Buying an oriental rug is an important decision and we realize that not everyone has had an opportunity to learn about rugs. Here is some information we hope might help you make a more informed decision about purchasing an Oriental rug.

Buying a rug that you love will in the long run give you more pleasure than a rug that seems to be a bargain. G.O.B.s ("Going out of Business" sales) are, unfortunately, ubiquitous and dishonest. One must also beware of discounts that seem too good to be true. Any rug dealer offering outrageous discounts must be pricing his rugs too high to begin with. One should avoid sales and hotel "auctions" that advertise "seized goods." You won't find either the best rugs or the best prices.

Those new to rug buying should expect their eye to develop. They will come to appreciate quality that might not be obvious at first. Natural, or vegetal dyes, and hand spun wool are descriptive terms that have implications regarding quality. There is more to a good rug than meets the eye. One can learn the feel of good wool and the look of natural dyes.

Rugs made with lanolin rich wool will last longer and resist stains. To test a rug for lanolin rub your hand across the surface repeatedly. If the wool is healthy and full of lanolin it will make your hand shiny. Also notice if the rug sheds a substantial amount of fibers. If so, it is most likely made with inexpensive, over-processed wool.

Check the back of a rug to see if it is darker than the front. If it is, then it has most likely been chemically treated to simulate age. This process harms the wool and shortens the life of the rug.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to test for authenticity of vegetal dyes. Ask for the name of the rugs producer. Those making real vegetal dyed rugs are well known in the trade. If the dealer cannot tell you who produced the rug then they most likely aren't telling the truth about the authenticity of the dyes.

Ultimately, you must come to trust the dealer, and this can take more than one afternoon. There isn't a better bargain than the rug you buy from an honest and informed dealer.

Special thanks to David Levine for much of these tips.