Persian Carpet

 “I think we need some glamor” that is quoting  Carrie Bradshaw before hitting the middle east  in Sex in the City 2 . And I do believe her so. So there go her girls on a trip to the middle east. Ah, middle eastern opulence and grandiosity, makes me think of Arabian night parties, gypsies, prince and princesses, caves piled with gold coins and pretty gems, and carpets. Yes, carpets. Take a closer look at any Arabian themed snapshot or movie and you’ll see one. This is because Persian or Iranian carpets are of the finest in the world and is a symbol of middle eastern culture. 

 Persian carpets are traditionally made by hand though modernity has given way to cheaper machine produced carpets. The difference? Every single knot which constitutes the entire carpet or rug is done manually thus giving each carpet unique and highly valuable collector’s  item. It is difficult for the untrained eye to tell the difference between traditional and machine made carpets. Handmade carpets are usually made of wool, cotton, or silk; machine made also use these materials plus synthetic materials which also lowers the value of carpet. You can closely check the fringe of the carpet to tell whether its traditional or not, the fringe of a traditional carpet should be an extension of its body if it is sewn on the rug then it is a knock off.  Best way to check authenticity is to lock at the bck of the carpet, if the knots are perfect, then it’s a knock off. You should be looking for slightly uneven and imperfect  knots which is a sign from the gods that its hand made. It also has more knots versus machine made ones. More knots, more sturdy, more valuable.

Knock offs are not entirely bad, especially when you have a budget to consider. Sometimes you just fake it until you make it. They provide almost the same aesthetic glamour minus the bucks and if you’re have a fleeting fancy for things, knock offs are the way to go. If you’re going for investment and future heirloom pieces then without a doubt go for the real thing. If you’re not into anything faux then go for smaller pieces of the real, get yourself a runner or a small rug.

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Carpets on the Move