How to Identify Antique and Vintage Rugs, According to Experts
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While it’s all too easy to buy a rug nowadays (simply Google the word “rug” to see thousands of links to purveyors), and many of them are certainly high-quality and inject style into a space, there’s just something about a vintage or antique rug that lends soul to a room.
Ksenya Malina of New York interior design studio Time & Place Interiors says a vintage or antique rug is “an instant signifier of classy interior,” adding that in a modern space, a great vintage rug will add a warm layer and juxtapose beautifully against contemporary furniture.
Echoing the sentiment, Jennifer Prince, owner of it's FOUND vintage, says, “Due to their more sensible color schemes, antique rugs can make a room feel more elevated and finished.”
Joanna Mahserdjian, founder of Upstate Rug Supply, a company that specializes in antique and vintage rugs, particularly loves their one-of-a-kind nature. “We compare it to collecting original art, but it's for your floors,” she says. “You will have a rug that no one else has.”
Also, there are the practical aspects of vintage and antique rugs that need to be applauded. For instance, Malina says that vintage rugs' survival over decades (or even centuries) shows how sturdy and resistant they are. “Because of their tight weave, vintage Persian rugs especially take spills well and dry naturally—plus, their patterns camouflage stains,” she says.
And you’ve got to love the fact that many old-school rugs were handmade. As Mahserdjian says, “Antique rugs were woven by the hands of true artists.”
If we’ve convinced you to track down a rug of yesteryear by perusing online collections, flea markets, and secondhand stores, you should know that there is a difference between antique and vintage rugs. Malina explains that antique rugs (pre-1920) tend to have muted colors and even tones, while vintage rugs (made between 1920 and 1994) may have brighter colors made with synthetic dyes.
She also says that there are several giveaways of a machine-made rug that's trying to mimic a vintage rug. “With a bit of practice, you'll be able to spot an older rug,” she assures.
Here, how to identify antique and vintage rugs, according to pros.
Uneven Edges
In general, a vintage or antique rug will have natural imperfections “that only add to its valuable character,” Malina says. This means that these handmade rugs rarely have completely straight lines or perfectly even-length frills, or the rug’s decorative edging.
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Wear and Tear
“Because vintage rugs have a past life, they often have worn spots, small tears, or an overall reduction in pile height,” Prince explains. “These flaws add character, just like signs of wear in other antique items.”
Mahserdjian notes that even though these rugs show more wear than their modern counterparts, do not be deterred. “If you find a rug that you love at the right price, there is always the option to repair or restore an older rug by utilizing a trusted repairman,” she notes.
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White Spots or Streaks
Malina says, “Older rugs or ones that have faced traffic will have some exposed white weave knots. These are called knot-heads.”
Malina also notes that something called abrash, which appears in the form of lines or subtle discoloration, is naturally caused by variation in the dyeing process and is often seen on vintage and antique rugs.
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Handmade Characteristics
While not all handmade rugs are antique, as Prince points out, authentic antique rugs are generally handcrafted.
“Earmarks of handmade rugs are things like being a little uneven or seeing knots on the back of the rug,” she says. “Fringe will also be a part of the rug's structure and framework.”
Mahserdjian believes that the back of the rug tells a story in this regard. “If you're at a flea market or rug shopping, look at the back to see the warp and weft threads where it was woven on a loom. That is evidence that it's a handwoven rug,” she shares.
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Natural Fiber Backing
Malina says that vintage rugs typically have backing made of cotton or other natural fibers.
“There should be no synthetics or glue,” she says. “The pattern from the front of the rug should be seen through on the reverse.”
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Number of Knots
Prince stresses the importance of counting the knots to check the authenticity of a rug. She says, “This isn't foolproof, but antique wool rugs tend to have fewer knots per square inch than modern, machine-made ones.”
She notes that silk rugs are the exception to this rule, since they “will have quite a high number of knots due to the thinness of silk thread.”
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