How Can One Tell When a Rug Was Made?

How old is my rug? It is one of the questions we are asked the most.

One of the key elements in establishing a rug's (שטיח פרווה צפופה) worth is its antiquity. However, one of the most challenging talents for a rug enthusiast to master is estimating how old a certain rug might be.

Some wear may be visible on older antique rugs. Although relatively new modern contemporary carpets might wear out quickly and very old rugs can occasionally remain in good shape if they've been cared for by conscientious owners, the pile of the rug may be low or worn away, exposing the foundation. A better place to estimate age is on the rug's reverse.

Modern rugs that are more recent will feel fuzzy on the back since the strands still have their fibrous surface. Even if a rug (השטיח האדום) is gently handled as it matures, the underside will eventually become polished or abraded from pressure and friction, reducing the rug's fuzzy or hairy texture.

The back of very old rugs may feel sandpapery, sandy, or even smooth. Given that even tightly woven rugs eventually become elastic, a nice rug that appears to be firmly woven but nevertheless feels floppy or pliable is most likely ancient.

A rug's colour or rug dye quality can also be used to estimate its age.

Fold a rug to spread the pile open if it has light colours. If the colour is consistent from the top of the pile to the rug foundation, this will show. If the colours become deeper as you move down the pile, the dye has likely faded from exposure to light and is most likely synthetic. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, such carpet colours spread more widely. Significant levels of fading dye on a rug may be a sign that it was created after the 19th century.

On the other hand, carpets that lack abrash or colour variegation and have a fully uniform colour were created with more modern rugs, light-fast synthetic dyes after the 1920s. A cotton rug foundation will also suggest a comparatively later period in the case of nomadic and many village rugs. This is because the use of wool warps and wefts was completely abolished beginning around 1930 as a result of the greater accessibility of affordable machine-spun cotton.

These are some general characteristics of worn-out antique rugs. You are still unable to determine the age with certainty, though. These qualities can help you determine whether the rug is new or ancient, but how do you determine its age beyond that? How can you recognise an authentic antique rug from a mid-century modern rug (שטיח מודרני)? There are numerous strategies.

It is possible to date certain carpet styles quite accurately.

The style of an antique carpet is a great way to assess its age after you have used the general principles above to evaluate whether the carpet is antique. In many circumstances, knowing the carpet's style can assist you determine its age. For example, you are aware that a Ziegler Mahal pattern could not have been created sooner or later than a specific date.

Rugs from specific eras and locations can be identified by their patterns. The Lotto carpets, for instance, suggest a late Renaissance period. By studying a design encyclopaedia, you can quickly identify some of the styles. This, however, presents a challenge because contemporary manufacturers frequently copy these older designs. This is why it is important to consider features like wear and colour.