Just bought a Pakistani oriental rug but not sure if it’s actually real?

Well, we’ve got a list of tips to help you identify an antique oriental rug from a fake one.

Because, well, there’s fraud in every sphere of life!

Oriental Rugs – The History of Woven Art

Oriental carpets and rugs are hand knotted only in some Asian countries, including Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Nepal, Tibet, and China.

However, the art of weaving is majorly a part of the rich Iranian culture, formerly known as Persia. And yes, that’s also where Persian handmade carpets come from.

The carpets are famous for their rich natural colors, traditional patterns, and the weaved symbols that are linked with the ingenious Iranian culture.

There are various other things that differentiate an oriental handmade rug from a common machine-made rug.

Nevertheless, not all oriental rugs are handmade, and thus, not all are real.

Want to know how to identify a fake oriental rug? Read the tips below!

1. It’s Got a Hard Plastic Back

2. The Colors Bleed

3. The Fringe is Glued on or Sewn

4. It isn’t Hand Knotted

5. Not Made with Real Wool

6. The Price is Way Too Reasonable

1. It’s Got a Hard Plastic Back

If you come across a handmade Pakistani rug for sale that doesn’t have a soft backing, one that matches the pattern on the top, then it isn’t handmade.

So, when the rug has a hard plastic back, it means it’s made of a synthetic material instead of pure wool.

2. The Colors Bleed

Want to know one of the major reasons why real Persian carpets cost so much?

Well, that’s because they’re only dyed with natural vegetable dyes. And, as you might already know, natural dyes never bleed.

So, if the color bleeds when wet, or transfers to a damp cloth, the rug is fake.

3. The Fringe is Glued on or Sewn

Here’s an interesting fact:

The fringe on an oriental rug isn’t just a design element, it’s a structural element as well.

That’s why, a handmade rug can never not have a fringe.

So, if you feel that the fringe is sewn or glued, just don’t buy!

4. It isn’t Hand Knotted

Always remember this rule:

Hand tufted doesn’t mean hand knotted!

In a hand knotted oriental rug, each single knot is hand tied by skilled craftsmen. And so, a hand tufted rug is fake because it’s made with the help of a tufting gun. That’s cheating, right?

5. Not Made with Real Wool

An oriental rug that isn’t made of premium grade wool? Sounds fake to us!

In other words, if the rug doesn’t use fine wool, it isn’t authentic, and also not worth buying!

6. The Price is Way Too Reasonable

Are you a true carpet lover?

Then it’d be hard for you to steer clear of rugs that have cheap retail prices. But you’d need to do that if you want a real, authentic oriental handmade rug for your living room.

Because, well, oriental rugs are quite expensive.

So, whenever you buy your next rug, make sure you’re not being fooled with a fake one!