Natural materials, such as wool, cotton and silk have much greater durability than synthetics. They will never release chemical gases, as most synthetics eventually do, and are also innocent of other environmental concerns, like causing allergies, pollution, etc.

Today there is also great concern that wall-to-wall carpeting is filling a significant portion of all garbage dumps, whereas a Persian or Oriental rug typically becomes an heirloom and is rarely thrown away.

Knots per square inch is a good indication of the quality and value of a fine carpet, the higher the number the better the rug. It takes experienced fingers to make that many very small knots.

It is often said that Persian rugs are ‘perfectly imperfect’. Slight inconsistencies are the proof that a rug was not made by machine. Even if a rug is coming out perfectly, the weaver will usually make an intentional mistake, in line with the belief that only the Supreme Being can make something that is perfect.

The price should be reasonable for the quality you are receiving. Until recently, a handmade area rug could be marked up many times, sometimes quite unreasonably, as it traveled from dealer to dealer. Prices should vary according to labor, materials, quality, place of origin, style, kpsi, and rarity of design. Please click here to see how Rugman.com charges so little.