Are you searching for the best rug for your home? If yes, Pakistani rugs are an investment of a lifetime. They are exceptional and long-lasting. People treasure Pakistani rugs as an exquisite heirloom piece. Nowadays, these rugs are made from imported New Zealand wool yarns hand-knotted to perfection. Despite the top-notch quality and durability, the authentic Pakistani rugs prices are lower than those of Persian rugs are. Moreover, we at RugKnots make it easier for you to buy Pakistani rugs in the US at the most affordable prices, with no hassle. Known as one of the finest oriental carpets in the world, Pakistani rugs designs add splendor to almost any setting. Moreover, they come in a variety of sizes such as runner rugs, small/large area rugs, contemporary rugs, and antique rugs. Although mass-produced, these Pakistani rugs and carpets are traditionally made and only by the hands of professional weavers who have thrived in this industry for generations. As we have witnessed the brilliance, comfort, and satisfaction brought by these oriental rugs, we feel compelled to share our experience with you. This article aims to serve as the ultimate handbook for those who need guidance to buy Pakistani rugs online in the US or anywhere else. Hopefully, we would be able to convince you that it is worth every penny to invest in these breathtaking masterpieces.
Why Pakistani Rugs Make Great Investments
Handcrafted furniture, intricate chinaware, and other sleek home decor accessories never measure up to the aesthetic appeal exceptional hand-knotted Pakistani rugs offer. Apart from their ability to harmonize with a variety of settings and ensembles, these high-quality rugs add value to any home setting, making it look more classy and luxurious. You should invest in Pakistani area rugs for many reasons. However, before we get down to those reasons, below lists everything you need to know about this world-renowned handcrafted item. Learn everything ranging from the weavers’ rich history to the reputation of hand-knotted rugs in the current market. This will help you appreciate these extraordinary Pakistani rugs a bit more than you appreciate them now.
I. A Brief History of Pakistani Rugs
According to historians, we can trace the awe-inspiring art of weaving Pakistani rugs back to the ancient Indus Valley civilization. Excavations found in the timeworn cities of Moenjo-Daro and Harappa showed evidence of early weavers through spindles and other weaving materials. Most of these early fabric makers moved to the cities of Lahore and Karachi where they found their jobs and settled. Earlier Pakistani rugs did not make use of remarkable designs and high-density knots until the Mughal period. During the Mughal times, particularly under Shah Jahan’s reign, the Pakistani way of weaving entered its golden age. The news about these rug carpets spread out quickly that the demand for it reached the whole of South Asia and abroad. Today, the government supports the importation of quality yarn. As a result, Pakistani rugs nowadays make use of Australian and New Zealand wool. Moreover, the production of hand-knotted rugs is the second-largest cottage and small industry of Pakistan as of this writing. Everyone wants to buy Pakistani rugs.
II. What Are The Different Types of Oriental Rugs?
The making of Pakistani rugs is in two ways: hand-knotted and handwoven. Pakistani hand-knotted wool rugs have three major types – Bohkara, Persian, and Tribal. While they are all durable and high-quality rugs, they have variations that are all worth knowing. Take time to check what separates one type of rug to another so you can pick the right investment for you. If you like to know more about the different types of oriental rugs, continue reading our list of oriental rugs.
Pak Persian
The shorter-term for Pakistani Persian rugs is “Pak Persian.” These rugs have curvilinear and floral designs. The themes usually originate from the Tree of Life, Mahal, Isfahan, Tabriz, Kirman, old Kashan and Sultanabad rugs. Pak Persian rugs are woven with Senneh, a highly valued Persian knot. If you are looking for a quintessential rug, rich with intricate designs and symbolism, buy the Pak Persian rug right here at RugKnots. It is just a click away.
Type of knot: Senna
Life expectancy: 125 - 200 years
Bokhara
Pakistani Bokhara rugs make use of Ghiordes, a Turkish knot. They also feature traditional geometric patterns on solid background colors, which range from classical reds to gold and jewel tones. The texture is velvety and almost blanket-like. Bokhara rugs are part of the tradition and heritage in different parts of Pakistan such as Lahore, Hyderabad, Kashmir, and other areas of the region. If you love a blast of colors, the Pakistani Bokhara rugs with its 5-8 jewel-toned colors are the most suitable for you.
