Rug Source INC. | Helping Rug Shoppers Find Antique Rugs That Are Perfect For Their Desired Space
All of us at Rug Source want our clients to shop for their next area rugs with confidence so they can make their very best decisions, and many times our clients will invest in antique rugs that they later pass down as family heirlooms!
Antique rugs undoubtedly provide character to your home décor and are an investment. That’s why you should always seek rug industry experts like the Rug Source team to help you as you’re doing this type of shopping, and we’ll always be sure to go above and beyond to exceed your expectations and make sure that you’re getting the perfect antique rugs to match your personal preferences and existing home décor.
So what we’ve done on this page is provide you with a list of expert tips to keep in mind as you’re shopping for antique rugs, and always feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions and would like to speak with us directly!
Rug Shopping Tips When You’re Browsing For Antique Rugs
We’re very proud of our vast online selection of antique rugs of all types, including high-quality rug types like Oriental and Persian rugs. We understand just how important it is for rug shoppers to find beautiful antique rugs that are worth the investment, while at the same time coincide with any budget.
You can always count on the Rug Source experts to support you throughout each step of the antique rug shopping process, and this commitment to customer service is part of what sets us apart from so many of our big box competitors.
Below are some of our expert tips to support you as you’re shopping for antique rugs, and by following these tips you’ll put yourself in a much better position to make a great investment decision!
Be Sure To Carefully Examine The Antique Rug’s Edges
Carefully examining the edges of an antique rug is always one of the first and foremost considerations that rug shoppers should keep in mind, and this is because an area rug’s edges are one of the most fundamental parts of the entire rug’s design.
Damaged or frayed edges also just so happen to be rather expensive to repair, and this is inherently an issue while shopping for antique rugs because they’re pretty old. That’s exactly why you should only shop with reputable rug dealers like Rug Source that conduct these types of necessary repairs prior to putting antique rugs up for sale!
If you do notice that the antique rug’s edges are frayed or look like they may become frayed soon, then it’s a clear warning sign that the rug will eventually start to unravel. Frayed antique rugs are many times not worth your investment in the long run no matter how beautiful and unique the antique rug is, but there of course are instances in which regular wear and tear indicates an antique rug’s age and subsequent value.
So there’s a fine line for antique rug shoppers to follow in terms of recognizing regular signs of aging and damages that are too far gone, but you can always be rest assured that all of Rug Source’s antique rugs are very durable and built to last for decades to come!
Handmade Antique Rugs Are Always A Great Investment To Consider
A genuine antique rug will always be handmade. This is why rug shoppers interested in antique rugs should know how to look for signs that an area rug was in fact handmade by an expert artisan.
One of the most efficient ways to examine an antique rug and make sure that it’s handmade is to flip the rug over and closely examine the back side of the rug. When you are looking at the back side of the rug, you should see an almost identical image to what you see on the front. The backing of handmade rugs is typically very pliable, whereas machine-made rugs typically have stiffer backings that are made of rubber.
It’s also important to note that most high-quality rugs from reputable dealers like Rug Source will have and attached tag, and these tags will indicate the type of manufacturing that was involved in creating the antique rug.
Handmade antique rugs offer a whole array of benefits, including increased longevity and greater durability, so highly considering handmade antique rugs will always help you better ensure that you’re truly making the most of this investment opportunity!
Always Ask If There’s Been Color Retouch Done To Your Favorite Antique Area Rugs
It’s a very unfortunate part of the rug industry that there are countless rug dealers out there that simply try to take advantage of rug shoppers, and this just so happens to be exemplified while people shop for antique area rugs.
A lot of people simply get sucked into the idea of having an antique, but don’t know how to examine a rug’s dyes to see if they’ve been artificially developed. If you use a damp cloth and move it across the rug’s surface, you shouldn’t see any dye being transferred.
If any dye is transferred in this type of basic test, then it’s a sign that the rug has had paint retouch done to it to make it look more vibrant and lively.
We know this sounds pretty crazy, but this scam does happen to countless rug shoppers, even in the United States. But that’s exactly why you can trust the Rug Source team to only provide you with high-quality antique rugs made of natural dyes!
