Submitted by sbayz92 t3_yhda9y in BuyItForLife
Comments
sbayz92 OP t1_iudmvij wrote
You mean for the rug maker? Sadly that’s true. But also for most products we buy this is the case.
I have been told by locals that the women who make this rugs usually make them in their home and are paid “fair”.
One could always be paid more but the assurance for locals made me feel a bit better about the purchase.
VirtualVoices t1_iuei63r wrote
>I have been told by locals that the women who make this rugs usually make them in their home and are paid “fair”.
They're probably paid fair by local wages (which I'm guessing isn't that much) but nowhere fair compared to the markups they sell the rugs for.
Gerrymanderingsucks t1_iufxac4 wrote
I've seen people making these in the south of Turkey (they'll construct them out on balconies so you can see them in progress) and while they're not in the fanciest apartment blocks their flats are far from the worst in the areas. A lot of the Turkish economy is paid under the table and these weavers are probably paid fairly decently. The assertions that weavers are getting $20 for an entire natural dyed kilim are very wrong and are part of why the hand woven kilims can cost so much given the amount of time they take to make. There are professional carpet appraisers and if you ask around with folks in Turkey or in your home country they'll be able to tell you if the dyes are natural, if it was done by a machine, and various aspects of the patterns which are often unique to different ethnic groups in Turkey. At the end of the day what matters is you like the carpet and feel like you had a good experience at the store.
Jesus_will_return t1_iufhnz7 wrote
You're very naïve. This rug cost at most $20 in materials and labour.
FURBYonCRACK t1_iufywxy wrote
Do you have any actual knowledge of these materials and processes or are you just speculating?
theantnest t1_iugsjz7 wrote
What do you think?
Of course he's never owned a rug in his life, never even seen or heard of a kilim before this post, but will argue forever over his initial speculation with people who actually know about it. Welcome to reddit, lol
threepio t1_iufmger wrote
I think this is the part where the rug maker looks at you and says “I love you”, per one of your previous posts.
Imagine you had to sit down with the man named in your username and explain why you think devaluing someone’s hard work is in line with the ideals you purport to represent.
Jesus_will_return t1_iufnlxg wrote
I don't follow. I'm telling OP that the total cost of this rug is $20 in labour and materials. That means the person who made it was paid less than $20 to make, while the seller is hawking it to naïve tourists for $300 with stories about fair wages. What's that got to do with faith, love, or my ideals?
threepio t1_iufnxbb wrote
You seem to be equating the cost of the labour with what someone has been paid to make it.
It might be best to revisit the lesson of the money lenders in the temple.
Jesus_will_return t1_iufola9 wrote
I'm not going to continue this conversation. You're misunderstanding my comments, either on purpose or because of the way they're written. I don't have the energy to explain to you what I meant in my original comment and why you're completely off-base with your reply.
Boofaholic_Supreme t1_iufxud1 wrote
🤡
Krulsprietje t1_iudltet wrote
For the amount of work? Totally agree but on the other hand I find 15 euros for a 2 by 3m rug a pretty good deal (for me..not OP(
petit_cochon t1_iug8q6l wrote
Oh I strongly disagree. Do you know how much work it takes to make one of these rugs? The artistry and culture behind it? And they add to your home, they last your lifetime and beyond if they're well made, they're comfortable and create energy savings... I think Persian rugs in general are an amazing bargain.
theantnest t1_iugsnhb wrote
Persian is from Iran. This one is Turkish.
[deleted] t1_iudjxh0 wrote
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NewMexicanScorpio t1_iuea72a wrote
8 years in the oriental rug business here. I am pretty sure it's a hand woven kilim rug. You got a good price. Unlike a lot of places in the rug weaving world, Turkey and Iran get enough local and tourist business that they don't give the deep discounts like in Afghanistan or India. To take care of your rug so it does may for life:
- keep it out of direct sun as much as possible. Those dyes, if they are natural, will fade with the reds going first and leaving your rug looking yellow.
- keep a vacuum away from the tassels on the end if you like the decorative knots
- prevent wear as much as possible on the sidecords. That is where these flat rugs wear fastest and are the most difficult and expensive to repair Enjoy your handwoven rugs!
sbayz92 OP t1_iuebob5 wrote
Thanks so much for your input!
Can you explain why I see hand made Turkish rugs on Etsy for cheaper? I’m not sure if they are used condition or what but surprised to see so even with being shipped to America. Perhaps I am missing an important detail.