Type of knot: Senna
Life expectancy: 125 - 200 years
Baluchi
Baluchi rugs are handmade by Baluchi tribes that live in the greater Baluchistan region in present-day Pakistan and Iran. They have maintained the style of their traditional rugs comprised of a whimsy hallmark, bright-unexpected colors, and exuberant patterns. Are you looking for some playful patterns to decorate a very simple area? Add a Pakistani Baluchi rug in the room setting!
Type of knot: Senna
Knot count: Over 200 knots per square inch
Beljik
The intricate patterns of Beljik serve as its main attraction. The Beljik rug is also famous for its astonishing color combination of various shades of blues, blacks, and deep reds. The production of Pakistani Beljik rugs requires a great number of sheep as it is only made of wool from the sheep’s belly. If you are into rare rug types, finely spun wool, and complex borders, then look for Pakistani Beljik rugs!
Chobi Ziegler
Chobi Ziegler rugs are hand-knotted pieces of Pakistani rugs discerned from other types of rugs through their large, geometric floral patterns. The Farsi word ‘chob’ (wood) where its name comes from pertains to the natural dyes used to apply color. Chobi rugs are also known as Ghazni or Peshawar rugs. With higher-knot density and top-notch quality apart from its outstanding look from the clever use of patterns, buying Peshawar rugs is one of the best investments you will ever make!
Gabbeh
Entirely knotted from handspun yarn like the Chobi rug, Gabbeh displays almost the same texture and quality. Natural sources such as hand-gathered roots, nutshells, tree barks, vegetable skins, and dried flowers are used to dye it. Like the Pakistani Chobi rugs, Gabbeh rugs display large geometric floral patterns. As such, this type of Pakistani rug is the most labor-intensive. What separates it from other carpet rugs is their lanolin-rich luster, which is famous to be fade-proof and long-lasting. If durability is your priority, go for Pakistani Gabbeh rugs.
Heriz
Although naturally colored, Heriz makes use of commercially farmed dyes making it less labor-intensive. It is also made of the sennah knot, which allows Pakistani Heriz rugs to have intricate designs and a wide range of colors. For a dark, silent room ambiance, all it needs is an enchantment of deep reds and a variety of colors from Pakistani Heriz rugs!
Kazak
Kazak Rugs are almost-naturally dyed rugs. This is due to their commercially farmed dyes, which made their construction a lot easier than Chobi and Gabbeh rugs. The wool found in this type of rug is also hand-spun out of a drop-spindle. Kazak is widely known for its indigo blue, red, and ivory colors with a warm vibrancy.
Khan Mamdi
These types of rugs have a nomadic background. However, nowadays, Khan Mamdis are made of machine-spun wool and commercially-produced dyes. Khan Mamdis rugs stand out because of their bold, geometric, and stylish floral designs. If you love rustic rugs with historical traditions embedded into it, do not forget to add Khan Mamdi to your bb of rugs.
Shairwan
Sporting a Kazak style of patterns, Shairwan can be easily mistaken for a Kazak rug. However, this type of Pakistani rug is constructed with hand-spun wool ran through a spinning wheel. Due to this, it features a more consistent and higher knot count than Kazaks. They also were accents of turquoise, orange, yellow, peach, and terra cotta.
Qashqa
The weavers of Qashqai tribe love to play with colors and designs. They frequently use deep blue as the main element in their pieces while highlighting a palette of assisting colors that completes the whole appearance. If you love intricate designs in a rug that is predominantly deep blue, look for Qashqai rugs in the shop’s rug collection.
Kilim
Compared to other Pakistani rugs, Kilim rugs are flatweave carpets. This explains the absence of a pile. These rugs are warp-wrapped and crafted primarily on vertical looms. Kilim rugs are also popular for making use of natural wool colors, sourced from the dhumba sheep. If you love virtually reversible carpets, look for Pakistani Kilim rugs.
Jaldar
Inspiration for the Jaldar rugs came from the traditional Pakistani Sarouk and Yamud designs. It displays diamond-shaped motifs aligned in rows and they are made of Ghiordes knot. Diamond motifs will look great in any setting. If you want this element in your home, check out Pakistani Jaldar rugs.
