How do I clean a silk carpet?

Professional specialist cleaning is essential for maintaining delicate silk textiles. Household washing methods risk damaging the delicate fibres and altering the dyes. Vacuuming should be done gently without a beater bar to prevent snagging the pile or foundation threads.

Are these rugs suitable for high traffic areas?

Pure silk and fine woven carpets are generally better suited to low-traffic rooms or display as wall hangings. Their delicate construction requires careful placement to preserve the pile. Pieces with wool piles on silk foundations offer slightly more resilience for everyday living spaces.

How can I tell the period of a rug?

Dating relies on stylistic analysis, material composition, and structural characteristics recorded in the weave. Nineteenth-century examples often display distinct natural dyes and traditional tribal or classical motifs. Twentieth-century pieces frequently show standardised production techniques and specific regional signatures such as those from Qum or Kayseri.

What is the difference between art silk and pure silk?

Pure silk is a natural protein fibre harvested from silkworms, prized for its strength, natural lustre, and softness. It forms the primary material in classical Persian and Turkish workshop carpets. Art silk typically refers to manufactured substitutes like mercerised cotton, which replicate the visual shine of silk at a different cost point.