For cleaning, could just a gentle sensitive laundry detergent with a hose work once every few months and hang dry in sun?
NewMexicanScorpio t1_iueeh2g wrote
Those rugs on Etsy could be falsely labeled as hand woven, or are very used. Used rugs don't sell for nearly as much as new. Think about trying to sell a couch or bed mattress used. As for cleaning, my business recommends a thorough cleaning every 2 to 4 years depending on use. You can use a mild detergent and a hose to clean yourself, but that can have a ton of issues mine color bleed or warping. But they are tough enough to take a light power washer without damage. Do a dye test first. Put a wet paper towel on different areas of the rug and see if any color transfers to the towel. If the dyes bleed when wet, get it professionally done by a place accredited by ARCS. I can tell you from experience that those colored threads wrapped around the end tassels will bleed and leave you with red, blue, and green tassels and instead of white cotton. And it's really hard to reverse without damaging the cotton.
AWanderingAcademic t1_iug0zfa wrote
This is some amazing advice on cleaning, thank you for sharing!!! :)
LBdeuce t1_iugo48c wrote
There are countries where false advertising is not illegal and very frequently sellers will pass the false claims of the manufacturers with little to no risk
sbayz92 OP t1_iugrcmp wrote
True, but this is a small tourist town and the guy has been in business for 27 years. Being the only one in town. He’s very well recommended by even the locals. And the certificate has his tax ID on it. I’m quite certain it was not imported in from another country. If he pulled this type of stuff the shop wouldn’t have such high ratings and recommendations.
inspired2apathy t1_iuhk811 wrote
Hand made doesn't mean hand knotted and Etsy can lie. Also, they might use synthetic materials.
SpecialPhred t1_iudc9qw wrote
That's a Kilim not a rug or carpet. Yes, it's a decent price for the size and color.
sbayz92 OP t1_iude74h wrote
Ok good to know! I was unaware the difference until I looked it up.
SpecialPhred t1_iudv0ob wrote
No worries, I lived in Eastern Turkey in Ilic (eel-itch) for awhile. Someone a bit more knowledgeable than myself could probably tell you the region it came from. You can tell a lot from the colors, patterns and designs if you know what you're looking at. It's a very nice piece.
sbayz92 OP t1_iudvct5 wrote
Yea I’m going to go back to the shop and ask a few more specific questions about it before I leave! Certificate says central Anatolia but obviously that is a large area.
sarhoshamiral t1_iue13zi wrote
Am I missing something, I don't see a price anywhere but it would be really hard to tell if you got an actual hand woven one or not from the photo.
We have many similar "kilim"s at our home that cost 20-30$ at the time. I doubt they were hand woven though.
sbayz92 OP t1_iue32aj wrote
sarhoshamiral t1_iue88z8 wrote
Thanks, if it is really hand woven then it seems like a fair price but given there is really no resale value for these unless you can provide some authenticity then whether it was worth it or not all depends on your own feelings to be honest.
For me, hand woven vs machine woven makes little difference as long as the material is same. But I realize everyone is different.
fcfrequired t1_iud6bnl wrote
Ehhh without seeing the back it might be hard to confirm, but while I'm sure someone used their hands to make that rug, I'm about 95% sure they also used a machine loom.
It looks pretty identical to the machine rugs they hock down at the local Suq here in Bahrain.
Shenanigamii t1_iud98gl wrote
Hey dude! How long ya been in Bahrain? One of my favorite places on Earth. If you haven't been to Asha's for Pani Puri, do it. It's near the gold souq.
Also, check out Navaratna (4HF8+3X2, Rd No 523, Riffa, Bahrain). If any place could make me vegetarian, it would be this place. Holy hell.
If you are looking for rugs, peacock rugs just off shawarma alley also has a deal with the base, but just make sure that if you buy a Nain rug, it's actually Nain...just because they have a deal with the base doesn't mean they are not going to totally rip you off. Know what you are purchasing...every detail about it. I caught them trying to do this to me on several "nain" rugs. Their Qum rugs are the best I had seen though.
For the best Thai food (my wife is Thai and she said its better than some restaurants in Bangkok) head over to Honey restaurant and grab some tom yum and kor moo yang (grilled pork)...man I miss that place. I wish we had their chefs here in the states lol.
Also, if you haven't made it out to the racetrack on Sunday nights (I think its Sunday nights) for their open track night, it's a hell of a lot of fun, and sometimes, some of the rich Saudis will let you drive their Ferrari's if you befriend them. It's a fun time.
