Durability
Not all rugs are produced with the same capacity to stand up to prolonged use. Durability depends on several factors – the quality of the wool, the tightness of the weave, and the condition upon purchase. A rug made from lanolin rich moist, lustrous, healthy wool will withstand the friction of traffic better than dry, brittle, dull wool. Firm rugs that are tightly woven, with a high vertical compression or density of knots will also stand up better to foot traffic than a floppy, more loosely woven rug, however good the wool. Antique rugs that are densely woven from fine wool can still be walked on if they have a fair degree of pile intact. But an antique piece with low pile is best used in an area with a lower volume of traffic. If durability is an issue, it is important to ascertain the wool quality, density, and depth of pile, whatever the age of the rug.
