other ways to distinguish between hand made and machine made. The first is to look at the fringe. On a hand made Oriental rug, the fringe is an extension of the rug. It is not sewed on. The second is when looking at the back of a rug, if the pattern on the front is clearly visible on the back then it is hand made.
How do You Judge the Quality of a Hand Made Oriental Rug?
The quality of a hand made rug is determined by how many knots there are in a square inch. The tighter the knots, the more expensive the rug. This rule of thumb is somewhat complicated by another factor and that would be the material used to make the rug. Most Oriental rugs are made from either wool or silk. Clearly a rug maker can get more knots into a square inch with silk than he can with wool. However, there are some wool rugs with a lesser knot count that are more valuable than a silk rug with a higher knot count. Unfortunately that makes quality based on knot count alone hardly foolproof.
All you can do is look at the knots carefully and decide whether or not the knots are extremely close together as it relates to the material used. A knot count of 290 per square inch is considered a fine quality rug. As the count goes down so does the quality. Most antique rugs, which can be pretty expensive, are less than 290 knots but the value of an antique rug is based on age and country of origin as much as it is anything else.
All knots are hand done but there are different kinds of knots. A knot is reflective of a particular area such as a Turkish knot or a Persian knot, also called a Senneth knot. A Senneth knot is usually used on very intricate patterns.
If you are interested, you can do further research on the Internet or you can get a reference book on Oriental rugs. Seeing what these knots look like will further enhance your ability to properly identify each rug you see.

Anne Benedetto is a former auction house owner and former dealer in the antiques and collectibles business. She presently provides people with important details, behind the scenes information, helpful tips and first hand knowledge of the brick and mortar auction business. Visit Anne at http://AuctionHouseTalk.com which is an interactive site where interested people can talk about the ins and outs of auctions, antiques and collectibles. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Benedetto

Selecting an Antique Persian Rug For a Dining Room

Placing an antique Persian rug in a dining rooms drastically chances the space. Instead of a place to eat, an antique rug turns a dining room into a place to gather, to talk, to enjoy the company of family and friends. An antique Persian rug makes a dining room into another family room and a place to linger.
Selecting an antique rug for a dining room is different from choosing one for elsewhere in the home. Antique Persian rugs lend themselves well for dining room use as they have a high knot count, making them more durable than rugs with lower knot counts. Persian rugs have higher knot counts because of the way they are made, and also due to the intensity of the designs. The more design elements on a rug, the more knots are necessary to create the details. Even if a rug does not have a dense, intricate design, ask the antique rug dealer about the knot count and fiber content of any rug under consideration.
Fiber content is also very important for a rug that will undergo heavy use. The vast majority of antique Persian rugs, and new Persian rugs, are made of wool. Wool is a wonderful material for dining room rugs as wool is hearty. It cleans easily, withstands wear and tear, and hold shape and color beautifully. Wool rugs should be vacuumed regularly to remove dirt, sand, and other loose particles. If babies or children will be eating in the dining room, it is a good idea to put down a splat matt to protect the rug until the children are big enough to not make large messes when they eat.
Size is very important when selecting an antique Persian rug for the dining room. The rug should be large enough to accommodate the table and chairs, even when the chairs are pulled out with people sitting in them. A quick rule of thumb for finding the right size rug is that a table with 4 chairs needs a 6 foot by 9 foot rug to accommodate it. However, tables differ drastically in size, so it is a very good idea to measure the table and chairs and the size of the room, and have that information on hand at the antique rug dealer showroom.
While size and composition are the technical considerations of antique Persian rug shopping, color and design matter only in that they please the owner. Some rug shoppers prefer small, intricate designs and bright colors, while others prefer open designs in muted colors, or any combination thereof. Many antique rug dealers offer plans where rugs may be taken home on approval. Ask if the dealer offers this option, and know what the terms of return are. If a rug doesn't work out as well in the dining room as it seemed to have in the showroom, return it and try something different. Making note of what didn't work will help the antique rug dealer help the customer find a rug that will turn the dining room into a comfortable space to linger.

Woven Accents
Antique rugs are more than just floor covering- they are works of art. Woven Accents seeks the finest woven floor coverings from all over the world and works hard to match each customer with the perfect antique carpet for each space. Of course, many new rugs are also made by hand and Woven Accents is happy to offer a comprehensive selection. See the gallery at: http://www.wovenonline.com

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Antique Rugs Vs New Rugs - What is the Difference?

