With their beauty, uniqueness and tremendous value, Oriental rugs are a very common addition to a room’s overall design scheme. In fact, many people design rooms around high-quality Oriental rugs; showing them off as the ultimate centerpiece. Yet, it can be easy to fail to spot a fraudulent item, and so we offer you these 5 signs your Oriental rug is fake.
It is Coated on the Back
While having a non-skid coating or some other impervious material can make it nicer to own and use a rug, it is a huge red flag that the rug is not at all what it claims to be. The true Oriental rug has a mirror image of the rug’s facing pattern on the backside, though it is often without any pile, looking more like needlework. If you find any sort of coating, it is definitely not what it claims to be.
Dyes Don’t Seem Color Fast
Vegetable dyes are the norm for any Oriental rug, and one of the leading signs your Oriental rug is fake is if those colors bleed into one another or transfer to other surfaces. An authentic rug would never transfer any of its color to a damp cloth left on a single area for hours at a time. The use of vegetable dyes is the only way to prevent any loss or transfer of colors. If those colors of bled into one another or do not test as being color fast, it is not authentic.
The Fringe Can Be a Sign
One of the best ways to recognize signs your Oriental rug is fake is to look at the fringe. A true hand knotted Oriental has a fringe that is actually part of the rug itself. It is never going to be sewn on or (worse) glued to the ends of the rug. In fact, it is fringe keeping the carpet together. Look closely at the fringe for the knots. If you see stitching there instead, it is a fake.
It is Hand Tufted
Another of the major signs your Oriental rug is fake is if the carpet is sold as “hand tufted”. This is not the same as being hand knotted, and an Oriental is only hand knotted. You want the hand knotted rugs because they have a typical life span of fifty years or more. The hand tufted rugs last a not so impressive five to seven years!
It is Not Wool
Among the biggest signs your Oriental rug is fake is if it is made of something other than wool. While there may be some silk options, and even a few other natural fibers. The most common material is wool, and there will never be anything synthetic in an authentic Oriental rug.
These are the five biggest indicators that someone has or is trying to sell a fake. The price of an authentic Oriental rug is going to be high, and it should be an investment that lasts a lifetime. Be sure you know the real from the fake to get the best results.