Here's our selection of commonly asked questions....
| Q. | Is an oriental rug likely to be an investment that grows in value? |
| A. | Possibly, but not necessarily. At Oriental Rugs of Bath we specialise in rugs that are attractive pieces of interior décor. Because our rugs are of a generally high standard many of them will probably hold their value to some significant extent. Others will not do so well, because it largely depends on fashions in the future. However, you can be certain of one thing: that a rug purchased from Oriental Rugs of Bath will be a notably better financial investment than any alternative form of floor covering. In the final analysis, our advice is to follow the advice of artist and aesthete William Morris: that you should only have things in your home that you know to be beautiful and useful.
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| Q. | Why are some rugs which look similar so much more expensive than others? |
| A. | It is usually fairly evident on closer examination why one rug is more expensive than another, but not necessarily - fine weave, cleaner and more attractive colours. One tell-tale feature is that the weft (the horizontal base fibres onto which the wool is woven) is fine or even invisible. This means that the piece is likely to have a higher knot count per square centimetre and be a better quality rug overall.
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| Q. | How important is it to buy a rug from a reliable source? |
| A. | In our view, it is highly desirable. The more you get to know about oriental rugs, the more potential pitfalls you realise there are. A good criterion is whether the dealer with whom you propose to do business has been around for a good few years and if you sense that they are likely to be there in the foreseeable future. If your dealer comes with a sound personal recommendation, so much the better. The main issue is - do you have any come back if you find that you have cause for dissatisfaction? With our clients, this presents no problems, which is why many of them have been returning for several years. Unfortunately, there is at the present time, no credible professional organisation in the UK which can give you the sort of assurances you would ideally like. We at ORB are actively working to remedy this situation in the not too distant future.
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| Q. | Is it possible that rugs are made using sweated child labour? If so, how can I avoid this danger? |
| A. | Firstly, we try to avoid dealing in any articles where we believe that they have been made by children who have been exploited, overworked or denied an education as a consequence of their efforts as weavers. Furthermore, our main supplier will not purchase any rugs where children have been used as labour outside the context of a family unit. Certain types of rugs, such as Turkish Herekes, are traditionally woven by young girls because the silk weave is so fine that only children have small and deft enough hands to do the work effectively. However, because of the family unit criterion, the children are seen as contributing to the economic welfare of their families, whose aim is to improve their situation and create a better future.
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| Q. | How significant is it to have a rug that is vegetable dyed? |
| A. | Not at all. It is purely a matter of personal taste. Many excellent rugs of fine provenance have been woven using aniline dyed wool, which has been in widespread use since early this century. Vegetable dyes are often softer and more subtle in colour. They are a nice feature for the buyer who likes to feel that there is something organic about their purchase. We can advise you in this respect if you feel that it is important to you.
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| Q. | How can I tell a good quality rug? |
| A. | Basically, by studying oriental rugs for fifteen or more years. But seriously, the things to look for are a nice tight pattern, a good feel to the pile, subtle and clean colours and well made warp and weft. The fringe is often an indication in this respect. It should be made from strong, good quality materials.
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| Q. | Does the density of knots make a difference to the quality or value of a piece? |
| A. | As a general rule, yes. But some Pakistani rugs, for example, which have a high knot density, are not highly regarded because of the general quality of materials and poor standards of manufacture. Also, certain low-density weave rugs, often of a tribal origin, are highly regarded and much more valuable than pieces with a thicker pile.
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| Q. | How can I best care for my rug? |
| A. | Firstly, by protecting it from excessive wear. In the orient people often remove their shoes before entering a room with a carpet, which is good practice in terms of avoiding this. However, in the West this might not be practicable - or desirable for your social life. We offer our customers a reference sheet (Caring For Your Rug) dealing with this question, which can be downloaded from our web site. The main thing is to always remove stains and spillages immediately by blotting with a clean white paper towel. If necessary use a proprietary carpet shampoo (e.g. 1001) afterwards. The other major point is to alter the position of pieces of furniture which stand on your rug quite frequently, to avoid deep indentations in the pile.
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| Q. | Does it make sense to buy an oriental rug when abroad on holiday or business? Am I likely to get better value for money? |
| A. | Experience demonstrates that all too often this has turned out to be an unwise move. So often, the rugs purchased by visitors to Turkey and India we have seen, turned out to be items cheaply produced for the tourist trade - of poor quality and overpriced. Quite recently, a lady came into the shop with a rug she purchased on holiday in Bodrum, Turkey for which she paid £900 and which was sold to her as a silk Hereke. On examination it turned out to be made of mercerised cotton. She had been roundly swindled. Whilst this should not be taken as the norm, you really need to be a professional dealer to have the knowledge and purchasing power to ensure a sound transaction in the countries of origin. Also, if you discover that you have got a pig-in-a-poke, you will have no come back. Beyond that, it is not a viable option at the present time for most people to visit Iran or Afghanistan, which are important sources for our stock. In terms of actual value for money, quality and guarantees of provenance and wide ranging choice, you are in a far better position when you buy in the right quarters here in the UK.
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