Lahore, Pakistan
During the British colonial times, Lahore became a famous weaving center in Pakistan. As the industry flourished in the city, traditional weaving techniques were further improved. This led to the designing taking place in Lahore’s jails. Rugs produced in this era are what we know today as “Lahore rugs.” Do you have a rug of choice as of this time? To help you further, we will discuss some type of rugs that stood out and where you can find them. Read on to learn more.
III. What Is A Peshawar Rug?
Peshawar carpet rugs come from Northwestern Pakistan, where many Afghan weavers migrated and settled over the years. These are hand-knotted pieces of fine rugs dyed using natural sources. If you are looking for a rustic rug with pale faded details, these antique rugs will suit your taste. Like other oriental rugs, the Pakistani Peshawar rugs also make use of hand-knotted wool. Sometimes, they are made of other materials like Pakistani silk rugs. The crafting processes of Peshawar include the Persian weaving technique. As for its design or patterns, Peshawar usually sports beautiful medallion and floral motifs. These are also common among other Pakistani oriental rugs. What separates it from others is the ingenious usage of open space. Instead of utilizing tightly packed designs, the Peshawar rugs appeal to the vision by letting each pattern stand out. Often seen and valued as a commodity instead of a regular home decor, Peshawar rugs have higher knot counts compared to others. With its immaculate quality, this type of Pakistani rug makes a perfect heirloom piece. Is Peshawar the kind of rug for you? If you are so sure about it, check our collection of Pakistani Peshawar rugs.
IV. What Country Makes The Finest Area Rugs?
Before we name the top countries that make the most beautiful rugs, we would like you to know that all of them are excellent! So far, no declaration of any country as the “best rug makers.” However, each country has its unique style and rich history. For many years, Persia was highly regarded for its enviable legacy, but where does it sit right now?
Iran or Persia
Persian rugs display uniquely designed floral motifs and an admirable historical background. However, recently, they have fallen behind, due to the usage of commercially used dye. However, Persian rugs remain to be magical. One hundred years from now, the rugs from Iran we get today are most likely to be the most valued rugs for collectors.
Turkey
The cost of labor in Turkey is higher than it is in other countries. This leads to higher retail pricing in the market. However, in terms of design, Turkey is home to the most creative Turkish rug artwork.
China
People used to love oriental and hand-knotted Chinese rugs. Nevertheless, as the country shifted to modern techniques and production of machine-made rugs, the quality and authenticity were greatly compromised. Still, no country can beat rugs coming from China in terms of variations and affordability.
Nepal
The country’s sought-after bamboo silk makes great hand-knotted rugs. Nepalese rugs are also affordable due to the low cost of labor.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan rugs are handmade by tribal people who are accustomed to rug making. Most of the Afghan refugees acquired their craft during their stay in Pakistan. They continued in this industry resulting in a promising future for Afghan weavers.
Pakistan
After the Afghans returned home, Pakistan needed more help with hand-knotted rugs. However, losing some skilled workers will not dwindle their industry, as Pakistani weavers knew it in their hearts that they can create finer hand-knotted rugs compared to others. Home of Peshawar and Bokhara rugs, the Pakistan rug industry is a must-see by every fine area rug collectors.
V. How Are Pakistani Rugs Made
Far from your typical household carpet, these authentic Pakistani rug carpets take months while for some labor-intensive types, years to be completed. They are made of wool of the highest quality. Its weft and warp are made of pure cotton. Making it is a tedious hardworking process that takes months. Therefore, when you buy Pakistani rugs in the US you need to follow some tips.