I admit it was better (more fun) 20 years ago when you could drive over the bridges doing 130MPH, but now,at least it's a little safer to drive there...hahaha.
AllEncompassingThey t1_iue58a3 wrote
Man you're making me want to visit Bahrain
bezbrains_chedconga t1_iuea0dz wrote
It’s the most livable of all the GCC countries. Oman is the prettiest landscape but super dull if you don’t make use of the outdoors
Shenanigamii t1_iueb3js wrote
I love Bahrain. Spent about 5 years collectively there in-between other deployments to the region. Still have local friends there and speak with them on the reg. They have all shown me some of the best the country has to offer. Back in the early 2000s, there were less laws...or at least enforced laws...as there are now, so it's not nearly as fun anymore for the US Military member, but there is just so much there to do. Most people there unfortunately just stay in the Manama area or stick to the more well known tourist areas. Sure, the black flag areas are off limits, but before Nabi Saleh became a restricted area to the US servicemembers, I used to walk from my villa to this place nearby that had the most amazing gnocchi. The locals were friendly and their kids loved to use my remote control nitro truck I used to have. Good people, even if they aren't too keen on my country's government.
I've been spat on while there, but that's few and far between. They cheered when the twin towers got hit...they chanted "death to America" when United Flight 93 (the movie) was in theaters and pretty much h put us on lockdown...but theres bad apples everywhere. It's the only country that I know of where I could get Chateaubriand, a bottle of red wine, hummus, Naan, fries(chips..whatever), veggies, and mashed potatoes with peppersteak gravy for 5.5BD (about $13 US)...its a shame they knocked down the Middle East Hotel where that restaurant was...what popped up after to take its place just capitolalized on our fetish for good beef and now we pay American prices (sometimes $80 for a good steak).
Hessarian99 t1_iuiczmm wrote
Amusingly the Bahraini government and elite lives at the mercy of Saudi and the USA as they Sunni monarchy is hated by the Shiite commoners.
Oman is a slightly more friendly place, more chill.
Most of the gulf states are trying to become gross tourist traps like Vegas tbh and it's really sad.
My Jordanian internet guy went on a massive rant about how fake and corrupt the Gulf Arabs are and said if you want the REAL ME go to Jordan or maybe Lebanon.
Rant over 😜
Shenanigamii t1_iuix464 wrote
You are not wrong. The amount of protests and tire fires was a bit much. I was riding my motorcycle one time to the Harley dealer and a few turns away I was about 4 cars behind a truck that stopped, 3 men jumped out and one tossed them tires. The dumped petrol all over the tires, lit them, and then they drove away. Was crazy to witness
Hessarian99 t1_iuid3u1 wrote
It's a tourist trap like Vegas with adultery laws and prohibition on public drinking
Fine for a visit, I wouldn't want to live there
Hessarian99 t1_iuid71z wrote
Amusingly all those places were founded by Indian and Asian immigrants to cater to the gigantic guest worker population.
sbayz92 OP t1_iud6knb wrote
The back of the rug is the same design. It’s beautiful on both sides. The certificate says hand woven and the shop owner said this is well.
Does hand woven also mean a machine can be involved?
Shenanigamii t1_iud9mco wrote
That's a nice one, and I would have no problem placing that one down for daily use. Depending on the size and density of the knots will tell you it's price...not it's worth.
Mimehunter t1_iue8yzv wrote
You want to look at the tassels too - are they woven in, or patched on?
sbayz92 OP t1_iue97u0 wrote
They are woven in. He specifically went over this how nice the carpets tassels were and the extra time it takes to do that type of method.
Wasn’t entirely sure what he meant but said it’s higher quality lol
Mimehunter t1_iuebc7d wrote
I'm struggling to find a good picture of it online - but basically the fringe is either woven into the rug, or it's a separate piece that's been sewed to the back.
Higher quality machine woven will look better than poorer quality machine woven (which basically look like an iron on patch) - but in either case I've never seen a machine woven that could duplicate a hand woven fringe, so it's generally the easiest way to spot the difference between hand and machine.
sbayz92 OP t1_iuebuln wrote
It’s definitely not woven on the back. The back side is identical to the front. 👍
[deleted] t1_iueyq6k wrote
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K2TY t1_iudve0i wrote
That will really tie the room together.