Be Sure To Know The Difference Between Distressed Style Rugs vs. Antique Rugs
A popular and trendy style of area rug right now are distressed rugs. Distressed rugs feature a common type of faux-aging that occurs within the rug industry where the rug is shaved and tea/acid washing is applied to the rug to give it a washed-out look. This usually gives the rug a rough texture that closely resembles authentically aged antique rugs.
Authentic antique rugs will always maintain their colors no matter how old they get. The distressed look of an antique rug will be more natural looking, and the texture will still be soft. So you should know that the colors of an antique rug as compared to a distressed style rug will always be more vibrant.
Reach Out To The Rug Source Experts To Learn More About How We Can Help You With Our Inventory Of Antique Rugs!
Rug Source is one of the most up-and-coming rug outlets in the United States for many reasons, and a big part of our success is our commitment to high-quality area rugs at affordable prices for everyone’s budget.
You can always rely upon us and our vast inventory of antique rugs to always be of the highest industry standards, and our team will always guide you through your best options by getting to know you, your existing room aesthetics, and your personal preferences.
So always feel free to reach out to us online or call us at 980-422-4080 or 704-763-0979 to get in touch with our industry experts who’ll be more than happy to answer your questions and help you begin your search through our inventory of high-quality antique rugs!
Handwoven Kilim Rugs: Turkish Weaving with a Storied History
Kilim rugs are a handmade, flat-woven carpet with no piles or knotted fluff. Although the word kilim is of Turkish origin, kilim rugs have been made in Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Morocco, the Balkans and Scandinavia, proving the flat-weaving technique spread far. Because these antique rugs are found across the globe, each region has a different pronunciation and spelling of the name Kilim.
Most experts believe kilims originated in the Anatolia region of modern day Turkey. The earliest examples of kilim rugs date back as far as the 4th century AD, although there is evidence the flat-weave technique probably began at about 1,000 BC in Egypt.
Qashgahii kilims from the Zagros region, along with Turkoman and baluch kilims from eastern Iran and central Asia, are among the styles now highly coveted by those who buy kilim rugs.
Construction
The techniques used to make vintage kilim rugs have changed little over the centuries. Whereas a pile rug is made by knotting short strands of different color onto warps and held together by pressing the wefts tightly against each other, the design of a Kilim rug is made by interweaving the variously colored wefts and warps.
The simple interlocking strands of wool, hair or fiber requires no backing, so Kilim carpets are thinner than traditional Persian rugs and Oriental rugs, making them popular as tapestries or use as bed coverlets.
The Distinctive Motifs and Colors of Kilim Carpets
Common motifs found in Kilim carpets include serrated leaf elements, zig-zag crenellations, shield medallions, diamond borders, and geometric designs. Many of the geometric motifs in kilims – “ramshorn” motifs and serrated medallions or “ashiks” – traveled with nomads as they spread to the Middle East. Elements such as perennials, pomegranates and fronds are popular in modern kilim carpets and vintage kilims alike.
The wide-ranging palette of reds, greens, oranges, and browns in antique Kilim carpets demonstrate the quality of dyes early Anatolian weavers had at their disposal. Many traditional kilim rugs feature warm, muted colors as the primary hues, with cooler tones used to create points of contrast.
The flat-weaving technique used to make Kilim rugs makes it difficult to produce continuous separations of color, so Kilims often have a stepped or crenelated appearance.
A Traditional Kilim Was Practical Before It Was Decorative
Woolen kilims are known for their strength and versatility. Long before Kilims became decorative pieces, tribal communities used them as floor coverings; as bedding or clothing; as horse blankets; for storage of grains; or draped as a shelter against the weather.
Lightweight and easy to transport, Kilims are especially popular in rug-weaving centers with warm climates, where shaggy rugs were not needed to keep warm.
Buying Antique Kilim Rugs and Contemporary Kilims
For many decades, antique Kilim rugs were considered artifacts of primordial tribal design unaffected by the influence of high art or foreign culture. Once overlooked as low status items, antique Kilims are now cherished as examples of the authentic weaving tradition of the Middle East.
We pride ourselves on a distinctive collection of Kilims. For those interested in buying vintage Kilim rugs, our collection of antique carpets offers an extraordinary range of designs and colors. We also carry a vast selection of more modern Kilims for the contemporary home. Shop online or contact us at our Charlotte, North Carolina location to shop for kilim carpets that reflect your style.
