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Magic Carpet Talk Part 1

A really common question I hear is, "Why is this rug so expensive, and that rug not? They are the same size, they both have detail, what makes the price vary?" 
 
A rug is like food, go with me on this, food is food and it can fill you up; a rug is a rug and it will cover the floor. However, there is fine dining with prepared ingredients where chefs take time to prepare your meal. Then there is fast food, where the ingredients are not so fresh and you don't have to wait more than a few minutes for your food. The same idea applies to the quality and price of your rug. 
 
 

When it comes to purchasing a rug, ask yourself these questions:

1: Where am I going to put this rug?

2: What kind of use is this rug going to get?

3: How long do I want to own this rug?

 
Most rugs are made of wool, so we will start here. Once the wool is sheared, it is graded on which part of the sheep it came from and how long the hair is (aka STAPLE). The thinner, softer hairs will be used for clothing, while the majority of the rest will be used for rugs. 

Inexpensive rugs are not a bad idea for porches, kids playrooms (not for babies though, you don't need them putting wool in their little mouths) or for spaces you don't intend to have for over 5 years. Just beware, you will become very good friends with your vacuum. 

However, if you are in the market for a rug, and don't plan on buying another, invest wisely. 

Here are some terms to help you on your next rug purchase:
 
Wool:  This word has become a loose definition for hair that has been sheared from an animal.  Wool is most commonly harvested from sheep, although may also be taken from goats or even camel.  

Dead Wool: It's brittle, coarse, poor quality wool used in production of many high volume, commercially available rugs (Fast Food).  This type of wool often will shed profusely, and render a rug lifeless in a short period of time.  Dead wool is often the refuse from combing out finer, longer stapled wool.

New Zealand Wool: Typically New Zealand wool is often known for it's longer staple, and naturally soft feel (Fine Dining).  This is due in part to both the altitude and vegetation available to herds.  It's not uncommon for a rug to have a New Zealand and local wool blend to counteract the investment of import and material cost.  

Gazni Wool: Typically found in higher quality peshawar weavings, this comes from high grazing sheep in the mountains of Afghanistan.  This wool is soft yet firm to the touch: Depending on the way in which the wool has been treated, Gazni wool often has very slippery (almost oily sides), with a crisp and strong feel after clipping of the pile.

Semi-Worsted Wool:  Semi-Worsted wool is a very solid quality wool which is retrieved from wool by the process of combing.  After wool has been combed, finer, longer strands of wool are separated from shorter less desirable wool.  The term Semi-Worsted wool refers to a wool which has been produced by one of two ways: Either the very high grade wool (after being separated from low to mid grade), or the highest grade wool which is separated from the lowest grade and then is blended with a medium grade wool.

Worsted Wool: Worsted wool refers to a process (and product) of combing excellent quality wool from high, medium and lower grade (determined by length, or staple.)  After wool has been combed, the finest, longer strands of wool are "Worsted." 

Qurk / Kork Wool:  Qurk wool is taken from the neck, belly and underarms of the sheep.  This is often considered the most choice of wool to come from the sheep, as it is very fine, thin, and long stapled.  Kork wool is most often reserved for only the finest of weavings.  Perhaps this type of wool is most commonly found in high-end oriental rugs.  The appearance of fairly untreated Qurk wool has almost a dull finish, yet very compact, firm and dense feeling pile.

Pashmina Wool:  Pashmina wool is exclusively taken from the coat of Himilayan goats.  This wool is very silky, long stapled, and very unusual to come across in exported weavings from rug producing countries.  Pashmina wool is very soft, highly sought after, and very expensive. 

Mohair: Mohair is harvested from the Angora Goat.  Mohair is often very fine, long stapled and have a silk like appearance and feel.  Mohair rugs are very unusual to come by, as mohair is a very expensive and hard to come by fiber to be used in production of Oriental Rugs.  One should carefully inspect a mohair rug for color run, as it's not entirely uncommon to find overdyeing of colors which could potentially run. Also, be careful when purchasing mohair, most find out later that they are allergic. If you can manage getting a sample, I highly recommend it. 

Chemically Washed Wool Rugs:  There are techniques which are used post production which chemically treat the wool pile of a rug to give it a softer feel and more lusterous pile sheen.  While these washes may be used successfully with little affect to the woolen fibers, it is not entirely uncommon to come across a rug which has been too harshly treated with this process.  Similarly, there are rugs which have a very low quality wool which have been subjected to these washings which make them appear to have a better quality wool than is actually used.  In both cases of too harsh a wash, or low quality wool to begin with, copious amounts of shedding will be apparent from the aggitation test. 

 

How will I know if my wool is healthy? 

What to look for:  Judging the quality of wool takes many years of experience, however, there are ways for even a novice to pick up on sub standard quality rugs.  Although it's not uncommon for a new Oriental Rug to shed just a bit in the first several months, there are extended cases of shedding which are a serious problem.  A quick test for low quality wool is to first thoroughly vacuum the face of your rug, then aggitate the pile back and forth with your hand a dozen times to see if wool surfaces.  If the wool which surfaces to the pile may be rolled into a ball which is equal to or greater than the height of the rug's pile, chances are you have a carpet where inferior quality wool had been used in production.  Additionally, wool which feels "brittle," "coarse," "dry to the touch," or "wirey" are also signs of a lower grade, or "less choice" selection of wool used in weaving.  In the long run, this generally means the longevity, durability and and appearance of your rug will be compromised.  That is to say, an Oriental Rug which has a lower quality wool will show signs of wear far quicker and appear "used" far sooner than that of an Oriental Rug which impliments a higher grade wool. 

Low wool grade rugs are a problem in more than just looks alone.  Wool that surfaces, more often than not, are individual hairs from any given knot.  As each hair is released from a knot, the knot will subsequently become more loosely packed in the structure of the rug, making it far more suceptible to future shedding.  

 

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