Oriental Rug Repair

A definitive, step-by-step guide to the reknotting, reconstruction, care, and preservation of oriental rugs The demand for oriental rugs has increased dramatically in recent years. Many owners now put more value on their rugs as works of art than as floor coverings, and current prices reflect their status. As a result, rugs that may once have remained stored in attics or been destined for the junkyard are being revived, repaired, and restored. Rug repair services are more popular than ever, but many repairs are not as difficult as you may think. Anyone who can learn needlecraft can acquire the necessary skills. This comprehensive guide covers all the essential techniques, materials, and tools required to repair oriental rugs. The accessible text is accompanied by clear step-by-step diagrams and illustrations that teach you how to: assess damaged areas understand rug structure select yarn reknot reconstruct warp and weft use patches repair selvage and edges repair ends and flatweaves wash rugs, remove stains, and carry out general maintenance Oriental Rug Repair is a must-have reference for beginners and a useful sourcebook for dealers and collectors.

This monumental reference work—long awaited by collectors and scholars—fills an important gap in the available literature on oriental rugs. Lavishly illustrated with over 1000 photographs and drawings, it offers clear and precise definitions for the rug and textile terms in use across a broad swath of the globe—from Morocco to Turkey, Persia, the Caucasus region, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China. Covering priceless museum-quality rug traditions as well as modern centers of production, Oriental Rugs: An Illustrated Lexicon of Motifs, Materials, and Origins draws on classical scholarship as well as current terminology in use among producers and traders in these areas today. It focuses primarily on the rich hand-knotting and hand-weaving traditions of the Near East and Central Asia, but also includes some examples of Scandinavian and Native American weavings. Oriental rugs are receiving ever-increasing attention and recognition in the field of art history. Tribal weavings especially have become a focus for new research, and Oriental Rugs provides a new understanding of many distinctive traditions that were previously understudied, such as the weavings of southwest Persia, Baluchistan and Kurdistan. This concise oriental rug reference book is a must-have for scholars and anyone serious about collecting rugs, selling rugs or the rug trade in general. Additional reference information also includes: Foreign terms Place names The Oriental Rug lexicon Museums with notable rug collections Oriental rug internet sites

"Offers a practical approach to the care, maintenance, and restoration of Oriental rugs, providing technical background, a history of rug weaving, and information on valuation, insurance, and buying and selling Oriental rugs"--Amazon.com.

Rugs to Riches is an authoritative, lively, and eminently practical guide for people who want to learn the dos and don'ts of choosing handmade oriental rugs. Caroline Bosly, one of the foremost rug brokers in the world, describes the various types of rugs and their origins, explains the difference between buying new and antique rugs, and tells you how to buy a rug of any size at the best possible price. Written in a simple, straightforward style that strips away the mystique from oriental rugs, Rugs to Riches also advises you on: Determining whether a rug is handmade or not, and whether it has been altered in any way. Evaluating a rug's condition and determining whether the retail price is a fair one, using a simple point system. Bargaining down the price of a rug, no matter what type of store you find it in. Selling a rug and making a profit. Decorating with oriental rugs and ensuring that they remain clean and in good repair.

Demystifying a confusing and intimidating subject, Oriental Rugs Today is the first book devoted exclusively to new pieces. It discusses issues of dye and finish, looks country by country at examples from every major contemporary source, and profiles the artisans who revived the use of handspun wool and natural dyes. Written for both aficionado and novice, this edition includes 20 percent more material and new information on Nepalese and Iranian rugs, making this must-have guide to the subject. 100color photos are included.

The baffling array of technical rug terms for oriental carpets are here made accessible to the beginner, whilst research is aided by precise identifications of regions and ethnic groups, and explanations of designs, motifs and symbols associated with pile rugs and flatweaves.