Collector's Guide to Persian Carpets and Antique Rugs

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What is Desirable to Collectors?
Design
Drawing
Color
Weave and Structure
Age – How Old Is a Collectible Rug?
Rarity
Trade-off among Condition, Age, and Rarity
Imperfection as a Function of Cultural Authenticity
Specialized vs Eclectic Collecting
Collecting Classic Examples vs. Unusual Rugs
What Makes a Rug Important?
Following Trends or Setting Them
Restoration and Rug Collecting
Rug Collecting and Investment

Specialized vs Eclectic Collecting

Anyone seeking to become a serious collector needs to find a focus, or at lest a set of boundaries that will govern the range or nature of the collection. Ore common approach is to focus on rugs from a particular region., say, only Turkish rugs, or Caucasian rugs, or Turkoman.. With in such an approach it is even possible to settle on a few specific sub-groupings, say Kazak or Kuba for Caucasian, or Yomud for Turkomans. One can then decide whether to go for a representative range of specific designs, or to focus even more on a few specific design types, possibly emphasizing stages of development. Alternatively, it is possible to approach collecting from an eclectic perspective. One can collect a wider range of different rug types from various regions, with a focus on quality of drawing and coloration. The decision to go either way is a matter of taste and temprament. Specialists are not more knowledgeable that eclecticists. Indeed, a eclectic collectors will have to learn a great deal in order to become familiar and competent with the wider range of rugs they acquire.