Hey Folks, welcome to my oriental carpet and Persian carpet blog. The purpose of this blog is to provide info to people looking for oriental carpet, Persian carpet, antique carpet, and modern carpet. There are links to the #1 oriental carpet retailer on the right hand side of the blog if you are looking to buy oriental carpet, Persian carpet, antique carpet, and modern carpet then you have arrived in the perfect place.
Carpet Buying ABC’s
July 20, 2009 at 2:13 am (Uncategorized)
Take time to learn about the carpet buying process. Unscrupulous carpet retailers prefer that you are uninformed about buying carpet. As far as they are concerned, the less you know the better! It makes their job easier. They will try to sell you upgrades you don’t need to make more money from the sale There are a dozen things you need to know and look out for before you sign on the dotted line. Article
How to avoid carpet scams and find the best deals!
July 18, 2009 at 12:51 am (Uncategorized)
To save the most money possible, you must have your home measured accurately and you must have your carpet installed properly if you want it to last as long as it was designed.. Doing ALL these things right AND getting a good deal is much harder than most people think. Want to save hundreds on your next Carpet Purchase? Article
Knot Counts in Handwoven Oriental Carpet
July 17, 2009 at 4:32 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: antique carpet, antique carpets, best oriental carpet, best oriental carpets, modern carpet, modern carpets, oriental carpet, oriental carpets, persian carpet, persian carpets
A handwoven oriental carpet is created using one of a few knot styles, painstakingly worked, knot by knot, with each knot leaving a tuft of pile to create the soft surface. Fine quality oriental oriental are woven very tightly, with knots very close together, giving the oriental more durability, and lasting value.
The total knot count of a oriental is one of the markers for quality. The total knot count can be calculated by counting the knots in a square inch and then multiplying that number by the total size in square inches. Oriental oriental generally have a knot count of 20 to 500 knots per square inch, sometimes more. Larger carpets have more knots, and hence take longer to weave, and are generally higher priced. Unlike machine made carpet, where a few more feet of length just means a few more minutes of clatter, larger handwoven carpets take significantly longer to weave, and the total knot count can be staggering.
An average oriental carpet will have a knot count of at least 100 knots per square inch. Carpets that have 100 knots can be of good quality and can still last for many years. A higher knot count can make a carpet more durable.
Besides quality, the knot count is one of the key factors for valuation of an oriental carpet. The higher the knot count the higher the base value of the carpet. Other factors influence value as well; age, the design, the materials, the condition, current popularity trends, and size also influence the value of an oriental carpet, and with antique carpets, the design may have a stronger influence on value.
While knot count is a key factor when choosing a carpet, you’ll also wish to consider the material used to make it, the dyes (natural vegetable dyes are traditional), weave consistency, and condition. These elements will help you know how to care for it, and how well it is likely to wear over time. Choosing an oriental rug can seem extremely overwhelming at times but with a little bit of knowledge and the help of a professional Oriental carpet dealer, the task is not so daunting. A good dealer can discuss these issues with you, and explain how they will influence your enjoyment of your treasure.
Professional Oriental carpet collectors, or traders have often been in the industry for a very long time, sometimes operating family businesses for generations. Much as the weavers of the carpets are taught early to create a carpet, a professional is often brought up in the business with his family. Their eyes are trained to see the condition, to recognize the characteristic patterns of regional origins, and in caring for and handling the carpets. They are also trained to quickly be able to judge the knot count without having to sit down and count each knot. A glance will give them a fairly accurate approximation of the total knot count in an oriental carpet.
Understanding what the knot count is, and how it influences the value and durability of a handwoven carpet, can help you choose a higher quality carpet.
If you are purchasing a carpet as an investment, or anticipate that it will become a family heirloom, talk to a specialist and they will be able to help you find a carpet that suits your tastes aesthetically, and which will appreciate in value if properly cared for.
Written by Tracy Collins, marketing assistant for Handmade Oriental Carpet, a New York based company which has sold high quality handwoven contemporary Oriental carpets for 4 generations. Visit their showroom in New York, or their store online for a wide selection of lovely handmade carpet
SHOP FOR THE BEST ORIENTAL CARPETS ONLINE HERE!
Tracy Collins – EzineArticles Expert Author
Caring for Oriental Carpet and Persian Carpet
July 16, 2009 at 12:43 am (Uncategorized)
Everyday
- Vacuum regularly, as needed.
- Vacuum small carpet rather than shaking them.
- Use caster cups under the legs of chairs to protect the carpet. They could be found at a hardware store.
- Look under carpets regularly for signs of moth damage – tunnels or tufts of wool. If you find signs of moths, have all of your rugs professionally cleaned, as well as your wool clothing.
