A hand-woven rug is a piece of art and Turkey is a popular location for high quality rugs. Turkish rugs are accessible pieces of fine art woven by master weavers. Turkish carpets do not come from Turkey alone but are also made in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Armenia, and other neighboring countries.
A customer looking for Turkish carpets must know where it was manufactured and the money value. Buying a carpet in Turkey alone does not guarantee quality or authenticity. Some people might not be aware of the factors contributing to a good quality rug that is original in itself and expensive for its make. You will likely be fooled or scammed into buying a look-alike that looks as real as the original but costs you more money. Sumptuous materials don't need an introduction that a knowledgeable customer can quickly identify with a few attributes that make the rug one of the high-quality materials.
There are good rugs that aren't difficult to find, but the second quality is not hard to spot with similar rich colors. The catch is in knowing how to differentiate them. An important thing to remember is to not fall for the cheap price, exterior looks, and bright colors of the rug, as a low-quality one will fade off and get tampered with easily while you try to clean or wash them.
Look out for high-value hand-made and old carpets available at Kuden Rugs. Purchase carpets created by true artists and not machine-made mass produce.
What Makes Turkish Rugs Expensive?
Turkish rugs are the most versatile rugs that are utilized in both traditional and modern design. Traditional designs are designed with varied colors and patterns like floral motifs, Persian designs and other traditional motifs. Modern designs for rugs are designed with geometric patterns and other intricate patterns with both muted and vibrant colors according to individual preferences.
Whether it is a carpet from Turkey or anywhere else, there are a lot of differences that separate fake from real ones. The materials used, craft, dyes used, and weave patterns are among some indicators for checking the quality. The fine art and its appearance may misdirect you, but one cannot conclude a fine rug with those attributes alone. A depth of understanding is essential to understand the intricate designs, the color scheme, type of knots, etc., to understand a perfect piece. An excellent choice is to invest in a standard rug that sustains for a longer time and retains the variety of colors used in them.
Factors That Decide The Price Of A Rug
Many factors determine the carpet's originality, like the carpet's age, if it is handmade or machine-made, and what your budget is. Still, make it a point to bargain with the merchant. The prices will always be inflated, often up to three or four times the original value. Make the dealers or shops approve their services regarding value, integrity, and honesty.
The following factors will help you understand the various factors that contribute to an expensive carpet:
1. The age of the rug
The sale price of antique rugs is proportional to their condition and age. Antique rugs have high known strength and gain value over time as many restoration and repair shops are available for rug appraisal, and that is because of the value that old rugs carry. Antique oriental rugs are expensive as they are rare with their fine craftsmanship, mainly by Turkish weavers. But here's the take: spending for a good quality rug is an investment rather than simply shopping for a utility for your home.
Maintaining them while they are in poor condition increases the lifespan of the rug still to have the original hand-knotted rugs at your home. You have to pay a small price to maintain them than investing in another rug again. The age of the rug also greatly depends on the materials used. Natural fibers fade quickly and lose their appearance faster than synthetic fibers.
2. Origin
Before you buy hand-knotted rugs, it is essential to determine their actual value through their origin. Chances are that when you buy online, you can get cheated more easily as only trusted sites will deal with your purchase correctly. As a result, check the price of the rugs first and compare them with the original rug value. Then check for the authenticity of the site and its manufacturing site. These factors will not vary greatly depending on the country of origin. For instance, The Turkish Oushak village is the authorized dealer of handmade Oushak carpets and ivory oushak area rugs. As much as there is high demand for this carpet, they are more costly than other antique rugs. Rug lovers or rug hoarders decide based on the carpet's age and check for labor costs.
3. Materials used
As you may already know, the quality of materials used also impacts the price of a traditional carpet. Most authentic rug materials are natural woven wool, cotton, or silk fibers. However, synthetic fibers like polypropylene, nylon, or polyester are used to make rugs. Some rugs are just a replica of rugs made of wool or silk.
Wool is known for its durability and resistance to water and fire. Silk rugs have a fine texture and natural shine but are less durable than hand-spun wool. Silk carpets are less durable because of the natural fiber and often fade quickly in direct sunlight. Cotton is a highly absorbent material that serves well for dyes or colors to absorb well with the rug material. Other alternatives like sisal or jute impact the cost and production process of rugs.
Establishing the type of rug you want guides you to find the best fit for the living space. Flat-weave rugs are low pile rugs and are an excellent choice for a bathroom or a kitchen. While hand-woven carpets rugs are alluring and the best investment, synthetic rugs are affordable pieces to help you with short-term use for an office or a commercial space. If you want to throw out the rugs as soon as they get destroyed with wear and tear and want a new look every time for commercial spaces, then go for affordable synthetic rugs. Hide rugs made from animal hair and skin should be avoided for a sustainable way of living.
4. Dyes used
Natural dyes offer rugs an aesthetic appeal to actual color patterns that chemical dyes cannot compete with. Natural dyes require significant effort and care and hence add up to the sale price of rugs. Rug manufacturers calculate the uniformity of dye application in the rug base and make it appear less intense depending on the depth of colors that they showcase. Natural dyes are difficult to procure, and the knowledge and expertise for manufacturing rugs with natural dyes alone contribute to the authenticity and high-cost value. Be sure about the antique rugs that you purchase online like a Persian carpet to investigate the dye, knot density, and material quality. An expert weaver or rug dealer will be able to clear your doubts and put them to rest with answers.
Examine the dyes to determine how old a rug is and what the sale price can be. It might seem like a wild guess, but here's an example: 9th-century pile carpets will have a uniform shade of colors throughout the carpet. If the color is faded in some areas and darker in others, it's probably because of the quality of dyes and synthetic dyes that fade when exposed to light.
A few questions to ask yourself and search for answers to before purchasing a carpet are:
- Where is the origin of the carpet?
- How old is the carpet? (Sale price of the carpet varies with its age. The older the rug, the higher the sale price)
- Is it a machine-made rug? Hand-knotted rugs are the best out of the two.
- What is the rug material? Wool, cotton, silk, or synthetic. Synthetic materials are cheaper than natural fibers.
- Are natural dyes used?
- What is the knot density or knot count of the carpet? ( Standard weave density:120-160 knots per square inch but can go up to 400)
- If you are online orders, does the site provide cash on delivery option after shipping? Does the seller bear the customs and duty costs?
- Is it a reputable merchant?
Purchasing Quality Carpets: Making Smart Choices
Suppose you intend to purchase a quality carpet made of the finest materials. Many inferior products may be affordable but last only a short period of time. In that case, it's essential to do the research and become an expert in analyzing the artistry, weight, color, patterns, weight, and materials that make the entire piece. Most importantly, approach a reputable rug dealer. It is always a perfect choice to go for an expensive rug that offers value for money with its durability. Remember that the popular choice is not always the best choice as the popular choice of rugs may always depend on affordability.