Here’s a video of how handmade rugs are produced:Families who have been doing this craft for generations make these authentic Pakistani handmade rugs. After the hand-knotting process, the rugs are pigmented with natural dyes and stonewashed to enhance its features. The time spent to finish a rug will depend on the knot density, size, materials, and dye used. Below is the information on the types of handmade rug (9’x12’) and how long it usually takes to finish them:
- Pak Persian Rug- 12 to 14 months
- Bokhara- 9 to 10 months
- Baluchi- 9 to 10 months
- Beljik- 16 to 18 months
- Chobi- 12 to 14 months
- Gabbeh- 10 to 12 months
- Heriz- 10 to 11 months
- Kazak- 9 to 10 months
- Khan Mamdi - 9 to 10 months
- Shairwan- 12 to 14 months
- Qashqai- 10 to 11 months
- Kilim- 5 to 6 months
VI. Where Can I Buy Pakistani Rugs
Buy Pakistani Rugs Directly From Weaving Centers or Stores
You can source authentic Pakistani rugs directly from weaving centers or stores established around bigger cities. Some of these major weaving facilities include:
- Hyderabad
- Islamkot
- Karachi
- Khadro
- Mehrabpur
- Mirpur Khas
- Mithi
- Nawabshah
- Rohri
- Sanghar
- Sukkur
- Tando Adam
- Tharparkar
- Umerkot
- Quetta
- Gilgit
- Nowshera
- Haripur
- Peshawar
- Rasakia
- Swat
- Swabi
- Attock
- Bahawalpur
- Daska
- Dera Ghazi Khan
- Faisalabad
- Farooqabad
- Gojra
- Gujranwala
- Hafizabad
- Jaranwala
- Kamalia
- Kamoke
- Lahore
- Lodhran
- Multan
- Muridke
- Narowal
- Okara
- Raiwind
- Sangla Hill
- Shakargarh
- Sheikhupura
- Sialkot
- Toba Tek Singh
Here is a video on some tips to buy handmade rugs:
Buy Pakistani Rugs Online
When you buy Pakistani rugs online, the primary concern is the risk of receiving a fake rug. Too many online stores today source their items from bootleg manufacturers in China. As such, it is important to examine the background of the seller carefully and only buy from trusted marketplace sellers at eBay, Amazon, Etsy and other independent merchants. RugKnots has been in the market supplying US homes with high-quality rugs since 1987. We make use of 100% cruelty-free, organic dyes, and traditional hand-knotted techniques in producing top-notch Pakistani rugs. With 30 years of rug-making experience, you can never go wrong with buying authentic carpet rugs from us.
VII. Other Frequently Asked Questions about Pakistani Rugs
It can be a daunting task to buy Pakistani rugs in the US. Especially for first-time buyers who are not familiar with the culture of weaving rugs. Over the years, our team has received different kinds of questions about rug production, buying the right kind of rug for their home and other interesting things worth sharing. We listed down some frequently asked questions or FAQs about Pakistani rugs coming from our customers:
#1 - How to know if your oriental rug is fake
Impressive designs of Pakistani rugs come in different forms. However, one may be authentic, while the other one is a fake. They may look the same at first, but the true beauty of these oriental rugs will unveil after a series of careful examination.
Going Out Of Business Sales: Many stores made a business by going out of business. Such shady rug sellers trick people by making them think that they are buying quality rugs at a very low clearance sale price. However, you will soon notice that the store has been doing this “going out of business” promo for over a year. That is the only time you would think of examining your rug to see whether you bought the real thing or not.
You Bought It For A Cheap Price: When it comes to rugs, you get what you pay for. There is no such thing as a ‘steal’ when buying an authentic Pakistani rug online or in a brick and mortar store. Know what a good price for a rug is to buy Pakistani rugs in the US. An heirloom piece like an authentic Pakistani rug will not cost any lower than $200. If your living room is quite big, invest in premium rugs with prices of $1000 or more. We suggest checking out thrift stores, but your chances of finding a beloved Pakistani carpet rug in a decent condition at a giveaway price is close to zero.
Here is a video that will guide you on how to know the right price of a rug:
The Rug Is Not Made Of Wool: Carpet rugs shine with romanticism if they are made of wool. However, this “spark” will not be visible if it is constructed out of plastic and with the use of a machine. Therefore, if the rug simply does not charm you… that is one “bum rug” you got. A rug made of wool will last decades or even a lifetime. Moreover, wool protects you from many things.
- Wool is hypoallergenic. You will not get any allergies from this floor covering for as long as you are not allergic to the wool itself.
- Wool is antibacterial. Expect it to be cleaner amongst others.
- It is also flame retardant. Therefore, if it flames up easily, do not worry. You already burned your money at the time you bought it.
The Rug Is Labeled “Hand-Tufted” Not “Hand-Knotted”: The hand-tufting technique is a simpler rug-making method. Compared to hand-knotted rugs, hand-tufted carpets are easier to produce and training will not take long. Due to this, hand-tufted rugs are weaker compared to others. While the hand-knotted Pakistani rugs can last for 50 years or longer, the hand-tufted rugs are known to last for only 7 years. As to which of the two is a better investment, the answer is obvious.
