What to look out for when buying Oriental rugs on holiday?
Many people go on holiday to places where rugs are woven and
it is part of the experience to go to the market to buy a rug.
Over the years I have been called out many times to assess
and value rugs bought in the Middle East, North Africa or India and more
recently China , for insurance purposes or to sell.
With regard to price generally speaking you pay pretty close
or even more for the rug abroad than you would in the UK. However many rugs
bought abroad are of a lower quality and would not reach the shops back home.
Often rugs have weak sides that come apart after a few months which can be
expensive to remedy. Check carefully along the long edges for any signs of
weakness or pulling away.
Rugs may not lie flat, that are wrinkled particularly
Afghans, so always put on a flat surface and look for any ruckling along the
edges. Do not buy it if does.
Cheap dyes can run easily so check particularly where dark
colours meet light, I have seen rugs spoilt by a spillage of a few drops.
Reject anything that has colour run.
Silk rugs are often made with a cheap imitation, Mercerized
cotton particularly from China. A good way to check is to take a tiny sample
and burn it with a match or lighter flame. If it smells like paper burning it
is cotton. If it smells like burning hair then it is likely to be silk.
If you leave it to them to ship home take a picture and
measurements to discourage them from sending a cheaper substitute.
Lastly only buy something that you really like and can live
with.
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