A rug is a textile floor covering smaller than a room-sized carpet, usually woven, knotted, tufted or braided, and laid loose rather than fixed to the floor. The distinction between rug and carpet is mainly one of size, and the two words are often used interchangeably for oriental pieces.
Antique rugs fall into several broad families. Hand-knotted oriental rugs from Persia, Turkey, the Caucasus, Central Asia, India and China are the most collected, with regional patterns, dyes and knotting techniques that help specialists identify their origin. Flat-woven kilims and soumaks, European rugs from Aubusson and other centres, and humble British rag rugs and hooked rugs each have their own following. Collectors and buyers look at the quality of the wool, the use of natural dyes, the density and evenness of the knotting, and the balance and drawing of the design. Condition is important: worn pile, moth damage, holes, reweaving, colour run and replaced fringes all affect value, though some even wear is acceptable and can add character. Rugs bring warmth and colour to wooden floors and are one of the easiest ways to anchor a room of antique furniture.