Sewn And Glued Fringe Means Cheap: In Pakistani rugs, fringes are part of the structure. This is one of the first elements, which built an authentic and valuable rug. If you find out that the fringe is glued to the carpet or by an obvious stitch, it is 100% fake. Get your hands off that rug and find somewhere else to buy Pakistani rugs in the US.
Bleeding Color: If you want a beautiful, precious, and everlasting rug, only buy those colored with vegetable dyes. However, not all stores would say the truth about the product they are trying to sell. Besides, as a wise consumer, you do not want to pay a huge amount of money for a counterfeit item. One way to know whether the rug is good or bad is by checking if the dye used is colorfast. You can do this at home. However, before you make a purchase, ask if the store offers a money-back guarantee.
Here is a video that will guide you on how to test the color of the rug on your own:
- The fringe is sewn or glued
- The back is not the mirror image of the front.
- Lastly, the back is hard to touch.
#2 - Are wool rugs expensive?
They are expensive. There are many reasons we can cite as to why an authentic rug would cost more than $1000. It may be due to the cultural aspect, some are art-historical, while others are purely expedient. Later, this article explains why authentic rugs, especially wool rugs, are so expensive. Keep reading.
#3 - What Makes Hand-Knotted Pakistani Carpets Durable?
While the wool itself is a durable material, the techniques used by professional weavers enhance the imperishability of Pakistani rugs. This is the case for all Pakistani carpet rugs, which go through the hand-knotting process. Hand-knotted Pakistani carpets were built by manually putting together individual pieces of wool yarn onto a loom to create a wool rug. Meanwhile, hand-tufted rugs were made with a small tufting gun to punch a design into a canvas. At RugKnots, we sell both hand-knotted and hand-tufted rugs. Both of them are made of high standards and we can guarantee they will last long. Choosing between them is hard, but why should you pick one over the other? One answer to this is durability. Due to the hand-knotting process done by skilled workers, these rugs have a life expectancy of more than 50 years. Besides, it takes a lifetime of practice for someone to learn the methods of hand-knotting while the training for hand tufting is a lot faster and easier.
#4 - Is A Pakistani Rug A Good Investment?
All authentic types of Pakistani rugs are investments. However, the investment value varies depending on the techniques used to construct a piece. Without a doubt, hand-knotted rugs are far bigger investments than those created with a machine due to the following reasons: As hand-knotted rugs are handmade and took longer processing time, each piece tends to be unique and divergent from others. On the other hand, you can expect that several machine-made rugs were done with the same machine settings, thus, lowers its value.
#5 - How Many Knots Per Square Inch Is A Good Rug
Knot density makes a good factor you need to be aware of when choosing a good rug for your home. The average authentic rug has 100 knots per square inch, which is present in many hand-knotted pieces from RugKnots.
#6 - How To Clean A Pakistani Wool Rug
Not only they are aesthetically pleasing, but also Pakistani wool rugs are also great decoration pieces for your home. They make astonishing commodities or heirloom items for your next of kin to enjoy. As such, an owner must know how to take care of a Pakistani wool rug properly. While it is imperishable, mistakes with cleaning can greatly damage a beautiful authentic piece. Some rug owners witnessed their money go down the drain after ruining their authentic Pakistani rugs. Do not let this happen to you.
Consider Professional Cleaning: Instructional videos on YouTube help us a lot with many things. Still, you will not be able to clean wool rugs like a professional. These carpet pros, wool cleaners, in particular, make use of advanced equipment that will bring back the charm of your heirloom rugs.
Practice Caution: Wool rugs are resilient. However, everything becomes dirty and ugly in time, especially if one is not too careful around it. Some of the things you shouldn’t be doing around the Pakistani rug include: stepping on it while wearing soiled boots, drinking red wine near the carpet or letting your guest smoke indoors. We will mention a few more things in another section of this article.
Spot Clean: When stain gets in the way, spot clean immediately. It takes 15 minutes for the dirt to set in deep to your carpets. So if this happens, make sure you are ready to fix various types of stains on a wool rug.
Rotate It: Families who inherited high-priced rugs do not forget to rotate their rugs every six months. Why?Rotating the wool rug prevents discoloration, matting due to frequent footsteps and having excessive dirt on a single spot.
