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Buying a handmade Persian rug -- any rug experts in here?

A

AndrewR

Lifer
So, I'm here in Baghdad, and they have a couple places to buy handmade rugs. It turns out that I like the Persian rugs from Tabriz, and I think the best size is the 5'x7'. I'd love to get a larger one, but then we'd have trouble putting it anywhere (and the cost is likely a little too high).

From everything I've read online, it's definitely handmade, and the design matches what I've seen labeled as a Tabriz so I trust what they say. The foundation is cotton, and the threads are wool with silk highlights. Quality looks very good to my untrained eye. The price is $1300-1400 (can't remember), which seems to be a very good deal.

What should I look for? Questions to ask? IS that a good price for a Tabriz? Thanks in advance!
 
If you can roll up a few Dragunov SVDs in that rug I'll be more than happy to pay for the larger one.

😀
 
Where in Baghdad are you? IZ, Victory?

I would be wary of buying the rugs there. I took a rug expert with me when I was down there last to look at what they are selling. Marginal quality rugs in the instances where they are actually what they claim to be and the prices are not all that great. Ask what the knot count is, try the old lighter trick to see if they are actually real wool and silk. Also a well made Persian rug with a high knot count should look pretty much the same in terms of the pattern from the back as it does from the front. You would probably get a better deal in Qatar or if you end up there Afghanistan.

 
Don't ask here, Dude; HAGGLE. Offer HALF of what it is and act like the guy is trying to rip you off. Work slowly to the middle. Look around, too. There have to be other guys selling them, too.

edit: or maybe you should borrow tnitsuj's rug expert.
 
Also, remember that in any negotiation the 1st person to name a price loses. Start really low at least half of what they are asking and be firm. Thier are plenty of rugs out there.
 
Definitly negotiate them down, that's how business works over there and much of the world. If their price is 1400, I bet you could at least get it for 1000.
 
Originally posted by: iwearnosox

I have *a lot* of persians in my immediate circle, send me a pm and I'll see what I can dig up for you.
Click to expand...

O RLY? Careful what you say, next we'll hear that your house was searched by the Department of Homeland Security, lmao.

But OP, I like the India rugs better.

How would you get such a large rug back to the US?
 
Originally posted by: JLGatsby
Originally posted by: iwearnosox

I have *a lot* of persians in my immediate circle, send me a pm and I'll see what I can dig up for you.
Click to expand...

O RLY? Careful what you say, next we'll hear that your house was searched by the Department of Homeland Security, lmao.

But OP, I like the India rugs better.

How would you get such a large rug back to the US?
Click to expand...

The government can kiss my ass, I have nothing to hide. I have details on getting rugs back but can't get into them now, pm me and I'll try to fill you in...
 
Originally posted by: JLGatsby
Originally posted by: iwearnosox

I have *a lot* of persians in my immediate circle, send me a pm and I'll see what I can dig up for you.
Click to expand...

O RLY? Careful what you say, next we'll hear that your house was searched by the Department of Homeland Security, lmao.

But OP, I like the India rugs better.

How would you get such a large rug back to the US?
Click to expand...

To each his own, I like the Persians. For getting it back to the US, USPS is the way to go.
 
Originally posted by: tnitsuj
Where in Baghdad are you? IZ, Victory?

I would be wary of buying the rugs there. I took a rug expert with me when I was down there last to look at what they are selling. Marginal quality rugs in the instances where they are actually what they claim to be and the prices are not all that great. Ask what the knot count is, try the old lighter trick to see if they are actually real wool and silk. Also a well made Persian rug with a high knot count should look pretty much the same in terms of the pattern from the back as it does from the front. You would probably get a better deal in Qatar or if you end up there Afghanistan.
Click to expand...

Any chance this rug expert has an email address? What's a good knot count? I've heard of the lighter trick, but I didn't have one on me when I was there. They are selling on AAFES property so I'm not sure if the haggling technique applies. I just need some info to assess the quality since the only other rug I have is a machine-made Turkish, which is nice enough, but I want something really nice.
 
i'm persian which, by association, makes me somewhat of an expert on what to look for in a persian carpet. let me know if you need any more assistance.
 
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