Iranian carpets have won the hearts of many individuals owing to their unbeaten quality and durability. Not to forget the traditional designs that many modern carpets have tried to mimic and failed. When purchasing Iranian carpet there are a few guidelines to factor in which distinguish the real Iranian carpets from imitations in the market. No matter how much effort is put into creating duplicates, the authenticity of Iranian carpets cannot be fully compromised as there are so many factors that make them unique. If interested in buying an Iranian carpet, focus on these few pointers that are unique to Iranian carpets and will help choose the best pieces from a wide selection of carpets available in a store. You do not have to be a carpet connoisseur to understand these, just keen attention to detail that will go a long way.
Patterns
Iranian carpets have rich patterns designed associated with luxury and royalty. There are a variety of geometrical patterns, and other unique tribal, floral, or paisley based patterns woven by craftsmen from all over Iran. These unique designs stand out from everyday carpets and denote the difference between Iranian carpets and others. They are hard to replicate and most pieces are 100% authentic. Fewer options may have similar designs if woven by a machine. In general, if looking for a highly unique carpet, Iranian carpets are the way to go.
Material
There are two main materials used in the making of Iranian carpets, these are; wool and silk. Silk carpets are naturally smooth and shiny, quite easy to distinguish from woolen alternatives. However, they are harder to come by as most Iranian carpets are woven from wool. The appearance of the wool is dependent on several factors mostly to do with the type of sheep and conditions around the time of shearing. These two fabrics should be the go-to for Iranian carpets and synthetic rugs should be avoided. There are synthetic Iranian carpets but these are purely knitted by machines.
Number of Knots
This is an important feature that is unique to good Iranian carpets. Whereas nobody expects you to count each knot one by one, at a glance it is possible to estimate if the knot count is sufficient to make a good rug. On average, one hundred and twenty knots per square inch is the ideal count that makes a good quality rug. If the knots on a rug seem too perfect or appear uniform throughout, that is likely to be a machine woven rug. If looking for that exotic customize rug then that might not be suitable for you.
Color
The ultimate Iranian carpets have their colors derived from natural dyes. Therefore, when buying Iranian carpets the colors to look out for are shades of pigment that seem to be closer to natural extracts from flowers, insects, and other living things. Upon brushing your hand over an Iranian carpet, authentic rugs will have uneven coloration as you go deeper into the fabric. This is because natural dyes tend to coat the top layer well while the threads are less pigmented at the bottom. Conspicuous color pigments that are even all over the threads are a characteristic of synthetic carpets.
Price
Iranian carpets UAE attracts quite the prices and often are associated with the rich. Bearing in mind how long it takes to complete a piece, it is only fair that the weavers are handsomely compensated for their efforts and the sellers make a profit. Ultimately, the more you spend on a rug, the better the quality of the rug you get. However, before walking into a shop and asking for the most expensive rug with the objective of getting the highest quality, visit several sellers and compare their prices to have a general idea of the prices before making the decision of purchasing one.