Why are old rugs more expensive than new ones?
Well it depends how old, as there is a watershed in Oriental rugs that occurred around 1890 to 1920 when there was a huge influence from Europe that affected the design, dyes and wools used in oriental rugs.
The old rugs particularly from traditional weaving cultures in Turkey, the Caucasus, Persia and Central Asia were woven either for their own use or for sale in local bazaars. Therefore each tribe or village would have a particular design pool from which they drew that have significance to them, and would have been around in their homes and surroundings.
Weavers, mostly women, would be creative in combining these elements to produce aesthetically pleasing rugs, pillows, bags of all shapes and sizes. Young women would prepare a full range of weavings to show her skill to prospective husbands.
Another element is the choosing of the best quality wools and dyes as these make a tremendous difference to the finish of the rug.
Natural dyes are vibrant, harmonize together, and do not fade. Therefore rugs hundreds of years old, particularly if made with good quality wools have a beautiful lustrous quality that is not diminished by time.
With the tremendous increase in demand for Oriental Rugs at the end of the 19th Century soon the stocks of traditional rugs ran out and production could not meet the demand. Therefore factories and workshops were set up to meet the demand from a less discriminating market. The designs were also simplified or modified in ways that a traditional weaver would never do. At this time the first chemical dyes became available.
These included fuchsine a garish purple that faded to a dull grey over a period of decades. There were also very bright reds and oranges which did not harmonize well with the natural dyes, these also tended to fade over time and also were very prone to bleed when wet. The introduction of chemical dyes destroyed the wonderful harmony of natural dyes and replaced them because they were less effort and the customers did notice the difference. By the mid 20th Century most of the hand woven rugs were dull lifeless objects that bore little resemblance to their magnificent forebears.
In the last 30 years there has been a revival of natural dyes, started by the Dobag project in Turkey, but also in Iran and lately in Afghanistan. These rugs are available now but consist of only a small proportion of rugs available today and are well worth the effort to find and pay the extra for.

Margaret Demers is well known author and has written many articles on Rugs, oriental rugs, antique rugs, restoration and repair and specialist hand cleaning of rugs and carpets.

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How to Buy the Perfect Antique Rug

If you are in the market to buy a collectible or decorative rug, consider these few options before making a purchase.
For starters, know what you are getting. Is it a good deal? Are the materials, the textures and the age along the lines of what you were expecting? How much restoration has gone into the finished product? It can be difficult to determine by the naked eye or by way of a book whether the antique rug you are looking for is really what it claims to be. However, you do have some options to keep you from making a mistake that you will live to regret.
1. Go to a reputable dealer. If there is one in your area, friends, family or co-workers should know. Make sure you ask them. They may not have the answers you are looking for, but they will likely know someone who does.
2. Ask the dealer to stand by his product. A good way of him proving the quality of the product is to let you try it out at home for a few days. Submit the rug to normal wear and tear and see if there are any adverse effects. If the product is as good as advertised, then he will not have any trouble selling it should you not wish to purchase at the end of the trial period. If he refuses, then he may not have faith in the product.
3. Know the exchange policy. Ask the dealer how long you have to decide on the rug. If you get tired of it, or you do not like the way it looks in your home, will he take it back with no-hassle? Will he allow you to exchange for comparable products so long as the merchandise is returned in good quality?
4. Get it in writing. Make sure he notes the return agreement on the invoice at the time of purchase. This protects both of you.
5. Don't stop at one. Look at more than one style of rug and compare against quality, color and overall looks.
6. Examine color. Make sure it matches on the front and back of the rug.
7. Ask the dealer where he bought the rug. Getting one from an estate auction may indicate authenticity. Buying from another dealer is okay, too, so long as the other dealer is reputable.
8. Call Sotheby's and Christie's directly to speak with the head of their carpet departments. Ask them for dealer's names and recommendations of dealers you can trust to buy from safely.
Avoiding the purchase of phony antique rugs is your responsibility. Stick with advice you can trust and dealers whose reputations are without question, and you will never experience antique buyers remorse.

Hagop Manoyan and his wife Kozet, provide the finest selection of handmade Caucasian, Anatolian and Persian antique rugs available. Their gallery is located in mid-town Manhattan, NY, where they are happy to meet with people.

