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The Antique Detective   The Antique Detective Study the history of Oriental carpets before buying   By Anne Gilbert If you like the look of Oriental rugs but are intimidated by the mystique and hesitate buying on your own at auction and estate sales, take the time to learn a few facts. The same goes for old Chinese rugs.   First, forget the misconception that only a dealer can be knowledgeable. Actually some of the most knowledgeable collectors are self-educated. However, it does require research. What and how to look for in Oriental and Chinese rugs is just the beginning.   Starting with Orientals, if a rug shows an irregular weave or a variance of colour from one place to another, does this mean there is something wrong with it? To the contrary. This is proof it was hand woven. Perhaps the weaver ran out of the original colors. And, probably several weavers added their own touch. This is known as "abrash". Such effects may have been deliberately done. Don't confuse this with running dyes where designs are blurred and bleed into lighter areas of the rug. Avoid them.   Basically there are five Oriental rug types; Persian, Turkestan, Caucasian, Indian and Chinese.   Persian: Designs range from bold geometric tribal and nomadic patterns to the curving floral patterns in intricate designs. Colors range from bold to subtle.   Turkestan Patterns are repeated often in the form of geometric "guls"   Caucasian:: Bold geometric motifs in bright blues, reds, white.   Indian:: These rugs can confuse experts as well as beginners since they are copies of both Persian and Chinese rugs. To the trained eye, they have a coarser weave and the designs are lacking the artists' centuries old touch. An "Indo-Persian" rug has a Persian design but is made in India.   In addition, there are also the flat-weave-type Orientals. Most familiar are the Persian and Turkish kilims. The Turkish are woven in two strips sewn together.   Other examples may be prayer style made in area rug and scatter sizes. They are usually very long. If Persian they are woven in one piece and usually reversible.   Another type of flat-weave are the Indian tapestry-woven "dhurries." They are made of cotton and unfortunately don't have a long life.   Turkoman rugs, known as "Bokharas" have a red background and their designs are geometric figures or "guls" that are in a continuous row on row pattern. Often these repeat motifs are in contrasting colors.   Prayer rugs can be recognized by their central "arch" design, often with pillars on each side. They assume a variety of forms in different countries. For instance. if the prayer rug has a series of stepped arches it is from Turkey.   Not many pictorial rugs were made. They depicted historical scenes and legends or famous people. Most available, older Oriental rugs are from the 1920s, 30s.   To examine a rug turn it over and look for rewoven sections and alterations. If you see that a damaged section was cut out and the rest of the pieces are stitched together the value of the rug is lessened by from 60 to 70%.   Unfortunately, some rugs may have had worn pile touched up with paint which will come off if you rub it with a cloth. Be especially wary of buying rugs at local auctions.   Look closely at items you are interested in, Before buying, learn to look at such clues as border designs and central motifs one by one. Each tribe and village had specific border designs. For instance, Caucasian rugs have stylized figures of people, dogs and birds. Persian rugs may have stars and rosettes. Caucasians also have serrated leaves and striped borders.   Turkish rug borders often have running vines, rhodian lilies and rosettes similar to Persian forms. Discs, eight-pointed stars and floral geometrics are sometimes used.   There are many types of knotting used to identify where rugs were made. Most familiar is the "Ghirdes,” also known as the Turkish knot. These are illustrated in the many available books about Oriental rugs.   Look at a fine Oriental as a painted canvas. Is the finished result pleasing to the eye? Are the colours bright and the design appealing?   Value depends not only on current popularity of one type of rug over another but the scarcity of examples. In the 1980s Tekke Turkoman rugs and carpets with deep red fields were popular. At the same time many were being reproduced. The result of this was lower prices in the ‘90s.   Chinese rugs and carpets: If you like the look, Chinese rugs from the Art Deco period in the ‘20s and ’30s, are colourful and affordable. Also reasonably priced are the multi-floral rugs from the same period, many under $1,000.   Usually, the background is a solid colour with a central motif of flowers, animals and Buddhist and Tao symbols. The most common are in blue and white or tan and vary combinations.   Back in the 1920s and ‘30s, it was common for people to have rugs and carpets custom made to match North American room décor. Some of the finest Chinese rugs I have seen were made for private individuals using multi-floral motifs in a variety of colours.   Often at auction, Chinese carpets are listed as being 18th century. However few 18th century examples are seen outside of museums. Most are from the late 19th century to the 1930s. Records show that rugs woven near the end of the Ming period prior or during the first half of the 17th century still exist.   Chinese rugs can usually be identified by their regional designs as can those from Iran and Turkey.   Those made from the late 19th to early 20th century were mostly made at the inland weaving centers of Ninghsia, Paaotou and Sinkiang. These were wool-raising areas that extended through inner Mongolia into Sinkiang. Their designs were influenced by the Turk and Muslim population.   Ninghsia rugs often used prayer squares while Paotou designs included over-all patterns of small scale motifs. These range from fretwork and flower heads to "rice-grain." This region is also known for pictorial rugs that combine designs from the Turkish and Muslim culture along with Chinese symbols. Pomegranate and vase patterns, and Chinese mythical objects are also typical.   After the 1920s, the traditional styles and colors disappeared. It is the newer colour combinations that not only identify the region but the age of Chinese rugs. New colours included lime green, lilac, pink and orange.   Photo 1: Fereghan Sarouk rug, central Persia, late 19th century   Photo 2: Indo-Bidjar Oriental carpet, second half 20th century   Photo 3: Chinese Art Deco rug   Anne Gilbert has been self-syndicating her column "The Antique Detective" and special art and antique features since 1983. She has authored nine books on the subject. "The Antique Detective" appears in the Chicago Sun Times, Palm Beach Post, Patriot Ledger and many other newspapers. Over the years, she has appeared on network television and has also been an appraiser for major museums and private individuals.       Return to top of page   This Is Livin' Publishing © 2010 581 8th Line West, RR1 Hastings, ON, K0L 1Y0 Phone/Fax: 705-696-1833   webmaster