TorrenceMightingale t1_iuehn7n wrote
Donnie, you’re outta your element.
Ladyofthewharf55 t1_iudoq0b wrote
Such a beautiful rug
noradosmith t1_iueec82 wrote
Should really tie the room together.
TorrenceMightingale t1_iuehle1 wrote
“The Chinaman is not the issue here, Dude.”
sbayz92 OP t1_iudp10m wrote
Thank you! I normally wouldn’t go for something so colorful but somehow these colors worked perfectly for my wife and I and matched the fall colors of our home state.
wastedkarma t1_iud50uq wrote
Totally fair price, better than fair actually!
Feel good now?
Awesome, because you were actually totally bamboozled. Sorry.
The real question to ask yourself is: Why is your enjoyment of the rug at all tied to the fairness of the price?
sbayz92 OP t1_iud5dbk wrote
Haha ok ok… I simply just like to know what something is worth when I purchase something. This is my first expensive rug purchase so I was hoping to hear from someone who has some expertise to chime in..
nonameredditerguy t1_iud6olw wrote
I’m no expert but it looks great. Lemme say what the other commenter said without sounding like an ass, if you like it and it lasts forever then it’s perfect for you.
Buying for life most of the time means paying more for something and that’s okay. The gamble comes from longevity
wastedkarma t1_iudgp6z wrote
Seriously it’s a gorgeous rug.
sbayz92 OP t1_iudnr0v wrote
Thank you! We gravitated towards it because we felt it represented the colors of our home state (nature).
Illywhatsthedilly t1_iudoyun wrote
For a piece like that you payed a little too much. If it's really all natural die then it could be worth it. Granted the work is a bit specialized but could be done in a day or 2. It's a rather nice one tho.
Source: i asked my mother who used to make these and rugs from scratch when she was a kid.
Edit: she also said it is likely not from mid Anatolia. But from the east of turkey. Likely mardin or urfa area.
Paid-Not-Payed-Bot t1_iudozu8 wrote
> that you paid a little
FTFY.
Although payed exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
-
Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. The deck is yet to be payed.
-
Payed out when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. The rope is payed out! You can pull now.
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
Beep, boop, I'm a bot
Genetics t1_iue6ebi wrote
Thank you for teaching me a new word! I didn’t know “payed” existed.
sbayz92 OP t1_iue2u22 wrote
Hey thanks for your input! Wow they can make these in a day? Thought it took weeks.
It is natural die and the shop owner said mid Anatolia. Hopefully he’s correct or I would have reason to believe other things are incorrect as well haha
Illywhatsthedilly t1_iuetv4h wrote
Yeah couple days could be considered fast indeed.
Well its not like they can't make other styles from different regions so it doesn't have to mean anything. She just pointed it out after she asked me if you knew where it came from and i said you didn't.
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sbayz92 OP t1_iud3g69 wrote
Hi everyone,
I bought a hand made Turkish rug at a local shop here in Turkey. The shop is highly rated and recommended by several locals.
It’s a beautiful rug that is 1.4 x 2 meters roughly. We paid $380 (~7100 TL). It is 100% wool and the dye is natural.
Just out of curiosity, does this feel like a pretty fair price? By no means was I trying to get the best deal possible or bargain the owner down.
He actually said he would sell for $600 in summer but because we were at the shop the last day before it closes for winter (which is true), gave us this price.
Of course, who knows if he actually sells for $600 during summer but I do feel like the shop owner is a good honest guy. We spoke for a few hours how he visited my hometown in the US 20 years ago.
Anyways, I’m just curious if this is the normal range for a hand made rug this size. To be honest, I feel like we got a pretty good deal.
Thank you!
jerkITwithRIGHTYnewb t1_iud5bmm wrote
Well we have two. One 10x12 that was $1,300 and one 10x8 that was $900. So it seems a bit steep but we bought ours on Etsy and they were likely not hand woven. I know the prices can go a lot higher than what we paid but we are very happy with what we got.
sbayz92 OP t1_iud5kvu wrote
Nice! Yea I bought mine in Turkey so obviously cheaper here.
I honestly don’t care if we overpaid by $100 or got it for $500 cheaper than what it’s worth.
I just like to have an idea of what something is worth roughly.
I feel like we got a pretty good deal, but someone with experience might be able to let me know :)
fcfrequired t1_iud6lep wrote
If it is handmade, and if it is real wool a similar rug would run about $300 USD in Bahrain.
sbayz92 OP t1_iud75y5 wrote
Cool, thanks for the info. So I’m in the ballpark range. Honestly can’t imagine buying for less than $600 in USA.
