Things to check when buying a rug

To begin with I would say that if you are buying a rug from a reputable dealer then they should have checked all of the following and point out any flaws or issues before you purchase. That is in my mind part of the service that you pay for. However if you are buying online, privately or from an antique shop the onus will most likely be on you to check these things. Antique rugs nearly always have issues due to their age unless you are buying at the top end of the market. The trade off is between condition and beauty, older rugs are in my opinion far superior to new and vintage pieces. The question is what is acceptable and what are the more serious problems to be avoided.

Moth damage is a problem for many old rugs, look for the sculpted pile and lines of wear that weave across the rug. Sometimes this is impossible to see from a photo so request full resolution photos that allow you to look closely at the condition. If you have the rug in front of you then this is of course much easier. Inspect the rug from each end as the light will often catch these sculpted areas better from one end. Generally the moth has long gone but you can sometimes see rugs that are still infested and they will require a deep clean and perhaps treatment. It is my fear that I bring one of these unnoticed into my collection, I call this the Trojan horse syndrome and I counter this risk by quarantine, cleaning and sometimes chemical treatment. A badly damaged rug might still be structurally sound especially where the foundation is cotton but on tribal rugs with an all wool construction it will also mean holes.

Holes can sometimes be hard to see so check the piece closely, a hole can be expensive to repair and will tend to get worse unless secured. It does depend on where you intend the rug to live of course, a damaged beauty can hang happily on the wall for a lifetime and even bear being on the floor in an area of light wear.

Wear to the pile is almost guaranteed on an old rug and quite often enhances the look of a rug. When the pile is so worn that you can see the base of the knot the design becomes better articulated, it is in my mind a maturing of the rug like a good wine. When the foundation begins to appear between the knots then it will begin to detract from the design but isn’t necessarily a sign the rug is about to fall apart. When the warps and wefts are loose and broken then we have the beginning of a hole that will need some attention. It is very common to see a corroded brown, the wool being more brittle due to the mordant used in the dying process. I don’t consider it to be a problem and sometimes this sculpted pile can be attractive.

The main areas that wear first tend to be the sides and ends. The selvedge that run down each side are normally made from one or more bundles of warps that are overcast with wool. Most old rugs will need this repairing several times in their long life, it is an easy job and not of great concern. The ends are trickier to repair and have often retreated into the rug several rows of knots. Sometimes this can take out a minor border and cause an imbalance in the design. You will probably have to accept some damage here but check to see if the ends are stabilised or stopped to prevent any further loss. Rugs can unravel from the sides and ends quite quickly if not secured.

A good question to ask and one that is not always immediately clear from a photo is does the rug lie flat. Rugs with a cotton foundation tend not to have this problem but an all wool foundation can often be an issue over time. Old tribal rugs are often wonky and might even have one side longer than the other. I think that this is part of their charm but if the rug rucks up due to excessive material at one point then these areas will wear faster and this will normally already be apparent. These wear creases are harder to deal with and the rug may need to be stretched which in itself isn’t always a long term cure, they can revert to their previous shape after a wash and may need further stretching. I think it really depends on what you are prepared to accept and where the rugs is to be located. It is very common and as in all of the issues discussed something to perhaps accept as part of the condition – beauty trade off.

Areas of repair are also very common, some expertly executed and almost impossible to detect from the front. An inspection of the back might be more revealing but unless you are a collector then a good repair is not a problem. Some repairs are of lesser quality and sometimes rugs have darned areas that do detract from the look. Occasionally large areas of a rug might have been cut out and the rug shortened and rejoined or ‘cut and shut’ as it is known. This can be hard to detect although most dealers seem to spot this at a hundred yards. It is an issue if you are buying an example of a type for a collection as the rug is no longer original, it has lost its shape and often the design is compromised. If you are buying a decorative rug then it is simply a question of is the work good and do you like the overall appearance.

Stains can be a problem, again they aren’t always visible from a photograph but in certain lights can very much ruin the appearance. Rugs get very dirty and unless you buy from a dealer you may have to find a professional rug cleaner to revive your purchase. These experts will vibrate the dirt from the foundation and give them a deep clean using some gentle detergents. Odours can sometimes be difficult to remove even after a clean.

Rugs that have been exposed to damp conditions may have mildew, this is a major problem as the rug will be substantially weakened and can tear like paper when you handle them. Generally the surface will be discoloured too but a firm handle of the rug should reveal any issues.

The above amounts to quite a list. I think one must appreciate that antique rugs are likely to have some of these issues and general wear is part of their story. Hopefully it will inform rather than deter those looking to buy an old rug.