How do I clean an antique rug?

Gentle surface brushing and professional specialist washing preserve the natural wool fibres and dyes without causing structural damage. Avoid harsh chemical treatments or domestic carpet cleaners that strip natural oils from the wool and alter colour fidelity.

Can I place these on heated floors?

Natural fibres tolerate moderate ambient warmth provided a breathable underlay is utilised to prevent moisture accumulation beneath the textile. Excessive direct heat dries out traditional wool and cotton foundations, leading to premature brittleness in the warps.

How are tribal rugs distinguished from city pieces?

Tribal pieces display asymmetrical geometric memory designs, wider abrasash colour shifts, and coarser village wool structures. Urban city carpets feature curvilinear floral patterns, precise cartography, finer knot counts, and often incorporate cotton foundations.

What is abrasash in these textiles?

Abrasash describes subtle tonal variations within a single field colour caused by shifts in dye batches or natural wool lots during hand production. This characteristic confirms the use of traditional dyeing methods rather than uniform synthetic industrial processes.