Also with inflation worldwide, I’m guessing prices are even higher right now.
SeitanEnjoyer t1_iudtkzb wrote
I'd say over 1k easy in the US.
Western_Detective_84 t1_iuk9mlp wrote
Yeah. For a rug that size, in wool, and for-real hand made, which in this case I think is hand-LOOMED (made on a loom), you got a good price. Was it the cheapest you could have gotten it over in Turkey? IDK, and I don't care, because I think if YOU feel like you got a good price, for a product you likely would have a hard time getting AT ALL in the US, then you got a good price. You may already know this, but "hand-made" in the rug/carpet biz often includes machine-assisted - but somebody had hands on the machine. Which, when you think about it, is an exaggeration of the "hand-made" quality, but "meh, whatever", eh? In your case, I suspect "hand-made" means a person made this on a loom, without machine assistance. You can find hand-loomed wool rugs in and around Chimayo, NM today. 40 years ago I bought a couple for about $300 each. It was off-season, and I got a slightly better price than in season. I sold one, 15 years later, in a Scottsdale AZ gallery for twice that much. I've still got the other.
beholdthefield t1_iudp356 wrote
A lot of your comments in this post sure read like, "I just want to make sure the artisans didn't get paid enough" so I could get a negotiation "win" while in Turkey.
sbayz92 OP t1_iudsiym wrote
I’m sorry it feels that way to you but it’s actually quite the opposite.
I mentioned a few times that I just want to know if this is the normal going price range in Turkey.
I like to know the value of things I own. Especially since this will likely be kept for my entire life.
Some locals even mentioned to me I might have overpaid a little bit. If that is true, I am totally ok with that. Extra money to the shop owner who was a cool guy.
Additionally, usually in Turkey you buy from rug shops that sell rugs made by various artisans. I didn’t buy directly from the artisan so no matter the price I paid, they were already paid what they got.
beholdthefield t1_iudw6fk wrote
>I’m sorry it feels that way to you but it’s actually quite the opposite.
- You can say that, but I don't think it's the case. Actions matter more.
>I mentioned a few times that I just want to know if this is the normal going price range in Turkey.
- The price of anything is what someone is will to pay for it.
-Most likely, someone will pay more than you, and others will pay less.
>I like to know the value of things I own. Especially since this will likely be kept for my entire life.
- You want confirmation that what you did was "good" or a "win". If you keep something your entire life, what's the point of monetary value? You appreciated the item, then it zero value to you. Confirmation that you spent the right amount of money doesn't need get involved, at all.
>Some locals even mentioned to me I might have overpaid a little bit. If that is true, I am totally ok with that. Extra money to the shop owner who was a cool guy.
- You definitely overpaid. Might have been a little. Might have been a lot. Nobody is going to be honest with you about that.
>Additionally, usually in Turkey you buy from rug shops that sell rugs made by various artisans. I didn’t buy directly from the artisan so no matter the price I paid, they were already paid what they got.
- Yeah, no way that seller goes back to the artisan and says something like, "your rugs only fetch $X.xx at my store. I am not paying your asking price anymore".
sbayz92 OP t1_iudx1os wrote
You yourself posted a very similar post asking about fair prices:
“[Pricing] Questions about my first SXS purchase”
Anyways, I think you have my intentions wrong.
Simply just like to know if I paid a fair value price. Same questions you asked on your post.
beholdthefield t1_iudywcb wrote
Do you know how many Turkish artisans it takes to hand build a side-by-side machine in South Carolina?
lilelliot t1_iudec96 wrote
That's about the same price as about the same rug from Ikea. Handmade definitely does not preclude the use of a machine.
Nenor t1_iudt1p8 wrote
Did you haggle? You always need to haggle in Turkey. If you got a ~70% discount or so, it was probably a fair price at that point.
sbayz92 OP t1_iudtnc3 wrote
I didn’t because I didn’t feel the need to. I don’t always like to haggle down prices and pay the cheapest price possible, especially if I like the shop owner and feel they are a good person. He also claimed he was giving a cheaper price than he asks in peak season.
