I’m no photographer, but…

I love a challenge as much as anyone else, but when customers or fellow rug cleaners send me photos of rugs for my opinion, I often (almost always!) have to ask for more or better images.  There isn’t a whole lot I can tell you about something I can’t see clearly.  I’m already handicapped by not being able to feel and handle the piece.  I thought it was time for me to lay down some ground rules, so…

This is what we professional Ruggies are looking for in any photo submitted for ID or consultation:

1:  A clear, well-lit image of the entire rug, showing all four corners.  The rug should have little to no furniture covering it.

2:  A clear, well-lit image of an 8”- 12” section of the back corner of the rug, showing BOTH the end & edge finish.  Include a coin of some kind (preferably a US Quarter) in the image both for scale and for clarity. If you can read the words on the coin clearly, the photo is a good one!

3:  A clear, well-lit image from both the front AND back side of any damaged areas or places of concern.  Please include in the image a ruler or open tape measure next to the damaged areas.  The ruler markings should be legible in the photo.

Several of the examples I’m going to share with you have come from the Facebook page “What Is My Rug?” where I am one of a handful of administrators.  The concept here is simple - you post photos of your “mystery” rug, and we will try to help you identify what it is.  Easy, right…?

NOTE: I want to stress that my intention is NOT to pick on anyone out there.  I simply wish to show examples, side-by-side, good and bad, so that you are able to see exactly what we’re looking for in a quality photo.  Once you see how best to photograph a rug, it will save you (and your chosen expert) tons of time and frustration down the road.

The "I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED RIGHT HERE" photos:

This image shows all four corners clearly, is well lit, and there is no furniture covering any of the design elements.

This image clearly shows the end & edge finish, and the coin is legible.

The "IT'S NOT AWFUL BUT...MAYBE ANOTHER PHOTO IS CALLED FOR" photos:

Not much wrong with this photo other than it's taken from a little too far away for my liking.

This photo of the same rug leaves much to be desired.
While the edge finish is fairly visible, I'm left wondering what is going on across the fringe end.
It's too far away to really "read" the knot shape and style.
A close-up with a coin included for clarity would have helped a great deal.

The "I REALLY CAN'T TELL YOU MUCH." photos:

The tape measure is just too far away to count knots per square inch.

This one gives me a definite vertigo feeling.

Too close!!

Artistic shot.

Design motifs are so interchangeable between countries that you can't identify a rug based on that information alone.

I saved this next photo for last because it is my favorite example of what NOT to do. It has something for everyone! The lighting is bad, the photo is fuzzy, the rug is covered in furniture. Is it a 10 x 14 or a 5 x8? The photo was sent to a friend of mine for ID purposes because this rug may end up in court as part of an insurance fraud scam. It was the ONLY photo available and I could only scratch my head in wonder.

???

I hope my latest ramblings will help you with your future rug photo submissions! I look forward to seeing them either on Facebook or in my email. :)

As always, I can be contacted by email: Lynn@rugadvocate.com

One Man's Trash

If you know where to send it, a fairly trashed rug can become a treasure!

About 10 years ago, this Hamadan came in to the shop so badly moth infested that when the rug owner dropped it on the floor, a cloud of live carpet moths flew out! 

Having no real attachment to the rug, the owner asked if I would dispose of it for her.  I was happy to oblige!  I “disposed” of it right onto the wash floor, where it was treated with a pesticide to help kill the various cycles of carpet moths (eggs, larvae, flying moths), cleaned on the front and back, hung in a heated drying room to dry, and then sent to the repairer for evaluation. 

Visible Moth Damage, Patched Corner



It was decided that the rug needed new edges, the fringe ends needed to be secured and the corner of the rug needed to be filled in.  Since the rug had no monetary value left to it after such extensive moth damage, we decided to simply patch the missing corner rather than re-weave it. 

Not New, But Very Useable!

The rug has been used in my own front hallway ever since!

The cost to do all of these repairs to this particular rug would have been too high for a regularly paying customer, but you should always have your textiles evaluated before disposing of them...just in case you are sitting (or standing!) on a treasure.

I can be contacted by email: Lynn@rugadvocate.com

Happy treasure hunting!!

Demystifying Rug Terminology for Consumers

How does someone go about learning what to expect when they are looking for a new Oriental rug?? Why should they believe what they are being told by the person trying to sell them something??  It’s sort of like walking in to a car dealership looking for a new car and not knowing anything about cars.  It’s a big purchase! How can you be sure you’re making the right decision? How do you know you’re not being taken? How do you know which car is the right car for you?

That’s where I come in!  I am here to help demystify some rug terminology popular with rug dealers and give you some advance pointers that will help the process along. 