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Yei Antique Rugs - Meaningful Navajo Tradition

The Pueblo peoples were the first weavers in the Southwest. Recognizing an opportunity to trade with the newly arrived Spanish explorers, the Navajo tribes began weaving sometime in the late 1600's. After much upheaval with the white settlers and other Indian tribes, the Navajo began weaving rugs intended for sale in the 1800's with great success. Yei antique rugs from this period are among the most prized Native American weavings today.
The Navajo called their gods "Yei". Many of the Yei antique rug patterns were adapted from religious sand paintings used in healing ceremonies. The Yei is a thin supernatural being who has the power to heal others. Yeis can be male or female, but male figures are most popular. Typically, if a figure has a round head, it is male, while square headed figures are female. Traditional Yei figures face forward. Navajo rugs also feature "Yei-be-chai," or the dancers in the sacred ceremonies that impersonate the dieties. These dancers are usually depicted in profile.
Authentic Yei antique rugs will have no knots. The ends are carried through the carpet and secured by pounding them into the weaving. The traditional Navajo loom is vertical and non mechanical. The weaver is seated on the floor and works from the bottom of the rug upwards. Traditional patterns include stripes and spirit lines, a single thread that connects the center of the carpet with an edge. Tradition holds that this spirit line allows the weaver's spirit to be released from the work.
Navajo Yei antique rugs can be expensive, but they are beautiful and filled with tradition and spirit. Consider one of these wonderful rugs for you home and infuse your surroundings with ancient spirit and meaning.

Nancy Watson writes teeth whitening reviews as well as about teeth whitening trays.

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Antique Rugs in Your Home Decor

No matter what some people might say, spending on rugs to decorate your home is important enough to justify spending a considerable amount of money on. Deciding which style you want for your home can help you determine what type of antique area rug to use with it. Let us first try to compare the two main styles of home decorating -traditional and modern -to know which one you prefer to have.
Traditional home decor places great emphasis on balance and familiarity. In this style, nothing is out of place, as everything goes together with something to create a sense of perfect symmetry. Furniture, for example, usually goes in pairs, and the style is consistent -nothing out of place. The pieces, from the dining table design to the rug patterns on that hardwood floor, are classic by nature and may give the more modern visitor an impression of outdatedness.
For this type of style, you can use thick Oriental rugs to add a bit of flair to that room. Rugs such as ones made in India emphasize the simplicity of the room with their mostly light colors and highly accentuated floral patterns. If you're going for the symmetrical type of look, then maybe Turkish rugs are more your type. Since these types of rugs were originally made for prayer functions, they tend to be more rigid in terms of design, and may complement rooms with highly classical furniture.
Of course, the emphasis differs slightly in the field of modern design. Modern designing is much for liberated than its traditional counterpart, and patterns can wildly vary from room to room and person to person. Following the global economic crisis and the trend of people buying smaller homes, some homes are now decorated in the minimalistic fashion -which has typically little furniture and few accessories. Design pieces are a contemporary fusion of both form and function, done in order to save space and complement the design. Everything from the wallpaper to the vase on the end table is meant to give the feeling that the room is bigger than it actually is.
To accentuate the illusion of having more space, antique area rugs from Persia may be the more practical choice. These rugs are well-known for their bold floral designs and spacious patterns. But it is also imperative that they match your furniture well, so choose which rug colors suit your room best. Furthermore, rugs like these also have natural properties, and actually react to the wear and tear of time better than you would expect.
Whether your home decor is traditional or modern in nature, antique area rugs make a fine addition to what is already a well-designed room. They emphasize the classical feel of the traditional style and give the modern-styled room a more spacious feel. Either way, it is worth that tidy sum of money for those who want to decorate their homes. The key to finding an antique rug that has just the pattern that will go with the rest of your decor is to keep looking.

Interior Design has never been this easy with these rugs. Be sure to take a look at this purple area rugs for the latest information.

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Tips For Caring of Your Precious Antique Rugs and Persian Carpets

If precious antique rugs survived weathering with time it is just because they are taken care of very well. Persian rugs serve you long when they are treated with care, especially from moths and moisture.
Should the Persian rugs be stored, regular checks is called for especially for moths. However, when a Persian carpet is in use, there is any danger of moths to it.
Moisture and dampness rot the threads and reduce the quality of the carpet and the rugs pretty soon. It needs to be addressed very quickly. Similarly, any other damage such as burn or scissor or knife damage to carpet and rugs should be immediately addressed by a carpet man. It is repaired differently based on the amount of the damage received.
General rug care tips:
Change the rug position so sunlight effects are equally received by all sides of the rug. It is called rotation. But otherwise on a bright sunny day, try not to expose the rug. You may want to screen the window using curtains or shades and it reduces sun damage to your expensive Antique rugs.
Padding gives protection to your Persian rugs especially from excess traffic. These are mostly used in offices where movement of people is high. Padding also prevents the rug from wrinkling and moving off place. Using good rug pads is worthwhile as they improve life of your expensive antique rugs.
Use of poster holder is just enough to hang the Persian carpets and never use nails at the top for hanging. They strain the warp threads and reduce life of the rugs.
To store the Persian rugs first wrap the rugs in a cloth and never use the airtight policy for storing the rugs. Carpets and/or rugs breathe and storing in an airtight bag might result in rot of the same. Wrap them in a cloth or roll them and store them along with some crystals of paradichlorobenzene. Make sure you are renewing these crystals once in a couple of months.
Never store carpets or rugs in humid and damp rooms where there is poor ventilation. Moisture and dampness will discolor the fabric and weaken and rot the rugs. Never store your antique rugs in hot closet too as heat causes brittling of the fabric and ruins its life.
To keep the moths off your Persian rugs and carpets, spray recommended moth sprays twice a year. The beauty of Persian carpets and rugs is largely dependent on the maintenance. If they are maintained well it reflects on the beauty of the rugs. Vacuum the carpets and rugs regularly. Always vacuum with low suction and in the direction of the nap of your rug. However, brooming the carpets and rugs gives best results.
Stains and spillage on rugs and carpets should be attended immediately. Always keep carpets and rugs stain-removing kit at home which include paper towels, vinegar, mild ammonia solution, alcohol. detergent with no alkalis or bleaches, sponge and brushes.