I am more inclined to haggle down prices if there is an aggressive shop owner trying to sell me something and asks an outrageous price. In that case, I will haggle for sure haha
I just went in to the shop knowing that hand made Turkish rugs in the States usually cost double this price or more (or at least I think so) so I felt it was pretty fair.
snapmyhands t1_iuelc1i wrote
I think you probably overpaid but what's important is that you feel you got a good price. I own a kilim of similar dimensions in shades of blue that I got from a dealer in London for £110 if I remember correctly.
sbayz92 OP t1_iuelrjq wrote
Nice! Although I would find it hard to believe that yours is hand made natural died 100% wool made in Turkey for that price (with import, shipping costs,etc). Unless you bought a few decades ago?
But then again, I know very little about Turkish rugs.
snapmyhands t1_iuf6xq1 wrote
I would say they're likely the same quality, I know it's handmade and wool (purchased earlier this year) but I can't speak for the dyes used.
Fwiw there's a label on the back with the original sale price of £650, then a discounted price of £350 so idk if he buys them back from retailers if they don't sell within a given time, but he always has fresh stock when I see him.
adorablyunhinged t1_iuf87zs wrote
Where is this?
snapmyhands t1_iuf8yqn wrote
Camden Passage market in Angel, he's there on Saturdays. He actually bartered HIMSELF down to £110 after I enquired the price so almost certainly you could haggle him down even lower.
kangsterizer t1_iueyvvq wrote
its cheap by US standards specially if it's shipped back to your place, normal by Turkish standards (not cheap either). This sort of transaction is normal in many places, and if you aren't chatting and trying to get a lower price the seller will probably think you're a bit dumb.
flickering_bulb t1_iugdid9 wrote
My uncle runs an import business in Turkey and I’ve visited my extended family a few times there too. It is incredibly popular for local natives to mass import these rugs from other countries and sell them at an incredible markup to tourists. You see this just about everywhere even with little trinkets like wooden toys, etc. You definitely overpaid but you supported a local business so I guess it balances itself out.
sbayz92 OP t1_iugr53o wrote
Thanks for your opinion. So what makes you think I definitely overpaid? And what would should have been the price in your opinion?
zoeblaize t1_iugz6w0 wrote
I’d say that’s definitely a fair price, good job.
shadowthunder t1_iueazjv wrote
Am I missing where they mentioned the price?
sbayz92 OP t1_iuec1bm wrote
It’s right here (sorry I thought I would be able to pin this comment at the top)
shadowthunder t1_iuec76f wrote
Ah, I have an option turned on that auto-hides pinned automod comments
yodaboy209 t1_iuds0yn wrote
It's a fair price if you love it. It's a beautiful kilim.
sbayz92 OP t1_iudt2i6 wrote
Thank you! Valid point! Honestly I didn’t even try to bargain the price down and just paid what the shop owner asked, because he was a very cool guy and it was the last day of the year open. He claimed he sells for much higher in peak tourist season so I was ok with the price. I’m more just curious if the price I paid is roughly the going rate.
thoughtfillednorth t1_iudtru5 wrote
Those are really lovely. I redo a ton of mid-century homes with the furniture I find and I collect oddities from the atomic era, these tribal style rugs is how I offset those older pieces to make the room feel more modern.
I say you got better than fair value. They're beautiful and to someone, those will sell for more than you bought them for.
Nice work!
sbayz92 OP t1_iuduxve wrote
Thank you for your kind words! It is a very nice color pattern :)
[deleted] t1_iudz04m wrote
It really ties the room together.
sbayz92 OP t1_iue6wc8 wrote
Thanks! This photo is taken in the rug shop by the way haha
reverber t1_iudxf04 wrote
Learn how to care for it so that it lasts longer. My spouse has several cleaning rituals associated with her Bulgarian kilims. One is to throw it outside face down in new snow. On sunny days, it gets aired out about once a month.
I add regular vacuuming (front and back) using a special head made for hand-tied/woven rugs on my Miele.
It also helps that we don’t wear street shoes in the house.
sbayz92 OP t1_iudxtbz wrote
Will do! Wow what does face down in snow do?? Lol
reverber t1_iudyvcu wrote
My observation/theory: The dirt falls into the snow and stays there. The snow doesn’t get the rug wet, just damp. The cold helps kill any critters that may have taken up residence in the snuggly wool. Some suggest the addition of a rug pad to protect the back of the kilim.
juanhellou t1_iuec1il wrote
If you didn't work over the price with the seller and ended having some tea with them, then you didn't.
sbayz92 OP t1_iuegipt wrote
Lol I didn’t have tea with them. We chatted about my hometown for while and a local coffee shop there. Wasn’t concerned with getting the cheapest price possible just wanted to make sure I paid a fairly good price because I don’t have any prior experience with Turkish rugs.
juanhellou t1_iueriew wrote
Sounds like a wonderful experience and a good story to tell everyone who compliments your rug. Congrats!
lalaci t1_iugjdf8 wrote
great discussion and I love the rug!
jimoconnell t1_iujrp6m wrote
Absolutely 100% hand-woven. It looks to be completely made of wool, rather than wool wefts on a cotton warp.
