Your Rug Is an Asset, Not Just a Decoration
A fine antique rug occupies an unusual place in a home. It is walked upon, lived with and perhaps inherited, yet it may also be a work of considerable craftsmanship and financial…
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Notes on Rugs, Craftsmanship and Long-Term Care
Occasional perspectives on the materials, history and care of antique and Persian rugs.
The Hidden Dangers of DIY Rug Cleaning
Most damage to a valuable rug does not begin with recklessness. It begins with a reasonable wish to remove a mark before it sets. A drink is spilt, a household product promises…
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How Museums Keep Their Rugs Alive for Centuries
There is a useful difference between preserving a rug and trying to make it look new. Museums understand that difference because their responsibility extends beyond the present generation. They must protect what…
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The Ego and the Investment: Why Owners Take Pride in Their Rugs
A beautiful rug rarely announces itself in the way a new acquisition might. It settles into the architecture of a room and gradually becomes part of the family's visual memory. Its colours…
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The Truth About Rug Dealers: Did You Buy Well?
The question often appears years after the purchase. A rug has become part of a home, perhaps changed hands within a family, and someone wonders whether its description was accurate. Was it…
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When Colour Fades, Value Follows
Colour is one of the reasons a fine rug can hold a room together. Deep reds, quiet blues and subtle variations within a field may give a woven work its particular character.…
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Why Persian Rugs Still Lead the World in Value
Persian rugs occupy a distinguished position in the history of decorative art. Their reputation is not simply the result of fashionable interiors or a familiar label. It rests on centuries of sophisticated…
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From Kensington to Hampstead: London’s Most Discerning Rug Owners
London's historic interiors reveal many different relationships with antique rugs. In a Kensington drawing room, a large Persian work may establish the proportions and character of the space. In a Hampstead home,…
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When Is a Rug Beyond Saving?
A damaged antique rug can look far worse than it is. A weakened edge, missing corner or area of lost pile may suggest that its useful life has ended, particularly when the…
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The Green Side of Rug Care
A handwoven rug may remain in use long after the original purchaser has gone. Its longevity is part of its appeal, and often a reason to think carefully before replacing it. Yet…
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How to Pass a Rug Down as a True Heirloom
An inherited rug often arrives with more questions than paperwork. Someone remembers it in a grandparent's dining room; another recalls that it came from abroad; a third believes it was once valuable.…
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Trust the Tiger: Why Expertise Matters
A valuable rug can spend generations in a family without needing much more than thoughtful care. When something does go wrong, however, the choice of whom to consult matters. The person examining…
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