There are more tips to keep your Persian carpets last amazingly longer. Keep yourself informed about how you can prim propa maintain your antique rugs. Check the site http://www.a2zrug.co.uk for more information on carpets and rugs and their general maintenance.

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Becoming an Antique Rug Collector

Area rugs have today evolved into a treasure valued greatly by collectors. To become an antique area rug collector therefore, you must be prepared for a treasure hunt that is both thrilling and tough. Any type of collecting usually takes a lot of time and meticulous organization. An area rug collector must be an auction savvy individual with a magnifying glass on the ready to spot the stains and the tears, a measuring tape to check on the dimensions, a coin purse packed with spare change for the bargains, a calculator to make quick and accurate appraisal sums and a small screw driver to mark out the level of wear in each area rug.
Most collectors who specialize in area rugs have at hand an antique stores guide, descriptive essays on all types and designs of area rugs, a handy notebook and accompanying pen, a collapsible carrying bag to carry the antiques in and more importantly the cash. A collector who passes by an auction and spots a perfect ancient treasure is likely to spring into action with all information and money at hand. These usually make great personal gifts for all who like to go antiquing.
Area rug collectors hover over numerous home decoration and interior design magazines and even newspaper sections looking for any information detailing anything about area rugs. This information is stored up as treasures of anticipated acquisitions. The next important thing that such collectors do is to make a detailed collectibles list for all available types of rugs and those in market demand, their manufacturers and design specifications.
This information is stored in little business cards that are easily tucked in a trousers or skirt pocket when the collector is going to an auction. The key notes are the description, size, available colors and current market value. Information about rugs should be summarized in details that are focused on identity, demand and value. An amateur antique rug collector must also make adequate room for these antiques and or collectibles in advance of acquisition. If the antiques rugs are large, he or she should make sure that he or she has a place to store them without causing damage to them.
Then the collector must ensure value for his or her money during acquisition. A collection isn't always judged based on the number of items acquired but on its total value. Collectors must always insist on getting the best value because the essence is to establish a collection of few but the best area rugs. If the antique rugs are being bought for personalized gifts, the items should be accompanied by a card that explains where the item was found it and why it is special for the recipient.
Finally, a collector of antique rugs must insist in collecting only those pieces that they personally like. This is the single most important advice an antique rug collector can get when starting to build a collection. Any item collected and can not be resold can be personally enjoyed as a room or house decoration if in the first place the collector bought it plainly because he or she liked it.

Discover where Home Decorating experts go to shop for their oriental area rugs. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Crosset

