How do I care for my antique carpet?

Protect the textile by placing a quality breathable underlay beneath it to prevent slipping and reduce friction against hard floors. Vacuum gently with suction only, avoiding rotating brush bars that can damage aged wool pile. Rotate the rug periodically to ensure even wear from foot traffic and sun exposure. Arrange for professional hand-washing by specialists familiar with historic textiles rather than chemical dry cleaning.

How can I tell a village rug from a city piece?

Village rugs display geometric motifs, open fields, and spontaneous design choices worked on upright or horizontal floor looms by individual families. Their construction tends to be heavier and more rustic. City carpets rely on fixed cartoon guides produced by master designers, resulting in precise curvilinear florals and exceptionally fine knot counts. These workshop pieces reflect formal aesthetic traditions.

What is tribal weaving?

Tribal weaving encompasses portable art created by nomadic and semi-nomadic groups such as the Baluch, Afshar, and Kashgai peoples. These makers drew upon ancestral memories and local symbolism rather than written templates. Their works frequently feature bold geometric structures, dark palette contrasts, and charming irregularities that reveal the hand of the individual maker working in camp settings.

How are different regional styles distinguished?

Regional identities reveal themselves through specific structural habits, colour palettes, and recurring motif vocabularies unique to geographic pockets. Heriz pieces, for instance, lean towards monumental geometric medallions and sturdy brick-red tones. Khamseh and Bakhtiar rugs utilise distinct panel layouts or repeating garden motifs tied to specific tribal confederations. Examining the back of the rug often clarifies these regional origins through knotting peculiarities.