If you’re currently shopping for oriental rugs, then you’re undoubtedly on the right track toward an incredible home décor investment.
There’s no denying just how luxurious and timeless Oriental rugs are within any home, but it’s important for rug shoppers to know that there are countless knockoffs and fakes that are sold in marketplaces and throughout the internet.
The industry experts at Rug Source, Inc. have helped us curate this list of ways that you can tell whether or not an Oriental rug is a knockoff, and these tips can truly be invaluable while you’re travelling abroad or shopping in showrooms.
So, be sure to keep the following red flags in mind while you’re browsing for new Oriental rugs!
Red Flag #1: The Oriental rug has a hard, plastic backing
Authentic Oriental rugs are always hand-knotted, which means that the rug will have a soft backing that’s symmetrical to its front-side design.
So, if you see a plastic backing on an Oriental rug, it’s a clear indication that the top pile is comprised of synthetic materials—and not wool. Although there’s technically nothing too terrible about synthetic area rugs, they simply are knockoffs and can sometimes pose rip-off threats to rug shoppers who don’t know otherwise.
One major drawback of a synthetic rug is that they’ll only last a handful of years, whereas an authentic Oriental rug will last several decades and upwards of 100+ years!
Red Flag #2: The Oriental rug’s colors bleed
Oriental rugs are made from natural dyes, which is why rug shoppers can conduct color steadfast tests while shopping for this rug style. Natural dyes never bleed, but the same can’t be said for chemical dyes. Colorfastness is a crucial factor to keep in mind as well, because it ensures that the rug’s beauty will last for many decades to come.
The best way to test a rug’s colorfastness is to rub a damp cloth on the rug and really try to soak it into the fibers as much as you can. If the cloth shows any colors after rubbing the rug, it means it’s not a colorfast dye—and subsequently a knockoff.
Another huge red flag is when you smell ink around an Oriental rug for sale, because there are plenty of shady rug dealers that’ll cover up imperfections with ink to sell a used rug for more than it’s actually worth!
Red Flag #3: The rug’s fringe is sewn or glued on
Hand-knotted, Oriental rugs are very soft to the touch, and this includes around the fringes as well. This is why rug shoppers must pay very close attention to a rug’s fringes, because this should never be sewn or glued on in any way.
An Oriental rug’s fringe is supposed to be what holds the entire rug design together, so it’s a part of the rug’s physical structure and is so much more than just a design element.
There are some rug dealers out there that’ll try to pass off their rugs as hand-knotted, while adding a fake fringe to make this appear more believable. This is a classic knockoff sales tactic, and it’s a clear sign that the Oriental rug altogether is a complete fake!
Red Flag #4: The Oriental rug isn’t hand-knotted
Every genuine Oriental rug is fully hand-knotted, which means that an expert artisan utilized weaving techniques throughout every square inch of the rug’s creation process.
These days, you can sometimes come across hand-tufted rugs, which actually use a tufting gun to punch a rug’s design into a canvas. Although these rugs are still of good quality, they don’t even come close to comparing to the real deal.
It’s sometimes difficult to recognize when you’re looking at a hand-knotted or hand-tufted area rug, but there’s a huge difference between these two manufacturing methods when it comes to rug durability and overall longevity!
Red Flag #5: The rug isn’t made of wool
As mentioned earlier, Oriental rugs made of synthetic fibers simply aren’t authentic. The main natural material that comprises the vast majority of Oriental rugs is wool, and it’s an incredible material that ensures long-term quality, cleanliness and easy maintenance.
So, if you come across an Oriental rug that isn’t made from wool, it’s a clear sign that you’re looking at a fake!
Red Flag #6: The rug’s price is too good to be true
Hand-knotting a large Oriental rug takes an incredible amount of skill and time, which is why every authentic Oriental rug comes with a pretty hefty price tag.
This means that if you’re seeing abnormally affordable prices on Oriental rugs for sale, then it’s likely hand-tufted, made with synthetic materials, or has used chemical dyes of some kind.
You should also be cautious of going out of business sales, because these are sometimes tricks to get people to buy low-quality merchandise—including knockoff Oriental rugs!
Contact Rug Source When You Want To Find Authentic Oriental Rugs Online!
It can be tough to find authentic Oriental rugs online, which is why rug shoppers have be extra cautious when they’re making these home décor investments. The above tips are only just the beginning in terms of what you’ll need to be on the lookout for while shopping for Oriental rugs, and one of the best things you can do is partner up with a reputable rug dealer either in your local area or online.
One of the top online rug vendors in the United States is Rug Source, Inc., and you can get directly in touch with their industry experts when you click on the hyperlink located at the top of this page!
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