How do I clean an antique rug?

Gentle surface vacuuming without a rotating brush attachment removes loose dust without stressing the old wool fibres. Deep washing should be left to specialist conservators who understand natural dyes and historical wool structures.

Are these rugs suitable for high traffic?

Traditional village and tribal carpets were built for daily domestic use and withstand moderate foot traffic well. Placing a quality underlay beneath the piece prevents slipping and reduces friction against the floorboards.

How can I tell tribal from village rugs?

Tribal rugs typically display less rigid symmetry, asymmetric colour variations, and nomadic motifs woven from memory. Village rugs often show slightly more structured formats and tighter geometric planning within local cooperative traditions.

What causes the abrash effect?

Abrash appears as subtle horizontal bands of shifting colour tone across the field of the rug. This variation occurs naturally when dyers mix new dye batches or use hand-spun wool that absorbs colour differently.