Posted on August 18, 2015 by Behnam Rugs

Common Misconceptions About Persian Rugs

Do you think that all genuine Persian rugs are antiques? Do you believe that any old Persian or Oriental rug is valuable? Are you certain that your handmade rug will go up in value over the years? Do you believe that a hand-woven Persian rug is always better made than a handmade Oriental rug?

If you answered yes to one or more of the questions above, you would be wrong.

Myths and misconceptions are many when it comes to fine rugs.

• For example, many people think that a Persian rug is always finer than an Oriental rug. This just isn’t true. A variation in the quality of the weave or in the wool exists in all hand-knotted rugs. Many Persian rugs are just not as well made as Oriental rugs, and vice versa. However, if trying to decide between a Persian or an Oriental rug of the same quality, the Persian rug will be more expensive. Even so, there’s no guarantee that rug will appreciate in value more than the Oriental rug; it’s just not possible to determine how much or if any rug will appreciate.
• In fact, Oriental and Persian rugs don’t always appreciate in value. (Never buy a rug because you plan to sell it at a profit someday.) Any rug purchased today could well decrease in value over the years. What’s popular today and therefore considered to be more “valuable” (and expensive to purchase) could well sink in value. It happens often. For the best chance of buying a rug that could appreciate, aim to purchase a hand-knotted rug with a classic design and colors; these rugs tend to maintain and possibly increase their value over the years.
• Any old (created 50 to 80 or more years ago) handmade rug is always valuable. No, it may not be: an older rug is not automatically a valuable antique. It could just be an “old rug.” It’s the overall condition of an older rug that determines its value, not its age.
• You’ll never find a great Persian/Oriental rug here in the U.S. You must travel to Iran, Turkey, China, India, Russia, or Pakistan to purchase a true Persian or Oriental rug. While traveling to a foreign country to find a “true” Oriental/Persian rug sounds romantic, it’s also a way to get burned. Unless you’re a true expert on these rugs, it’s easy for a merchant to take advantage of your naivete and sell you an inferior rug. In fact, many local tourist markets often are used at an outlet for the less desirable rugs.

Have no doubt: exquisite, high-quality handmade Oriental/Persian rugs definitely are here in the U.S. You need to perform some research yourself before shopping to learn what makes a rug one of high quality. Then you need to visit trustworthy expert rug dealers to look at rugs and learn more about what makes one rug of higher quality than another. Call the experts at Behnam Rugs today at 972-733-0400.