Vacuum It: Vacuum your Pakistani wool rug twice a month, especially if you own the wool shag type. A special kind of rug like the ones you have will require an exceptionally good vacuum.
Shake It Out: If the task of vacuuming your rug twice makes you cringe, consider taking it outside for a good shake. This method will also help clear the air pockets and keep the rug clean without hoovering. If the rug is too big, ask a friend to help you!
Old Fashioned Beating: Before the age of vacuum cleaners, old carpet owners make use of beating. This method breaks down the dirt without damaging the fibers. It survived and is still in use today because it has proven to be a safe and natural way to clean a wool rug.
Try Snow Dusting: If beating your rug the old-fashioned way is kind of a big task for you, wait until next winter. Russian rug owners take their carpets outside at the park to clean them because they believe that the snow freezes the dirt particles in the rug. Surprisingly, this method works and is much easier than beating the rug!
#7 - What Are The Don’ts In Cleaning A Wool Rug?
Protect your investment by sticking to the safe methods of cleaning a wool rug. As much as possible, avoid the following:
Don’t Try To Be An Expert: Do not bypass professional cleaning. You may have watched some great videos online, but nothing does it better and with zero errors than wool rug expert cleaners do. They also use advanced techniques, which seem to be easy, but they are not.
Avoid Colored Soaps: The dye from colored soaps could stain some light patterns of the wool rug. It would seem too obvious and it may scar the precious rug for life.
Don’t Soak It We: Never soak your wool rug. The above portion is hydrophobic, which repels water. On the other hand, the bottom layer is hydrophilic, which absorbs and keeps water. Once your rug becomes completely wet, you will not be able to dry it before mold and mildew sets in. Besides, this is something you will not be able to fix
Avoid Sitting On A Stain: When a stain happens, do not wait for days before cleaning it. Act immediately and spot clean. This will prevent the stain to set in. You only have less than 15 minutes to do this. Otherwise, your expensive wool rug will suffer irreversible damage.
Don’t Steam Clean It: If you do not soak your rug wet in the first place, there will be no need to steam clean them. There is no way you can safely dry it before it attracts mold and mildew. However, if you would insist, steam cleaning will not be of any help. The steam would be too hot for the wool. Leave the cleaning of a costly heirloom piece to the experts to avoid such problems.
#8 - Can I Sell My Antique Pakistani Rug? And For How Much
Yes, you can sell an antique rug for a good price. The cost varies depending on the knot density, condition, historical value, and cultural background. For an estimate of how much you can sell the heirloom piece, you must avail of the services of an antique item appraiser.
#9 - How Much Does A Rug Appraisal Cost?
Before you sell the antique rug in the marketplace or an auction, you must first identify its value. Contact a dealer or appraiser but make sure to ask for their price first. A full written appraisal may cost a minimum of $500. Apart from a full written appraisal, there is what they call “verbal estimation of value.” This less formal estimate will cost $100. With this arrangement, dealers may compare prices in the market and give you an approximation. However, they will not provide any written document.
#10 - Where Can I Sell My Pakistani Rug
Pakistani rugs have a rich, interesting background. While not everyone is aware of their beauty, a certain market will appreciate the cultural, historical, and pragmatic value of the pieces. There will always be an antique-loving person who will purchase your beloved rug at a good, reasonable price. After you identified the cost of your rug, you can sell it in many ways:
- An auction house. Just make sure to read and understand their policy.
- Private sale via a dealer, a specialist vendor, or gallery.
- Sell to an antique buyer, who may try to get the item for as little as they can.
- Create an auction listing on eBay with a desired minimum price. Some fascinated collectors of Pakistani rugs might be willing to put up a good fight for it. Who knows?
Invest in Timeless Pakistani Rugs
Buying Pakistani hand-knotted rugs from RugKnots makes a captivating and wise investment. While it enchants the room with class, sophistication, and antiquity, the carpet rugs remain valuable and make a perfect heirloom piece for the next generations to inherit and be proud of having. Did you like how we presented Pakistani rugs as an investment worth tapping into? We hope that you learned more about these intricate rugs. We aim to share with you our fascination with authentic Pakistani rugs and share why it is a good thing to invest in them. Our team would like to hear your thoughts! If you have any reactions, questions, or information to share, feel free to post them below in our comments section. We appreciate any feedback coming from you!
