The 8 Points to a Carpet Part 2 5-8
Point 5: shearing
in all pile carpets, after coming off the loom, the pile requires a shearing or cutting of the pile. most of the countries are still using a hand shearing process, where people use large cutting shears, cutting the pile. the important element to keep an eye out for is how even the shearing process is. if the pile is cut to0 low at certain points, then, a result can be unusual shading. normally the pile is cut in one direction. the natural phenomenon of a light and dark version of the carpet from one end to the other will appear.
the other process is when a hand held shearing machine is utilized. one can find a combed finished on the pile as a result. again, one has to look for inconsistent cutting.
Point 6: wash
the washing process is to clean the carpet and to add different textural effects onto the oriental carpet. new rugs may go through a tea-stained wash, which changes a new carpet of vibrant colors, to become a soft antique look. in the last few years, this was a most sought after look. however, recently, there has been an emergence of the popularity of a lightly washed carpet. the colors are seen brighter.
there are a handful of oriental carpets that were washed severely, to make a real antique look. as a result, the life of the carpet was greatly diminished. here is another example of why one should really feel the carpet. an over washed carpet will feel like over permed hair, dry and brittle.
there are different wash processes around the world. one of the best washes is here in the united states. many oriental carpets are washed here, and as a result, the cost is more. another country is in zurich, switzerland. the traditional persian wash from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century was the best. the proof of which can be seen in the persian rugs that are 80 years and older.
Point 7: overall look
the overall look and condition of an oriental carpet. the carpet one is looking at has traveled a vast distance before ending up on the showroom floor. some of the countries of origin of these oriental rugs are from china, pakistan, india, turkey, and russia and of course iran just to mention a few. unfortunately, there are times when oriental carpets receives rough handling, resulting in tears and staining, and or if shipped by sea, water damage may occur. a water-damaged carpet will have a bad smell of mildew and are dry and brittle in certain areas.
the shearing must be looked at once again, since a second shearing must be performed after the carpet has been dried after the wash process. one must look at the carpet edges, where there is a serging added. the fringes are important as well.
personal care of the carpet is the key to the life of any carpet. if all of the points above mentioned are met, then one can easily vacuum a carpet periodically, spot clean water soluble satins with a good rug detergent, and one can use a solvent for oil based stains. a professional rug cleaner would be highly recommended for an entire carpet cleaning. it would be up to the owner of the carpet. a new rug may not need to be cleaned for 2 to 4 years.
Point 8: value
there are three types of value, functional, intrinsic, and sentimental value.
functional value refers to the durability of a carpet, or how long will a carpet last. in general, any hand made carpet will out live our mortal life. going back to the carpet content of point 2, good material content will account for long term wear. with proper personal care, it is no surprise we still see carpets from over a 100 years ago.
intrinsic value addresses the question of how does a hand made rug hold its monetary value. for the most part, carpets made in persia pre-wwii, holds the best values. one of the main reasons for this is, the raw material used in rug production was all natural, like that of natural dyes. synthetic dyes were widely used post-wwii. another possible factor can be determined by global politics. if for example, india stops production on its carpets, then pre-existing carpets will go up in value. however, if india continues to produce similar carpets annually, there will be a slight difference in price due to the cost of production. basically, carpets made in the early era, which is no longer made, making existing carpets highly favored and sought after. with so much interest, prices will be highly competitive for ownership.
sentimental value is taken under consideration, not in terms of monetary value, but what the carpet may evoke in emotions. an old carpet may be inherited from a family member, who you may have grown up with as a child. looking at that carpet may remind you of your early childhood, which is hopefully a pleasant one. or a certain carpet might remind one of a past event in one’s past. a carpet with such sentimental value might never be sold for any price. it is not uncommon to find carpets becoming a family legacy, being handed down from generation to generation, especially since a well made carpet can survive for many years.
