Fake Persian Rugs Guide: Spot, Avoid Mistakes & Buy Smart

False Persian Rugs: How to distinguish between them and purchase the original one  

Persian rugs had a long history of association with luxuriousness, mastership and everlasting beauty. This is also of Iranian origin and is also elaborate in design, materials and an ancient art of weaving. However, there are also some downsides to this popularity and that is an up and coming market of counterfeit Persian rugs which have the capacity to deceive the unsuspecting consumer. You need to know how to distinguish the original one and the fake one when you are planning to purchase a Persian-style rug. This will guide you to differentiate poor-quality Persian rugs, snares, and will help you to make a smart shopping choice.  

What is So Special about Persian Rugs? 

A handwork piece of art is a true Persian rug. The application of the old-fashioned methods of the trade requires months--or even years--of the labor of an expert artisans to make each rug.  The salient features of the genuine Persian rugs are: Hand knotted fabric silk, wool or cotton which are natural fabrics. Peculiar, complicated designs Natural, rich dyes small details, which tell against the craftsmanship.  As a result of the time and the talent, the authentic Persian rugs will be expensive. This is one of the reasons why the market has been saturated with the fake versions.  

What Are Fake Persian Rugs?  

Fake Persian rugs are replicas of the Real Persian rugs which are also being mass-produced to resemble the genuine ones. They are also most commonly manufactured by machines and use artificial materials in order to reduce the cost of production. Whereas some are openly marketed as the Persian-style rugs, others are being marketed as the original ones and consumers are unable to differentiate between the two.  

Why Fake Rugs Are So Common  

The reasons why the fake Persian rugs are so common are many: 

High demand: The Persian rugs command high demands everywhere. 
Pricing gap: Original rugs are expensive and this gives a chance to less expensive ones. 
Lack of awareness: Some buyers lack knowledge of how to successfully verify the authenticity of a rug.  

By understanding such aspects you are able to be careful when browsing.  

How to Identify a Fake Persian rug  

The more protection you have in buying a fake is knowing what to check. The greatest pointers are the following: 

1. Check the Back of the Rug 

How a rug was made can be checked by the back part of the rug. The real Persian rugs are hand knitted and, therefore, the design at the back also reminds that of the front but a little less bright.  Machine made rugs have either a grid like support or a piece of cloth nailed to the backside.  

2. Check for Cracks  

Rugs that are handmade and are not symmetrical. Any slight difference in construction or color is, in fact, a sign of authenticity.  When the rug looks so good, it is likely that it is a machine made rug.  

3. Analyze the Material

True Persian rugs are natural wool, silk or cotton. Polyester and nylon are artificial fibers which are usually applied to fake rugs. It is easily testable by simply feeling the texture, the natural fibers tend to be more resistant and soft. On a real rug, the fringe is made of the bottom of the rug. FAKE Fringe of the fake rugs is also typically sewn or glued on.  

4. Study the Design 

Persian rugs possess traditional designs and they are inclusive of floral designs, medallions and detailed borders. They are superficial and one dimensional in most cases even though they can be replicated by counterfeit rugging which is capable of imitating these patterns.  

5. Look at the Price
 
When the sale is too good to be true it is probably so. Even original Persian rugs can hardly be cheap because it involves labor.  

Typical Fake Rug Varieties: Not every fake rug is the same

There are different varieties of fake rugs out of which some are listed below:

1. Machine-Made Rugs  

Power looms are used to make them at factories. They are cheap and readily available yet not as good as the handmade rugs.  

2. Printed Rugs  

Printed Rugs are also designed on top and not itched into the cloth. They are also not of good quality.  

3. Knockoff Handmade Rugs  

These are artistically crafted, however, not Iranian and might be duplicates of Persian patterns. It is not that they are always fake but they are normally distorted.  

Risks of buying Persian Fake rugs.  

In case of a false purchase of a rug, it is possible to face a number of additional issues: 
Paying a lot and receiving a not good quality one because of inferior materials
Obligations to resale loss 
Dissatisfaction with appearance and dependability
One can avoid these risks through being informed.  

Benefits of Persian Rugs that are original.  

Although it is costlier, but there are many advantages of original persian rugs some of them are mentioned below:
Superior quality of the rugs
Remarkable longevity 
Traditional design 
Beautiful and artistic quality may increase its value in the future

They are not just a house decoration but a long term investment.  

Internet Rugs Shopping Secrets 
These are the basic rules that you need to remember when making a purchase online to ensure that you make a safe choice. 

Buy from Reputable Sellers: When making a purchase make sure to do some research about the reputation of your sellers.

Ask Questions: Do not hesitate to ask any questions about even little details that you may have in your mind.

Ask for Specific Photos: Ask pictures of the front and the back of the rug.  

Check Certifications: There also are other authentic rugs that have the certificate of origin. 

Review Return Policies: You can check the return policy. 

How to Verify Authenticity  

In an event of not being sure you can follow these steps: 
Seek the assistance of an expert or appraiser.
Compared to checked Persian rugs. 
The reputation of the seller should be considered.
Find local trends and styles of weaving.  
It might involve an additional effort of verification, yet it is worth making a valuable purchase.  

Conclusion: 

The Persian rugs world is a very beautiful and traditional world. Nevertheless, an availability of counterfeit Persian rugs renders the need to be vigilant and watchful on the part of the buyers.  Through the knowledge of the differences between genuine and fake rugs, you will be able to prevent scams and make better choices and locate an item that can really add to your space. You are either spending your money on a true masterpiece or you are going to pick a fashionable one, in any case, being informed is your greatest asset in maneuvering through the market.