Antique Rugs - Bring Class and History to Your Interiors

Who doesn't like antique pieces? Think antique furniture, rugs or jewellery, and you imagine bringing not just richness and elegance but also tradition and history to your living rooms. However, assimilating an antique object to a contemporary interior calls for daring and wit. Without some amount of imagination and creativity buying an antique can never create the ambience you want.
Antique rugs have always been in favour, especially for the higher strata of society. Though they originated both in the Asian and Western countries, the ones from the Oriental world caught more of the fascination of people than those from the Western world.
The terms like "carpets" and "rugs" were initially used only for the coverings meant for furniture parts like beds and tables. They came to be used as coverings for the floor only since the early 18th century. Of the two major traditions of antique rugs, the Western and the Oriental, the latter has been most preferred and has also always been an important import item in the Western countries.
Antique rugs are a result of the handwork of many skilled craftsman and designers. The intricate designs and patterns you normally find on these carpets have a history of unending toil and hardship behind them. And this is why they became an equivalent of the currency itself and still withstand the test of time. Its rising monetary stature and value have created a huge demand for many centuries.
This appeal spread antique rugs beyond the individual houses of the rich and famous. Luxury hotels, palaces, museums, and resorts have all made antique rugs a part of their decor. Sometimes, antique rugs are selected based on their use. Some are meant for the living room, some for the dining room, some for the prayer halls, etc. Whichever be the purpose of the rugs, you may need to remember is that they have to match the remaining furniture in your room. Normally, they have floral designs and bold patterns. Make sure the pattern and the colours go well with your room and furniture whether the overall style of your house is modern or ancient.
When you have decided to own one, connoisseurs can help you pick the right antique rug for you. Usually, an experienced antique rug collector makes note of different things. He/she checks for wear and tear on the carpets, makes a note of the dimensions and is knowledgeable enough to make good bargains. He has to be quite a savvy about the history of these rugs, their origin and making. His collection should never be about the number of items in hand. Instead, it should be about the value of each item. In the case of antique rugs, what is important is not how many you have but what you have and of what quality.
A favourite with many interior decorators and designers, antique rugs have to be chosen very carefully. They might not match with all the houses. Or, to put it in a different way, all the houses may not go well with antique rugs. Which is why you need to seek the help of an expert while buying. Apart from the high cost of these carpets, they have to be taken care of and maintained properly. Buy them only if you are ready to take that effort. However, they are a very precious investment, being rich in their price as well as age.

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Antique Rugs

There is a lot of talk about antique rugs much like other arts and crafts in this world. Antique rugs are praised for their elegance, resilience and durability - but how does the industry classify a rug as "antique"?
When talking about antiques, it is a common term in the industry to call a rug antique if it has been produced in the 1900s, regardless of where it was created or what style it is. Simply put, a rug may be considered antique if it is over 100 years old. Aged for more than a century, these rugs have notable qualities in the materials they make use of. For some, their materials may already rare or obsolete as they were paramount during the 1900s. Now, traits from this rug may differ according to the weaver, design and materials utilized. But it is almost always the case that the dyes used are derived from natural sources, whether it be from plants, minerals or animals. However, we can not exclude the possibility that synthetic dyes were also applied since their creation in the 1870s may have influenced the manufacturing fiber color in a number of so called antique rugs.
In the quest to find out if a rug is antique or not, we have been provided standard parameters. However, two issues have came up regarding this. Firstly, the 1900 definition worked better while we were still living in the 20th century. The date that was presented gave clear demarcations of rugs woven in the 19th century and those made in the 20th century. However, now that we are living in the 21st century, why is it that 20th century rugs are still not considered as "antiques rugs" given that they are already 100 years older? Does this mean that age is not enough to qualify a rug as such? More than that, there is also another issue concerning the 1900 theory. Between December 1899 and January 1900, no pivotal changes occurred in the weaving industry. Even during the 1900 and 1901. Considering that the type of furnishings that were made prior to the Industrial Revolution were what we oftentimes term as "antique"; those periods that did not experience any dramatic change or rise in the manufacturing and craftsmanship cannot be deemed as qualified. For example, during the Safavid Dynasty (16th to 18th century), the creation of Persian rugs was at a climax. The arts were strong and well defined. Products then, created under such conditions, exemplify valuable antiquity, and should clearly be considered as "antique".
The term "antique" today obviously means more than just reaching a really old age. It also denotes a certain air of esteem and profoundness, not found in modern day decorative pieces. Hence, a rug that is more than a hundred years old cannot be easily considered as antique if it does not exhibit unique and impressive features. On the other hand, if a contemporary article displays certain antique qualities, it cannot be directly called antique, since its just been recently made. It's a bit complicated, but more less, understandable.
Now, it cannot be denied that antique rugs fetch a fancy price in the market. After all, they are of great value. However, it is unfair to disregard any rugs produced less than a century ago because they do not fit in to the presented parameters. Those semi antique rugs made from the years 1919 up to 1939, and modern rugs that were manufactured after the end of World War II, may also boast high quality and craftsmanship, even matching that of antique rugs. Simply said, try giving all types of rugs a chance, regardless if they are antique or not. At a low price, you may be fortunate enough to find a modern day antique looking rug for your household. But if you are willing to pay the price, antique rugs will certainly be worth it.

About the author: A. Pakdaman is part of Bella Rugs which have years of experience in finding the best rugs in the world including antique rugs. They are third generation direct importers of fine quality rugs. They have personal rug consultants to provide the expertise needed to assist you in making the selection.

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