Having an authentic Persian rug is a treasure. When you place a Persian rug in your home, it adds so much classic beauty and style. If you have never purchased a Persian rug, you may not know how to tell if one is authentic or not. There are so many on the market that are not real Persian rugs. Is there a way to know if it’s just a look-a-like? There are a few ways to tell:

Find Out Where it Was Made

If a rug was manufactured in Iran’s middle eastern region, that is an authentic Persian rug. These rugs are made by hand, not a machine. Machine-made rugs do not originate from this area and are typically made in the United States and even sometimes in Europe. Other hand-knotted rugs that are not Persia are made in Pakistan, China, and India. These are Oriental rugs, but not Persian. 

Look At The Front and Back of The Rug

Finding a handmade rug that is perfect in design is very rare. Handmade rugs are woven by hand, making it harder to create a completely perfect design. Imperfections on Persian rugs are just bound to happen, and it is a way to tell if they are authentic or not. These imperfections do not bring down the value of a Persian rug. Machine-made rugs will look perfect on the front and back, so be on the lookout for extremely precise and identical designs.

Does The Rug Have a Plastic Back?

Real hand-knotted Persian rugs will be the same material front to back. When you have a machine-made rug, the back part on the floor is made of hard plastic. That means it is most likely made from a synthetic material such as nylon, acrylic, or polyester. Fake Persian rugs may look nice, but they will not last as long as an authentic one. 

Look At The Fringe

When you look at an authentic Persian rug, the fringe will be part of the actual rug. It forms when weaving the rug and becomes a continuation of the body of the rug. When a rug is machine-made, the fringe is added on after. It is not part of the actual rug. You’ll be able to see where the fringe meets the rug if it isn’t a genuine Persian rug. 

Contact Persia Oriental Rug Gallery

Our experts at Persia Oriental Rug Gallery are here to make sure you are getting the authentic rug you want! Contact us to learn about repairs, cleaning, and other rug services. Call us today to get in touch with our experts, or feel free to send us a message through our contact form.