Information about Antique Rugs and Their Manufacture

Antique rugs have to have been around a long time to be classified as antique. They have to be about one hundred years old. Whether they are knotted or woven, they are considered a rug. The oldest rugs that have been found used vegetable dyes in their rugs and the wool was handspun for use in these rugs. Years ago, the rugs were mass produced and the fibers used were synthetic. More recently, the manufacturers of rugs have gone back to the handspun fibers, the vegetable dyes, and they are hand knotted or hand woven. The finished rugs are stunning and well worth the money that will be paid for them.

Rug Uniqueness

Iran, Afghanistan, China, and India are where most of the rugs currently come from. There are buyers today that like the machine-manufactured rugs and are happy with them. On the other hand, there are discriminating buyers that want the rugs that are over the age of one hundred years, and they are willing to pay good money for them. You can tell where the rugs were made by the unique designs that are knotted or woven into the rugs. Each area the rugs are made in has a distinct pattern or motif that identifies their rugs. Some manufacturers have taken great care to preserve the old ways and designs. Because of the natural differences in the fibers and the dyes, each rug is unique.

Old Rugs and New Rugs

When you look at antique rugs, side by side with new rugs, you will see definite differences. Rugs that have been taken good care of through the years have colors that have become deeper, because natural vegetable dyes don’t fade, but soften. As the rug is used and becomes worn, the fibers become polished and the texture feels softer and velvety. New rugs can be made over and over again. The existing old rugs can’t be made over and over again; they are one of a kind. This increases their value, and if they continue to be well cared for, they can last through many more generations of owners.