Choosing a handmade Persian or Oriental rug is an important decision and, for most, a substantial investment as well. The search can be long and filled with as much frustration as the education. Finding the perfect rug can seem like a distant pipe dream when you stumble upon a piece you fall in love with only to find the size doesn’t fit, or a pattern you love but the colors just aren’t right.
This is where an experienced rug source can step in to find you a rug or selection of rugs to choose from, either from their own stock or from far away.
Persian and Oriental rugs are unique, no two are alike, even if several are created using a design map, or “cartoon” as it is known in the rug world. There is a myth dating back to bygone ages that weavers intentionally place mistakes in their masterpieces out of respect for God; since there is only one supreme being and only God can achieve perfection. It’s debatable whether or not this is true, or a charming excuse for any mistakes in a rug, but when you’re tying hundreds of thousands or millions of knots at a fast pace, small mistakes are likely to be made, which means that even if a rug is to be produced 10 times each will have slight variations from errors, to the density of the dye, to the quality of the wool. That said, it’s almost always possible to find a similar rug that suits your tastes and needs.
An experienced oriental rug dealer with ties to countries in the Middle East, as well as relationships with other dealers and wholesalers in the west, will be able to find a similar piece and may even sacrifice margins knowing that he will be able to sell the product. carpet immediately. Most dealers require a deposit to bring the rug in, which only happens after detailed photographs are examined and the customer believes the rug is right for them. Of course, the images are not always completely accurate to real life and there is no substitute for seeing the carpet ‘in situ’, a good dealer will allow this without obligation. When buying from abroad, it can be agreed in advance who is responsible for the return shipping costs and of course the price will be negotiated beforehand. Finding the perfect rug for your home can be a lot less stressful with a little communication and using the experience and knowledge of your oriental rug dealer.
The process of obtaining a handmade rug varies, but generally consists of five steps: inquiry, search, quotes and negotiations, delivery and purchase.
Consultation is the most important, this is the client’s opportunity to communicate exactly what they want and what they require, everything from color, size, source pattern and design can be important and it is vital to express these requirements as soon as possible. Things like size should be flexible to some extent, giving the idea that a rug can be within certain limits. At this stage, it is important to be open and direct about the budget, as it will be the budget that determines the types of rugs available.
From this point, a rug dealer will travel the world using his contacts to create a list of possibilities, initially these will come in the form of detailed images allowing the customer to choose which rug or rugs they would like to see.
Price and delivery terms are then agreed upon and a deposit is paid, allowing the rug to be delivered or imported from abroad. Most dealers will allow a customer to test a rug in their own home before fully committing to a custom purchase.
Once the customer is satisfied with the final payment for their carpet, repair and cleaning may also be available as an additional service depending on the individual carpet dealer or agent.