Whether you are a rug cleaner trying to give your clients some advice, or you are a consumer looking for some useful information, I hope you will find the following helpful:

Age Terminology of Rugs

Antique - 100 years and older

This does not mean that you automatically will spend thousands upon thousands of dollars for this age group. Only some rugs appreciate in value. What is *does* mean is that you will need to ask if the rug has dry rot or prior repairs. Inspect for excessive wear, broken foundation threads and replacement fringes.  Be wary of old rugs that look new.

Semi-Antique - 50 to 99 years old

This age group is still fairly easy to find, so don’t be afraid to comparison shop! Like buying a car, the more information you have up front, the better the deal will be. Know the average price range for a particular kind of rug ahead of time, and don’t be afraid to tell a rug dealer that you’ve seen it somewhere else for less. In this economy, you’ll find bargains you didn’t know existed!

Vintage - 20-49 years old

This age group is interesting. Post-embargo Persian rugs will probably be sub-standard, while rugs from other countries may be better than average for their own regions.  You just have to get a feel for what you like and go with it. Inspect for run colors or rugs that look like they have been unraveled and overcast (shortened) at the ends.

New - 0 to 19 years old

Quicker, faster and cheaper is how rugs from this age group are manufactured.  Always remember that you get what you pay for…unless you overpay.  Ask how the rug is constructed or put together.  Is it woven or tufted?  Does it have a lining on the back?  Knotted or woven rugs are going to last. Tufted rugs are held together with glue and will only last as long as the glue will. Not to mention the nasty odor sometimes associated with the off-gassing of tufted rugs. 

Classification Terminology of Rugs

Tribal – Small rugs by nature and usually oddly shaped and coarsely woven. These rugs are typically woven by nomadic people and are true one-of-a-kind pieces. The color palette tends to be limited and the designs are geometric. (common: Beluch, Turkoman)

Village – These rugs are woven in utilitarian sizes. They are occasionally misshapen and are usually colorful and pleasant to look at. The quality of the weave will vary depending on the skill level of the at-home weaver. The patterns are more curvilinear than their tribal cousins, but are still quite geometric. (common: Hamadan, Herez)

City – These rugs are woven by skillful weavers, in factories, on permanent looms with a foreman in charge to oversee the speed and quality of the weaving being produced. They are typically intended for export and they come in various “American” sizes. They are fine in quality and fancy in design. (common: Tabriz, Kerman)

Palace – Huge in size, very complex in design, and very fine in quality. These rugs used to be woven by Royal commission and are a rarity. If a rug at a dealer is labeled “Palace”, most likely it is simply a reference to the fact that it is an oversized, fine carpet.

Country of Origin Terminology

Persian – Made in Iran

Turkish – Made in Turkey

Indian – Made in India

Chinese – Made in China

Pakistani – Made in Pakistan

Afghani – Made in Afghanistan

Caucasian – Made in the Caucasus Mountains between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea

Indo-Persian – Made in India, but in a Persian motif

Sino-Persian – Made in China, but in a Persian motif

Paki-Persian – Made in Pakistan, but in a Persian motif

Oriental – from the East

Occidental – from the West

There are many other rug weaving countries: Peru, Egypt, Greece, Spain, France, Romania, Morocco, Mexico, the United States, etc.  Their rugs may not be as commonly found in an everyday retail rug store.

Construction Terminology of Rugs

Tufted - Latex Back, Cloth Back, Glued Hems
Knotted - Warp & Weft Foundation, Pile
Woven - Flatweaves, Reversibles, No Pile
Bordered -Seams, Hot-Melt Seaming Tape, Specialty Binding

Category Terminology of RugsBroadlooms - Wall-To-Wall, Bound Remnants
Machine-Made - Axminster, Wilton, Velvet, Karastan, Spanish Contemporary
Hand-Made - Oriental, Flatweave, Needlepoint, Hooked, Braided, Reversible
Customs - Tufted, Seamed, Bordered, Specialty Materials, Designer Class

Aside from knowing the SIZE and COLOR of the rug you need, there will always be certain determining factors that you will have to keep in mind before buying.  Do you have a dog?  Do you have three dogs?  Small children?  Teenagers? A home by the beach?  Depending on your lifestyle, you may want to forgo the $40,000 silk Tabriz in favor of a more durable, serviceable, cleanable, $3,000 Indian (Indo) Tabriz. 

You get my point.

One last suggestion: Unless you know *specifically* what you are looking for and have some experience doing so, avoid on-line shopping for Oriental rugs.  It is always better to be able to feel and inspect them in person.

HAPPY SHOPPING!!

As always, If you would like to contact me...
You can reach me by email: Lynn@rugadvocate.com