Spot Cleaning
- Clean a spill immediately before it has a chance to set. Carefully blot up excess liquid with a paper towel, and then pour a small amount of club soda onto the soiled area. With a soft cloth, blot (do not rub) the stain from the outer edges inward to avoid spreading the stain.
For specific spills, a variety of household solutions may be used:
- Fresh food – sprinkle cornmeal on the spot. It will act like a blotter. Then vacuum.
- Tea stains – remove with soda water.
- Red wine – remove with white wine.
- Grease – Try a mild cleaning fluid, having first tried it on a small, hidden area on the carpet.
- Gum – harden with an ice cube, and then gently scrape it off.
Finally, blot up excess liquid and elevate the dampened spot to allow air circulation until dry. If you are unsuccessful, contact a professional carpet cleaner. For large spots, tough or dark stains (blood, wine, soft drinks, fruit punch, animal stains) have the carpet professionally cleaned as soon as possible.
Long Term
Depending on the amount of traffic the carpets experience, they should be cleaned every two to three years. We encourage the use of a professional cleaning service that specializes in Oriental Carpets, not a broadloom cleaner unfamiliar with the hand-woven product. Professional cleaning will remove dirt, as well as the surface soiling that gradually dulls the appearance of a carpet. Do not use commercial dry cleaners, as your handmade carpet will require re-blocking following the cleaning process. Only professional Oriental carpet cleaners are qualified to provide this service.
To extend the life of your Oriental Carpet, turn it 180 degrees every year or two. This helps to even out your carpet exposure to traffic and sunlight.
Carpet Pads / Soil and Stain Treatment
We recommend soil and stain resistant treatment on area carpets and underlay padding be used. We suggest that carpets be professionally cleaned every year depending upon the traffic.
To enhance the life of your carpet, we recommend the use of a carpet pad. For all types of carpets, the appropriate carpet pad will help to:
- Eliminate buckling, curling and slippage
- Slow down the aging process by keeping distance between the carpet and any floor dust and dirt.
- Make vacuuming more effective.
T
Fake Vs Real Persian Carpets
July 15, 2009 at 11:37 pm (Uncategorized)
Handwoven Carpets are a great addition to any décor, and since they are extremely durable, they become treasured heirlooms. Oriental carpets are universally popular, they never really go out of style. As with every item for sale that has great quality and is highly sought after, people try to make a quick buck by selling impostors as if they were the real thing.
How do you protect yourself from being one of those people who gets scammed into spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on something thinking that it will be a wise investment, just to find out that your investment is nothing more than a fake?
To many people, handmade and machine made carpets look the same. Machine made may be passed off as handmade, or a carpet may be presented as older, or more valuable than it really is.
Authentic carpets are made primarily in the middle eastern to far eastern regions; such as Iran, Tibet, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Nepal, and China. But handwoven carpets can also be made in Europe, and the US. Value tends to vary by popularity and age, so the region of origin may be important to some people, but not to others.
Here are some things to look for:
Design – The design should be the same on the front, and the back, and clearly so. Machine woven rugs often have a sort of mesh over the design on the back, making it less visible.
It’s Perfect- New carpets are not as prevalent as used – and antique rugs always have some sign of use. While Persian Carpets are durable and of high quality, but older carpets will always show some kind of signs of use, newer ones less so. Abused carpets will show excessive wear, which tends to be more uneven than wear caused by age in a well cared for carpet.
Fringe- Take a look at the fringe around the carpet. If it looks as if the fringe was sewn on after the completion of the carpet, then it is not authentic. The fringe comes naturally from the material being on the loom. Weavers do not sew the fringe on after the carpet is completed.
Identical Design- If you go to a store looking for a Persian carpet and you find some that are identical, chances are they are fake. Since Persian Carpets are individually handmade one by one, you will not find two identical designs. They may look similar but in reality they are not. There may be additional knot counts, the design might be slightly smaller etc.
That’s Cheap- If you find a store that is selling Persian carpet for 50% or more off of what you were expecting to pay, chances are they are not real. Because Persian carpets are handmade from taking care of the sheep and plants that create the fabric and dyes all the way to the completion of the carpets and the fact that they will increase in value over time, authentic Persian carpets will have a higher cost. If you come across a store that is selling these rugs for hundreds maybe even thousands less than you expected to pay, walk away because they are not authentic.
Purchasing an Authentic Persian Carpet is not a task to be taken lightly. There are always scammers out there waiting to fill their pockets with unsuspecting peoples’ money. Do your homework before shopping for them. Remember if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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Tracy Collins, marketing assistant for Image Carpets, Inc., Image Carpets, located in New York City, offers the trade, designers and retail clients a discerning choice of hand-made antique Persian, Indian hand made oriental carpets , Turkish hand made rugs and European rugs and other oriental hand made rugs and carpets. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracy_Collins |
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July 14, 2009 at 11:37 pm (Uncategorized)
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