Common Questions We Are Asked About Oriental Rugs & Carpets
- Renaissance
- Apr 5, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 16
From Portland Rug Expert
It surprises some people to learn that I didn't grow up around oriental rugs. I actually entered the rug world by accident through a job opportunity with the Atiyeh Brothers more than 34 years ago.
What started as a job quickly became a lifelong fascination. Handwoven rugs connect art, history, culture, and craftsmanship in a way few objects do. Over the years, I've worked in nearly every part of the rug industry, including production, wholesale, retail, and professional cleaning.
I've also had the opportunity to travel to Nepal, Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan, and worked directly with the people who make these rugs. After more than three decades in the rug world, I've been asked the same questions many times. Here are straightforward answers based on real experience.
What Are Oriental Rugs?
Technically, Oriental rugs are hand-woven carpets produced across a wide region stretching from Turkey to Asia. Rugs made in Eastern Turkey are technically called Oriental rugs, including Spanish, French, British, Irish, Moroccan, Tunisian
A single rug can be many things at once:
A functional floor covering
A decorative piece of art
A cultural artifact
A family heirloom
Unlike paintings that hang on a wall, rugs live on the floor and are used every day. Despite that wear, it's common to see handwoven rugs that are 80 to 100 years old and still in great condition. Many rugs become part of a family's story. It's not unusual for customers to bring in rugs that have passed through several generations.
Is the term "Oriental" Considered outdated, offensive
The word "Oriental" isn't automatically offensive, but its use has changed over time. Today, many people consider it outdated or inappropriate when referring to people, while it is still commonly used for objects like rugs. The term Oriental has largely fallen out of favor when referring to people of Asian descent because it's not an accurate or very descriptive term.
Where Does the Term "Oriental Rug" Come From?
The word Orient comes from Latin and means east. The term dates back to the Roman Empire. Roman Emperor Diocletian (284-305 AD) used the title Comes Orientis, meaning Count of the East, and Occidental of the West, referring to the eastern & wester regions of the Roman empire.
Over time, Western countries began using the term "Oriental" to describe goods from the East, including textiles and carpets. Today, the term generally refers to rugs made across the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia.
Are Oriental Rugs Cultural Appropriation?
Rug weaving has existed across a vast region for hundreds of years, including:
Ireland
England
France
Spain
Romania
North Africa
The Middle East
Central Asia
China
For many nomadic and village cultures, weaving rugs served both practical and economic purposes. Before modern banking systems, wealth was often measured in livestock. Sheep provided milk, cheese, and wool. Wool could be spun into yarn and woven into textiles like rugs. These textiles had real economic value. They could be traded, sold, or stored as a form of savings. In many ways, weaving allowed families to convert raw wool into something far more valuable.
What Are Oriental Rugs Called Now?
The term "oriental rug" is still widely used in the rug industry, but many retailers, designers, and museums now prefer more specific or updated terms. The shift is mostly about clarity and cultural accuracy rather than replacing the rugs themselves.
Here are the most common terms used today.
Handwoven Rugs
Many dealers now use handwoven or hand-knotted to describe how the rug is made rather than where it comes from.
Example:"Hand-knotted wool rug" or "handwoven wool carpet."
Where Are Oriental Rugs Made?
Handwoven oriental rugs are produced across a wide geographic area. Major producing countries include:
Iran (Persia)
Turkey
Afghanistan
India
Pakistan
Nepal
China
Morocco
Egypt
Ethiopia
Historically, rugs produced west of Turkey in places like Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia, Spain, and Bulgaria were called Occidental rugs, though that term is rarely used today. There is even a small production of hand-woven rugs in Temoaya, west of Mexico City; we call them Oriental because of their weaving technique, not their origin or the people who weave them.
What Is the Difference Between Persian Rugs and Oriental Rugs?
All Persian rugs are oriental rugs, but not all oriental rugs are Persian. Persian rugs are specifically made in Iran, which was historically called Persia until 1935.
Many Persian rugs are named after the cities or regions where they are woven, such as:
Kashan
Tabriz
Shiraz
Isfahan
Others are associated with tribal groups such as:
Kurdish
Luri
Bakhtiari
Khamseh
Afshar
Baluchi
For example, Kurdish rugs can come from regions that span several countries: western Iran, northern Iraq, and eastern Turkey. An area known as Kurdistan. Don't get me started with the Turkmen tribal groups.
Are Oriental Rugs Worth the Money?
A good handmade rug can last decades, even generations.
One customer I first met in the late 1980s purchased a blue Chinese rug for their home. Over the past 20 years, I've cleaned that same rug several times. It has survived three kids, pets, and everyday use and is still going strong some 40 years later.
Few items in a home get that kind of daily use and last that long.
If you plan to keep a rug for many years, a well-made handwoven rug is absolutely be worth the investment.
How Much Do Oriental Rugs Cost?
Prices vary widely depending on several factors. New handwoven rugs often start around $25 per square foot, but prices can increase significantly depending on quality and materials.
Country of Origin
Labor costs differ between countries. For example, weaving costs in Turkey are typically higher than in Afghanistan. Import taxes and trade restrictions can also affect prices. Currently, new Iranian rugs cannot be imported into the United States due to sanctions.
Knot Count and Weave Quality
Every knot in a handmade rug is tied individually. A higher knot count means more time and labor, which increases the cost but often results in a more detailed and durable rug.
Materials Used
The type of fiber affects price.
Common materials include:
Wool (most common)
Silk (premium)
Cotton
Viscose or synthetic fibers
Silk rugs are generally more expensive due to the cost of the material and the finer weaving required...Tech tip: stick with wool, nothing has the wear quality and durability of good carpet wool, nothing!
Custom vs. Stock Rugs
Custom rugs made to specific sizes or designs usually cost more than stock designs. Pricing depends on the complexity and production time.
Do Oriental Rugs Hold Their Value?
I generally don't recommend buying rugs strictly as financial investments.
In the 1970s, some antique Persian silk rugs sold for $20,000-$30,000. Some of those same rugs have sold recently for $6,000-$9,000.
However, exceptional pieces can still reach remarkable prices. A 17th-century Persian carpet sold at a Sotheby's auction for $33 million.
Those examples are extremes. My advice is simple: buy a rug for warmth, style, color, functionality, and because you love it. Even if it doesn't increase in value, you'll still have a beautiful piece in your home for decades.
How Should You Shop for an Oriental Rug?
Even in the age of online shopping, rugs are still best purchased in person.
Two rugs may look almost identical online but vary greatly in quality.
For example, you might see two similar 9×12 Bidjar rugs:
One priced at $2,850
Another priced at $7,500
At first glance, the cheaper rug might seem like the better deal. But the more expensive rug could have:
Higher quality wool
A much higher knot count
Better durability
A more refined design
These details are difficult to judge through photos alone. Seeing rugs in person allows you to compare color, texture, and craftsmanship directly.
Why Shop with Local Rug Dealers?
Portland is home to some excellent reputable rug retailers.
Why shop local? Buying a rug is usually a process of multiple visits, selecting rugs, seeing them in your home, comparing options, and asking questions before making a decision.
This can't be done effectively over the internet, and shipping a rug back that doesn't work gets expensive, while a local rug dealer is often a short drive from your home.
Local Rug Retailers in Portland
Here are a few local retailers that specialize in new, vintage, and antique rugs.
Christiane Millinger Handmade Rugs
Experimental Vintage
Tufenkian Carpets
Lamb & Loom Rugs
Comments