Steps to Buying an Antique Rug

Steps to Buying an Antique Rug

Buying an antique rug will make for a great investment and a lovely feature in your home. Yes, people are going to tread all over it and there will be a temptation to buy a newly made rug. Antique rug’s, on the other hand, will exude character and will demonstrate the consummate skill shown by the person who weaved it hundreds of years ago. There are pitfalls when purchasing valuable pieces, so check out this short buyers guide to antique rugs.

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Check the Edges of the Rug

Check the edges of the rug, because if they are frayed then the carpet could unravel quickly. This is the most expensive area of a rug to repair. Ask a dealer what restoration work has taken place on the rug before purchasing.

Beware Faux-Ageing

If a rug has a beige or washed out look it could have purposely been made to look old. A common method of faux-ageing is acid washing. A true antique rug will retain its vibrant colours despite its age and condition.

Ensure the Rug is Hand Made

One big giveaway that the rug you’re buying may not be as old as you think is how it was made. Any rug that has been made by a machine will most certainly not be a treasured antique. Ask the dealer to flip the antique rug over, if it looks almost identical to the front side, that’s a good sign the rug is handmade. Of course, an antique rug is an expensive way to cover a floor in your home and you must be prepared for the rug to depreciate in value if heavily used. If this puts you off, consider installing carpet or carpet tiles.

Check the Date

Dates weaved into a rug can be a good indicator of its age. Depending on what type of antique rug you are purchasing you will most likely need an expert to help you decipher the date from either the Moslem calendar or the Georgian calendar.

Where to Buy

Most importantly, you want to make sure you are buying an antique rug from a reputable and knowledgeable dealer. Specialist dealers fairs and major auction houses are good places to start when buying genuine antique rugs.  Then all you need to do is get it home and size could be an issue when it comes to getting it in the car.  As this is potentially a very expensive rug you could ask a Same Day Courier Slough company on links including https://www.uk-tdl.com/same-day-courier/same-day-courier-slough.html to pick it up and deliver it for you. This means it will get there in good condition, you can track it on the road and you get full proof of delivery.

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