First, a little about me. I was a peace corps volunteer in Turkey in the 60s who returned to the U.S. with several newly made vegetable dyed rugs I bought from a peace corps founded rug cooperative. I brought them to an Armenian Rug dealer in Rochester New York hoping to import similar rugs. He stopped me at the door saying, "Take your rat pelts back home. Come back without them and I will show you real vegetable dyed oriental rugs!"

I walked all the way home in the rain. Then I returned to apprentice to Vartan for the next five years. Here is what I learned.

WOOL  - An antique rug is only as good as the wool used to make it. It must have an exceptionally high lanolin content. I've seen many antique rugs that were worthless as they were made with poor wool. Lanolin oxidizes over the years to produce a glass-like patina which resists dirt, sunlight, and wears well because the lanolin lubricates each strand of wool as it bends. Rugs do not wear down slowly like a pencil, but each wool strand bends (many times with high lanolin content, few times with low lanolin) until it breaks off at its weakest point. PROCESSING WOOL REMOVES THE NATURAL LANOLIN THUS LOWERING A RUG"S LIFE EXPECTANCY!

DYES - The reason so much emphasis is placed upon vegetable dyes is that they do not compromise the lanolin content of the wool. Chemical dyes "burn" the wool. Look for "abrash" naturally occurring variations in color - the result of a skein of yarn being immersed in dye for different amounts of time. . as little as half a minute.  Vegetable dyes which worked over a long period were noted and those that faded or corrupted the wool were discarded. Thus, over several thousand years a palate of supurb colors developed. These formuli, unfortunately, were passed down orally from each generation as most rug weavers were illiterate. So when Analine (chemical) dyes were introduced into the Middle East in the late 1800s they reduced the time it took to make a rug by 75%. Within a generation virtually all dye secrets were lost.

IT'S TECHNICAL -  The best rugs a young woman wove were brought with the bride as she moved to her new husband's home. Antique rugs literally grow more beautiful as they age. New Rugs look best the day they are bought . It's all downhill after that. They're like us.

NAMES OF RUGS - Each city  town and village developed a distinct style rug over the centuries which collectors recognize. (Less so in China) These styles changed somewhat every 10 years. But by the 20th century everyone was freely borrowing styles as they began exporting the rugs. There were no good rugs made in Iran after 1930 and no good Turkish, Turkic, or Caucasian  rugs made after the turn of the century. 

COLLECTORS - Collectors look for rugs at least 100 years old. They look for artistry, spatial wizzardry of design, fine wool, and one of a kind beauty.  

I'm always interested in seeing photos of such rugs. You can contact me ocean@mypacks.ne  Antique Oriental Rug Information and Guide