How do I clean an old wool rug?

Surface dirt responds well to gentle, regular suction with a standard vacuum cleaner without a beater bar. Avoid aggressive chemical treatments that might strip the natural dyes from the hand-spun wool. Professional textile conservators should handle deeper washing or stain removal. Keeping the piece away from direct, harsh sunlight preserves the saturated blue ground.

Are these rugs suitable for high traffic?

The robust hand-spun wool construction provides natural resilience that withstands moderate everyday foot traffic. Placing a suitable underlay beneath the piece prevents slipping and reduces internal fibre friction. Runners and area rugs perform reliably in hallways and living spaces when treated with care. Their dense pile absorbs wear while maintaining the integrity of the tribal design.

How can I tell the age of a piece?

Dating relies on examining the natural dye variations, wool consistency, and structural characteristics unique to nineteenth-century production. Certain examples bear woven dates in older calendars, offering a precise point of origin. Stylistic shifts from large tribal medallions to more repetitive patterns also help narrow down the decade of creation. Expert analysis of the foundation materials confirms whether a piece originates from the 1850s or later periods.

What causes the crooked shape in some rugs?

Tribal weavers working on traditional vertical floor looms without rigid architectural guides often caused slight natural shifts in width. These irregularities reflect the organic, non-industrial nature of village production. Such deviations in symmetry are standard characteristics of authentic folk art rather than structural faults. Collectors value these subtle asymmetries as evidence of genuine hand-knotted heritage.