Shopping for Antique Carpets
Antique carpets are for the extravagant of taste who want a sense of the
ancient and the grand in their home’s interiors. These eye-catching home
ornaments capture ethnic craftsmanship and tradition that may date as far back
as a thousand years, even more. As works of art that appreciate in value,
antique carpets are also solid investments.
In shops, antique carpets come in a vast array of motifs and color harmonies,
and may be as intricately woven as they are ornate. The most well-known and
fabled among antique carpets are the Oriental rugs and carpets that portray some
legend or myth of the distant past. These antique carpets are imported from
Persia, India, China, Afghanistan, Turkey or the Caucasus, and may originate
from locations known for their ancient traditions of carpet weaving, such as
Kashan and Agra. Naturally, pieces that are entirely hand-woven have a greater
claim to artistic authenticity.
If you are willing to spend a fortune on these exquisite pieces of art, you
might want to contact several reputable art dealers and galleries that sell
antique carpets, and who can provide guidance on selection according to your
tastes and budget. You might have to do some work as well by equipping yourself
with information about wools, dyes, weaving styles, etc.
Here are some tips to guide you as a prospective buyer of antique carpets:
1. While doing the actual shopping, scrutinize the carpets and touch them.
Beware of devious dealers who claim their carpets are genuine antiques, when
closer inspection reveals them to be machine-made and of synthetic textiles.
2. Try to get accurate information about the age and origin of the carpet. These
should give you a clearer idea about quality and price.
3. Watch out for missing borders or edges. These may have gotten lost or been
cut deliberately. Remember that borders are an important determinant of the
value of the carpet.
4. Be on the lookout for holes and moth bores. These should immediately be
brought to the attention of the dealer and addressed.
5. Favor dealing with sellers that have price tags on their carpets, and never
buy at higher than the price as marked. |