You bought this at a local shop that's been in business for decades, right? I think you did just fine on price. If you like the piece, you did great.
Could you have gotten a better deal on Etsy (or another online site)? Sure, but the risk is greater. You need a bit of experience to know exactly what to look for.
Coincidentally, I bought a Turkish kilim on Etsy this morning, in fact. It was from one of the overseas dealers who offers free shipping, but as I am confident in my ability to asses a rug from a photo, I was able to buy without worry. (I started in the oriental rug business in 1985, worked as a textile and carpet restorer for many years. I'm no longer in the business, but I still buy them and sell them on occasion.)
To contradict what another commenter said, there is no shame or stigma in buying a used rug, if it is clean, free of rot, pet stains, or infestation. It is absolutely NOT like a couch or mattress.
Antique rugs are generally always more valuable than their new counterparts. Many rugs, especially tribal pieces, will look their best and peak in value after about eighty to a hundred years of usage.
[deleted] t1_iudxr8a wrote
Turkish and fair. . .
likethevegetable t1_iuepxx0 wrote
With most things that serve little utilitarian purpose, value/deal doesn't particularly apply
ZuchinniOne t1_iuevrjy wrote
It's hard to judge the value of a rug like this until you take it out for it's first flight.
Most rugs aren't magical enough to even make it 1-2 cm off the ground and just end up being used as floor decoration rather than for transportation.
zaphod777 t1_iufajtz wrote
I have no experience with this type of rug but I had a similar experience buying some hand made silk rugs in India but a lot more haggling.
People online argued over if I paid too much but at the end of the day it was a fair price in my opinion and I've had them for over 15 years. They've held up better than any other rug I've owned and have been totally worth it.
Here is one of the carpets.
TheJMoore t1_iug4bq4 wrote
Beautiful rug!
amitxxxx t1_iugcb75 wrote
If you stand on it, it better start flying.
ConsistentFatigue t1_iugqg6r wrote
Where is a good place to buy rugs like this?
sbayz92 OP t1_iugrdnl wrote
In Turkey?
KickAssIguana t1_iuh3426 wrote
You gotta have a rug dealer. Mine comes through with a case of rugs and you can look through them, smell them to see if they are dank or not before purchasing.
[deleted] t1_iugvrmx wrote
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mazow t1_iugwxe8 wrote
Gobble gobble
Bikesandkittens t1_iugxmab wrote
As some who has travelled extensively in this part of the world, the reality is that these rugs are almost always made by women and kids due to having smaller hands to do the weave. Child labor or child slave labor to support the family, sadly, it’s pretty standard.
GoryRamsy t1_iuh181w wrote
Sorry i’m a little confused, but how much did you pay for it?
sbayz92 OP t1_iuh1h53 wrote
$380
kahrabaaa t1_iuhhg08 wrote
200 usd at least where I'm from
babaganoush2307 t1_iuhmpuv wrote
I looked into buying one like 3 years ago and it was like 10k for authentic lol treasure that beautiful piece of work!
Muncie4 t1_iuiblaz wrote
This is not Antiques Roadshow. Your price as nothing to do with lifespan.
sbayz92 OP t1_iuij4m7 wrote
Lol
Hessarian99 t1_iuidj0u wrote
I think so.
My grandmother got a handmade rug from Morocco in the 1970s and paid..... $50 or so back then. It literally showed up in the mail a month after she ordered it in person at market
It's still going strong
sbayz92 OP t1_iuij964 wrote
Very cool!
DissoiLogoi t1_iueyxin wrote
That’s an insanely good price for even a tshirt bro.
Pink__Flamingo t1_iug5jth wrote
A simple geometrical pattern like that with plenty of straight lines is more likely to be machine made rather than hand woven. It looks machine loomed. I'm going to go against the grain here and say you've probably overpaid for it.
derek139 t1_iudcbpg wrote
I’m certain nearly every rug price is not a fair price.