A handmade Persian rug is the ultimate travel trophy, but it helps to do a bit of research if you don’t want to get ripped off! Here’s how to pick the best threads with Sfiran.com
The Art of Buying a Carpet
Iranian’s have had over 2500 years to master the the art of carpet weaving – and just as long to master carpet selling. But ‘knowledge is power’ as they say, so it’s worthwhile researching a bit before you travel to Iran.
Step 1 : That's Not a Knot
Lay the carpet on a flat surface to check for bumps and other imperfections.
Small bumps in handmade rugs are common and generally wear over time to compact flat, ultimately giving it character. Otherwise machine made knots will be suspiciously uniform so watch out for this.
Step 2 : The Essence of the Fiber
Here's a simple trick for finer silk rugs. In the old days a 'flame test' would be performed to ascertain not only the type of fiber but also, hopefully, to make the dealer think you're professional!
Step 3 : Down to Earth Colors
Traditional Persian rugs are based on natural dyes from plants and insects. The proto-fabric is often washed in tea to soften the texture, giving it a unique quality. Artificial dyes can never match the earthy feel of the natural ones.
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