How Do I Determine Quality?

Quality is gaged in two senses – quality of design, and quality of technique and materials. Quality of design is harder to quantify, and the standards by which it is judged may to some extent be subjective or personal. Designs that are well drawn and well spaced, those that use color effectively, and those that are unusual in some way are held to be superior,  more valuable, and therefore more expensive. Quality of technique or weave and quality of materials are more objective criteria. Wool that is lustrous and silky to the touch is durable and clearly the best. Colors that are either rich and saturated or subtle and delicate are most desirable. A rug that is tightly or densely woven is the best since it has more wool per given area and will stand up to wear better. Tightness of weave can be determined by handling the rug to see if it is firm or floppy, although very old rugs become supple even if tightly woven. Tightness of weave is best discerned by looking at the back of the rug. If little or no horizontal wefting is apparent between the rows of knots, the rug is tightly woven. High knot counts are not as good an indication of quality. Density of weave matters much more.