About Persian Carpets

Frequently Asked Questions

We cover the essentials for keeping a carpet beautiful — materials, how to choose, storage, cleaning intervals, and protecting against direct sunlight. For more detail, please see our "Learn About Persian Carpets" articles.

Persian carpets are mainly made from natural materials. Here, we introduce the characteristics of the main materials, including silk, which is our specialty.

Silk

Silk, our specialty, is used in the finest Persian carpets. Its characteristics are artistic beauty and excellent properties.

  • It has a beautiful luster that richly changes its expression depending on the angle of light, bringing splendor to the space.
  • Its extremely smooth and pleasant touch leaves an unforgettable impression once you feel it.
  • Using extremely fine threads, it can express high-density and delicate patterns that are difficult to achieve with other materials.
  • Due to its rarity and artistry, its value as an art piece is highly regarded.

Wool

A high-quality natural material widely used in Persian carpets.

  • It is soft and highly elastic, boasts excellent insulation, and has a pleasant feel against the skin.
  • Natural oils make it resistant to dirt, making daily care relatively easy.
  • Dyes are vibrant, beautifully expressing rich colors and intricate patterns.
  • It is durable, and its charm increases with long-term use.

Other Materials

Some tribal rugs also use camel hair or goat hair, each possessing a unique texture and rustic charm.

These wonderful natural materials, combined with traditional Persian techniques, create the carpet's unparalleled beauty, excellent functionality, and long-lasting durability. Carpets made especially with silk exude a special presence due to their exquisite artistry and rarity.

Please refer to this article for details:

Persian Carpet Materials and How to Choose

When choosing a Persian rug, there are several important points to consider. Use these as a guide to find the perfect rug for you.

  • Generally, the finer the weave (the higher the density), the clearer the pattern and the more effort is said to have gone into it. However, density is not everything; the overall balance, suitable for the design and intended use, is important.
  • High-quality silk rugs emit a deep, beautiful luster due to the quality of the material itself and the meticulous finishing. Check the unique brilliance that changes its expression depending on the angle of the light.
  • Rich colors and beautiful designs are a major appeal of Persian rugs. Important points also include whether the colors used are harmonious, whether the overall design balance is good, and whether high-quality dyes that resist fading are used.
  • The back of the rug is where the weaving technique and meticulousness of the work are honestly revealed. As the saying goes, "Look at the back of the rug," check if the weave is uniform and the knots are tightly packed.
  • Especially high-quality silk Persian rugs have a surprisingly soft and supple feel, more so than their appearance suggests. This is due to the high-quality material and excellent weaving technique.

Ultimately, whether you feel "comfortable" when you actually touch it yourself is also an important point. Check the pleasant feel of natural materials against the skin and the moist texture.
It is important to comprehensively consider these points and choose a high-quality piece.

Please refer to this article for details:

How to distinguish authenticity - 6 secrets to choosing without regret

These are basic care tips to keep your Persian rug beautiful for a long time.
Daily Care:
Vacuuming: Avoid rotating brushes and use the vacuum cleaner on "low" suction. Gently vacuum along the pile.
Stains: If you spill liquid, blot it with a clean cloth without rubbing. Then, air dry it in a well-ventilated area. For stubborn stains, consult a professional.
Storage and Precautions:
Everyday Placement: A well-ventilated area that is not exposed to direct sunlight is ideal. Avoid humid places or extreme dryness.
Long-term Storage: After cleaning, roll the rug with the pile facing inwards, wrap it in a breathable cloth, and store it with insect repellent (suitable for the material). Avoid sealing it in plastic, etc.
Wrinkles and Characteristics of Handwoven Rugs:
Wrinkles: Creases from folding often disappear naturally over time when the rug is laid out. If they bother you, you can try air-drying in the shade or carefully applying steam from a distance.
Thread Treatment: Do not forcibly pull or cut the thread joints or slight fraying, which are characteristic of hand-woven rugs.

Tips for Longevity:
Regularly rotate the rug 180 degrees to even out sun exposure and wear.
Placing an appropriate rug pad underneath the rug reduces stress on the rug.
Use protective pads under the legs of heavy furniture.

If you have any trouble with maintenance methods, or if professional cleaning or repair is required, we recommend consulting a specialist familiar with Persian rug handling.

For more details, please refer to this article:

Persian Silk Carpet Care

Yes, the back of a Persian rug is a very important point for assessing its quality.

By looking at the back of a rug, you can mainly check the following points:

Uniformity and density of knots: How uniform in size each knot is, and how finely and densely they are packed. Generally, the finer and denser the knots, the more time and effort has gone into making the rug, and the more complex patterns can be expressed.

Carefulness of the weave: The neatness of the work is evident in how regularly the weave is aligned, and whether weft threads are not unnecessarily protruding.

Quality of the yarn used (in some cases): Although rare, you can sometimes feel the texture of the yarn from the back.

A good rug has a beautiful back, almost like the front, with a uniform and solid weave. This is a testament to the fact that it was carefully woven by a skilled artisan with high-level techniques.

