Having a rug at home not only prepares you for the winter but also changes the house’s look. If you are thinking about which rug is best for the interiors, the options are many. But if you search for something unique and attractive, an Afghan rug can be an excellent pick for you.
How Can You Tell A Real Afghan Rug?
The real Afghan rugs are handmade, and you can identify it quite conveniently if you see it close. The weavers weave the rugs with wool by their hands. So, if you will notice in a machine-made rug, you will find perfect finishing. But when you see a handmade rug that is the original one, you will find the knots in varying distances. These knots are the best ways to know that it is a real Afghan rug. Also, you can test by dropping water on the rug. The real rug woolen fabric and will absorb the water instantly.
What Is The Difference Between Handwoven And Hand-Knotted Rugs?
One of the significant differences between handwoven Afghan rugs and hand-knotted rugs is the cost. The hand-knotted rugs are much more expensive than the handwoven ones. There are several reasons why the hand-knotted rugs are the expensive ones.
- The hand-knot procedure is quite complicated and takes a much higher time in production.
- The hand-knot method has much more sufficient detail in comparison to the handwoven rugs.
- Also, the wool used in the case of a hand-knotted rug is of much higher quality.
- Not everyone has the skill of hand-knotting. Only the professionals can do it.
What Types Of Rugs Are Used In Afghanistan?
The handwoven Afghan rugs from Afghanistan, also known as the Daulatabad rugs, are quite world-famous due to its quality and texture. Apart from this, many other rug types are famous in Afghanistan. These are:
- Killims
- Adraskand rugs or Shindand
- Mauri Rugs
- Baluch Rugs
What Is The Difference Between A Persian Rug And An Oriental Rug?
Often many people consider the Persian rug and the Oriental rug to be the same. But there are some significant differences between them.
- Origin: The Persian rugs are from Iran and Afghanistan. There are also weavers from Pakistan who make Persian rugs now. On the other hand, the Oriental rugs have their origins in China, India, Egypt, and some other countries.
- The Knots: Another significant difference between the two is that the oriental rugs have symmetrical knots while the Persian rugs have asymmetrical knots in them.
What Are Handwoven Afghan Rugs Made Of?
Afghan rugs are one of their kind. The wool is dyed in natural or vegetable colors first. Then, the weavers weave the rugs with knots to provide a perfectly high-quality Afghan carpet. Mostly, the original Afghan carpet is made up of vegetable-dyed woolen fabric.
Are Oriental Rugs Out Of Style?
The answer to this question is pretty complicated. Today, Oriental rugs are available in different styles and quality. The rich and the royal ones may prefer to go first for the silk Persian or the Afghan rugs due to its soft and rich look. But some people may like high-quality Oriental rugs to design the houses.
On the other hand, today, the demand for such Oriental rugs has increased even among the mediocre earning families. It is only the affordability that becomes a barrier for such people. Now, there are Oriental rugs available in fabrics such as synthetic that is available at an affordable cost.
How Can You Tell If A Rug Is Of Good Quality?
At the very instance, it may get quite challenging to tell whether a rug is of good quality or not. To know whether you are investing in a high-quality carpet or not, you have to do some crucial tests.
● The Knots:
Experts say that a high-quality rug will be densely knitted. So, measure an area of 1 inch vertically and horizontally on the rug. Now count the knots with that area of 1 inch. An average of more than 120 knots per inch can be said to be of excellent quality. The more number of knots per inch, the higher is the quality of the rug.
● Fabric Quality:
A real rug will be either made up of cotton, silk, or wool. If you are aiming at getting an Afghan rug, it should be made up of wool. But many fake mats are made up of synthetic or plastic. You can drop a drip of water on the mat to test this. If the rug absorbs the water instantly, you can be sure that it is wool. But if it does not, then it is not the real rug that you are searching for, for since long.
Are Hand-Knotted Rugs Worth It?
Weavers who manufacture rugs by hand insert each knot by their hand and then tie them. They make sure that each knot is bound in the right way. If there is a problem in between, they might even open up some part and then weave them again. Hence, it is quite a time-consuming and daunting task. No doubt, it offers a much high-quality, durable, and soft quality. It is due to this high-quality result and the hard work that the hand-knotted rugs are worth buying.
What Is A Good Knot Count In Rugs?
Counting the number of knots per square inch is the best way to judge a rug’s quality. Anything lesser than 80 knots per square inch is considered low quality. Experts say that an average quality rug should have 120 or more knots per square inch. The increasing number of knots will also increase the quality of the carpet. Something more than 300 knots per square inch offers an excellent quality rug.
How Can You Tell If A Rug Is Vintage?
Of course, the rug’s color will help the best in identifying the age of a rug. It is evident that over time, the dye of the fabric may get at least a little faded. But apart from the color, there are also other ways to tell whether the rug is vintage or not.
- One of the most common ways is to touch and feel the back of the rug. Vintage or old rugs will feel smooth at the end that is not in the new ones.
- If the rug is looking tightly-woven, but it offers a gritty and sandy feeling, it is undoubtedly a vintage rug.
Are Afghan Rugs Expensive?
Yes, handwoven Afghan rugs are costly compared to other rugs available across the world. The weavers of Afghanistan spend quite some time weaving a single piece of the rug because they dye the wool in vegetable dye and then hand-knot the fabric into rugs. As the rugs are hand-knotted, these are extremely soft and high-quality.
The hand-dyed fabric is another major reason why these rugs are unique and of higher quality than many other rug options available. Thus, these rugs are quite expensive in cost too. The rugs’ cost will depend upon the time spent on manufacturing the rug and the fabric used. The cost can range from $10,000 to $100,000 approximately.
Afghan rugs are for those who wish to have royal collections for interior decor. These rugs are unique and can attract anyone towards their look and quality. If you have got the original Afghan carpet, you can keep it for years to experience its warmth and impressive design.
