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A great vintage rug can bring a whole room together and transform its flaws to bring out a new exciting look. Vintage rugs have become popular, with many people incorporating them into their interior design. They add a vibrant splash of color and bring to life an aged carpet. Vintage rugs depict a timeless class of a unique handcrafted piece of art.

Antique and vintage are often used interchangeably, but there is a slight difference. Vintage rugs are usually between 25 and 100 years old, while antique ones are more than 100 years old. Originally, antique rugs were made for nobility and not to be sold, and they carry a high price tag. Vintage rugs are usually unique and budget-friendly.

Time and time again, the world has proven that it’s filled with different wonders—including the magical hands of artisans. Evident in the pieces they make, artisans from different cultures promote diversity that provide plentiful options for connoisseurs and novices alike.

A hand knotted rug is a unique, one-of-a-kind piece, guaranteed to elevate any area and woven to last for years to come.  In contrast to a hand tufted rug which starts with the design being stenciled onto the canvas all hand knotted rugs are created by the weaver individually tying every single knot, creating intricate patterns and designs. Surprisingly, even the type of knot that was used to create the rug can be traced back to the region of that artisan weaver!

Perhaps the most valuable rugs were made from Persia, a historic region of southwestern Asia associated with the area that is now considered Iran.  The 2,500-year-old practice of hand-weaving rugs has gone through several generations of war and trade which influenced the techniques and patterns each rug has. Traditional Persian rugs are usually dense, with more than 160 knots per square inch. Rich colors and distinct knots separate these rugs from other traditional rugs.

While each Lawrence of La Brea hand knotted rugs are extraordinary and timeless, there are distinguishable characteristic of rugs that are produced from different countries.  For example, a few distinguishable characteristics of an Afghan rug (a rug authentically made inAfghanistan) are the usual reg color, designed with octagon geometric patterns.  We use the term “usual” because on several occasions, you will find an Afghan rug blue in color.  Here are a few other countries that produce elegant, luxurious hand knotted rugs…India, China, Morocco, and recently, America.  It was only during the colonial times that carpet weaving was introduced in the country-with the first factory in Philadelphia in 1791.

There are a number of factors to consider when purchasing a high-end rug: age, size, design and material to name a few.  However, because of the time and intricate details that it takes for each craftsman to individually wrap every knot, knot count per square inch (KPSI) is one of the largest determinants of value.  The higher the knot count, the higher the value!

As always, we realize there is a lot of nuances to purchasing your perfect hand knotted rug; our staff here at Lawrence of La Brea is always willing to spend the time so you feel confident with your quality purchase designed to last a lifetime and potentially a quality heirloom piece in your family for generations to come!

The mention of wool may no longer surprise you as this material is vastly known for its durability and quality. It has long been the norm that materials sourced from Mother Nature are inevitably some of the finest ones in the world.

Rugs made of wool come at a hefty price only because they last the longest, despite being a soft haven even when barefoot. Even more so if the wool is sourced from highlands where a sheep’s wool is thicker and would be more resistant to dirt, dust, and water.

Natural materials are always the superior quality in comparison to synthetic ones. The material of the base should be wool, silk, or cotton for better quality. Wool rugs should be completely matte in comparison to a shiny silk rug.  Natural materials also have an effect of the air quality of the air in the room that it is placed in.