By checking not only the design on the front but also the condition of the back, you can gain a deeper understanding of the rug's quality and value.
Please refer to this article for more details.
About the knot count of Persian rugs

The general guideline for professional cleaning of Persian rugs is once every 5 to 10 years.

However, this is just a general guideline, and the optimal frequency will vary depending on the rug's usage, location, and degree of soiling.

If the rug is in a high-traffic area, such as a living room, you might consider cleaning it at shorter intervals (e.g., every five years).

For households with pets or small children, where rugs are more prone to dirt and stains, we recommend adjusting the cleaning frequency as needed based on the rug's condition.

Conversely, if the rug is in a low-traffic area or used as a wall hanging for decorative purposes, longer intervals than the above guidelines may be acceptable.

As part of your daily maintenance, regular vacuuming to remove dust and surface dirt is also important to maintain appropriate cleaning frequency and extend the life of your rug.

Thorough cleaning requires specialized knowledge and techniques that understand the rug's material, weave, and dye characteristics. To keep your valuable Persian rug beautiful for a long time, always entrust its cleaning to a professional.

It is very difficult to state a blanket "appropriate price range" for Persian rugs, as their prices vary greatly depending on many factors that determine their quality and characteristics. There is a very wide price range, from relatively small rugs that can be purchased for tens of thousands of yen, to those that are worth millions of yen or more as works of art.

The main factors that influence the price and market value of Persian rugs include the following:

Material: The type and quality of the materials used (e.g., silk, high-quality wool, cork wool). Generally, rugs that use a lot of silk tend to be more expensive.

Size: The dimensions of the rug. Larger rugs are more expensive.

Weave density/fineness: The number of knots per unit area. The finer (higher density) the weave, the more time and advanced skill required to produce it, making it more expensive.

Design complexity and color usage: Intricate and complex designs, or those with a large number of colors used, also increase the effort required for production and thus affect the price.

Place of origin and workshop: Rugs made in historically famous regions or by specific skilled workshops can be more expensive due to their brand value and rarity.

Age and condition: In the case of antique Persian rugs, the age of production, preservation condition, historical value, and rarity significantly affect the price.

Hand-woven: Authentic Persian rugs are fundamentally hand-woven, and the considerable time and skilled labor involved in their production are basic components of their price.

These elements are intricately intertwined to determine the price of each individual Persian rug.

Generally, Persian rugs are not very resistant to prolonged exposure to strong direct sunlight.

The main reason is that the natural fibers (such as wool and silk) and dyes used in Persian rugs can gradually fade due to UV light, or the fibers can dry out and become brittle. Fading can be particularly noticeable in areas with dark or vibrant colors.

To ensure your valuable Persian rug remains beautiful for a long time, we recommend keeping the following points in mind:

Avoid direct sunlight: Whenever possible, avoid placing the rug in a location where it will be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods.

Soften the light: If placing the rug near a window, it's effective to use sheer curtains, blinds, or UV-cutting film to soften strong sunlight.

Rotate regularly: Occasionally rotating the rug 180 degrees to prevent one section from being constantly exposed to sunlight can also help minimize uneven fading.

While indirect light in daily life won't cause immediate significant damage, prolonged exposure to strong direct sunlight can affect the rug's beauty and lifespan. Therefore, it's best to avoid it as much as possible.

Hand-woven Persian rugs are extremely durable, and with proper care, their lifespan can be very long, ranging from several decades to, in some cases, over 100 years. In fact, many antique Persian rugs around the world have been carefully passed down through generations.

The specific lifespan of a rug varies depending on various factors, such as:

Quality of materials: The quality of the wool or silk used.

Quality and density of weave: How finely, carefully, and tightly it is woven.

Usage environment: The amount of foot traffic in the area where it is placed, the effects of direct sunlight, etc.

Frequency and quality of care: Daily cleaning and whether regular inspections by specialists are performed.

High-quality Persian rugs are not just floor coverings; they possess remarkable durability and artistry, maintaining their beauty and functionality for many years and literally capable of being passed down through generations. By ensuring proper care, it is possible to further extend their value and lifespan.

While it depends on the material, you can place furniture on your Persian rug. However, keeping the following points in mind will help maintain its beauty for longer.

Leaving heavy furniture or furniture with thin legs in the same spot for extended periods can leave marks or indentations in the rug's pile. Silk rugs, in particular, are very soft, making them prone to temporary indentations from the weight of furniture. However, this is often not a functional problem with the rug itself, and the pile may naturally recover somewhat over time or be restored through proper maintenance at a specialty store.

Effective measures include the following:

  • Place dedicated protective materials (felt pads or furniture cups, etc.) under the furniture legs.
  • Occasionally shift the position of the furniture slightly or change the orientation of the rug.
  • Place a breathable rug pad underneath the rug to prevent moisture and enhance cushioning.

By taking these precautions, you can enjoy coordinating your room while protecting your precious Persian rug.

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