For many people, rugs are more than just practical accessories for the home. A beautiful Oriental or Persian rug, for example, can often be considered a work of art, and a valued collector’s item. In fact, these styles of rugs enjoy a long history of ownership, with famous names such as Henry VIII and Sigmund Freud having been avid collectors. If you’re thinking of starting up an Oriental or Persian rug collection of your own, doing your research about each type of rug is important, as is getting to know a reputable Persian or Oriental rug cleaning London business who can help to keep your rug collection in good condition for generations.
1. Understand how a rug is made
Before you decide which type of Oriental or Persian rug to add to your collection, it’s important to understand how each rug is made, so you can get a better idea of how a rug’s textures and patterns have been created.
It all comes down to the warp, weft and knots in a rug, which are the key elements of its construction. The warps are strands of natural materials like wool or silk, stretched on a loom. During the weaving process, strands of the materials, called wefts, are then passed over and under the warps. Rows of knots that are looped are then added between the wefts, which are then clipped to create the rug ‘pile’. The more knots a rug has, the finer the rug will become and the more intricate its pattern.
Understanding how the rug is made is also essential so you know how to look after it properly, and which specialist rug cleaning London company to choose to cater for your specific type of Oriental or Persian rug.
2. Research a rug’s origin
Each individual Oriental or Persian rug reflects where it was made, and can give clues about its heritage, history and origins, as well as the people who made it, and their cultures.
The size of the rug, use of materials, colours and distinct characteristics can also tell you more about a rug’s origins, and whether it was made by tribespeople, in a local village as part of a cottage industry, or made in the city in a Royal workshop.
If you’re considering starting up your own Oriental or Persian collection, finding out more about the origins of a particular rug can allow you to differentiate your collection and expand it according to your preferences. Identifying the heritage of a rug may also be useful if you’re seeking really rare items, such as Royal rugs, which are very hard to find these days.
3. Consider the design of the rug
When deciding which Oriental or Persian rug to buy, it’s really important that you spend some time considering the design of the rug, and paying attention to the finer detail of it. Rug designs can be intricate, detailed and complex, but, overall, the design should feel harmonious and well-balanced throughout the entire rug. The rug should capture a sense of natural rhythm and spacing, as well as clarity and spatial depth.
Why is this important? The design of the rug can help to make it feel visually pleasing and coherent, and, crucially, if the design is balanced and harmonious with clear visual flow and movement, it will stand the test of time – something that’s key for rug collectors who want their rugs to become investment pieces.
4. Choose a rug with natural dyes
Oriental or Persian rugs made using natural dyes tend to be regarded much more favourably amongst rug collectors, compared to rugs constructed with synthetic dyes. Why’s that?
Natural dyes give the rug soft subtleties and nuances that make them individually unique, something which can’t be replicated if synthetic dyes were used in the rug. Natural dyes are also less likely to fade over time compared to synthetic ones.
Some of the most sought-after colours in a rug also come from natural dyes, and include cochineal rose, Tyrian purple, saffron yellow and some shades of green – so look for rugs with these colours if you want to add a special Oriental or Persian rug to your collection.
How can you tell if a rug is made from natural dyes or synthetic ones? Find out how old a rug is. If it was made before 1860, it’s more likely to have been constructed using natural dyes, as synthetic dyes only started being used after this time. Thus, many professional rug collectors avoid choosing rugs made after this date.
You may also be able to tell by looking at the rug. If one particular colour in the rug appears to have tonal changes, which form visible bands, this is a natural part of the dying process where natural dyes have been used.
5. Look after your rugs carefully
The secret to ensuring Oriental and Persian rugs last for years is through regular cleaning, care and maintenance. If you’re buying an antique rug or second-hand rug, check to see how well it has been cared for. Does it have any fading, ground-in stains or fibre damage? These problems will be hard to completely rectify, even with the help of a specialist rug cleaning London business, and may impact the longevity or value of the rug.
Once you’ve acquired a new Oriental or Persian rug for yourself, you’ll need to keep it clean, to protect and preserve its beautiful condition and extend its longevity.
Speak with an Oriental rug cleaning London specialist for advice on how to look after your particular style of rug. Some rug fabrics may be vulnerable to wear compared to others, such as silk, so it’s important to understand how to handle these types of rugs, and to know what you can and can’t use to clean or care for them.
As well as regular vacuuming using a light setting, Oriental and Persian rugs will need professional cleaning at least once per year. Make sure the company you use for professional cleaning specialises in Oriental or Persian rugs, and can offer cleaning methods suitable for each one of your rugs.
Since many Oriental and Persian rugs are akin to works of art, it’s not a good idea to try to clean them yourself. Even something as simple as trying to remove a stain could cause damage or discoloration to the rug, so if in doubt consult the experts.
If you intend to store your rugs away rather than use them, be careful how you roll and store them. Most types of rugs should be rolled with the pile inwards, but the pile should be rolled on the outside for silk rugs, as this helps to protect the rug’s foundation. Avoid folding a rug as it could crack over time.
Check the rug periodically to ensure it’s still in good condition, and hasn’t been affected by problems like mildew, mould, moths or damp. Even rugs in storage will need professional cleaning every so often, but for how regularly this should be, speak to a Persian or Oriental rug cleaning London expert.
Carpet Bright UK is a specialist rug cleaning London business that can look after all of the cleaning needs of your Oriental and Persian rug collections.
