There are many who love Oriental Rugs and would like to collect them but are overwhelmed by their ignorance of the subject and are afraid to make a "Bad Buy".  Allow me to begin by stating, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that "EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES!!!." The important thing is to LEARN from them!  It is a cardinal sin to MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE!!!.  I believe it was Dr.Schurmann who said, "The love for the Oriental rug is an incurable disease, but it is not deadly".  To those of you who have succumbed to this delightful infection, I offer the following recommendations to new collectors of all ages.

(1)  Read CRITICALLY as much as possible of the available literature.  Avoid  such tomes which devote most of their contents to a discussion of classical carpets.  One good book that covers all types of Oriental rugs may prove helpful.  All the other books, which you should own and READ ought to specialize in the areas of YOUR interest!  YES!!!  Every serious collector MUST have a library for study and reference.  As Arthur D. Jenkins, a prominent American collector, said, "And from then on, I would buy a rug and a book, a book and a rug".  Avoid those publications, written by academicians who have neither collected nor dealt with these artifacts!  These are the "LIBRARY EXPERTS" who simply plagiarize from other plagiarists, all in the name of "SCHOLARSHIP"!  After careful consideration, I think of this term with the last letter altered!!!  What good is having a carpet library wherein the only essential difference is the title and the name of the author.  Last but not least there is "Hali", a magazine devoted to Oriental and other textiles.  Regrettably, its editorial policy seems to stress art-historical, ethnological and technical reports.  It is slanted in favor of the academic community and its scholarship.  Despite this, it has much to offer the vestibule collector in such features as "Reviews", "News & Auction Reports", "Auction Price Guide", "The Market in Oriental Carpets", etc.  One can hope that it will someday concentrate on the 19th and early 20th century weavings which are of paramount interest to the majority of collectors

(2)  Visit as many shops as possible that feature the specimens of YOUR interest.  Don't just glance at, but really scrutinize and handle those pieces that appeal to you!  Your hands can tell you as much as your eyes!!  Attend exhibitions, both commercial and cultural, and talk, where possible with the exhibitors.

(3)  Especially, for the novice, it is best to buy your treasures from old, established firms.  You will pay somewhat more than if had bought privately or at auction, but in the former you are purchasing more than just a rug.  You are also paying for the dealer's expertise and reliability!  An honest merchant will permit to take the piece on approval for a brief period to see if it will meet with your satisfaction.  With other sources, it is "CASH AND CARRY"!!!  Once you have concluded the sale, it is final and if proves to be a disappoint, IT IS YOUR LOSS!!!

(4)  If there is a rug club in you vicinity, JOIN IT!  There are interesting lectures, exhibitions and the opportunity to share your enthusiasm with fellow aficionados.  Here, the members learn from each other as they discuss their collections and experiences.  The veteran collector can be a valuable guide for the novice.  Above all, the club is where you will find those who will listen to you with sympathy and understanding.  Always, an important portion of any club's general meeting is the "Show and Tell" sessions wherein the members exhibit and discuss their pieces and relate how and why they acquired them.

(5)  It is assumed that most of my readers are attracted to antique and/or older specimens.  The probability of finding such items in excellent and pristine condition is extremely rare  That means that the collector MUST have some knowledge regarding restoration.  Let us first consider the difference between "Repair" and "Restoration".  As I wrote in "Hali", Vol.3,No.1, "In general, a repair may be defined  as the work which places a carpet in a good and sound condition.  On the other hand, I define restoration as the process which enhances to the maximum the beauty and value of the antique rug as a collectible.  What is "OVER RESTORATION"?  If we accept the concept that age and gentle use have a beneficially aesthetic effect, any work which returns the carpet to its original, unused condition is over restoration and undesirable.  THE IMPROVEMENTS OF AGE SHOULD NEVER BE EXPUNGED!!!"

(6)  It is imperative that the collector is aware of the market value of the rug under consideration.  He might price similar examples in shops, peruse Hali and priced auction catalogues, etc. to obtain the desired information.  Also, he should know the approximate restoration cost for the antique weaving under consideration.  Since such a detailed analysis is beyond my scope, I refer my reader to "Oriental Rug Repair" by Peter Stone which is an excellent treatment of the subject.  It must be admitted that I totally disagree with him when he writes, "Restoration is an attempt to return an object to its original or first condition."  NEVER!, NEVER!, Mr. Stone.  What collector wants his antique rug looking brand new???  If Peter Stone is correct, why collect antique carpets?  The answer is that the latter acquire a charm that only age and careful care can grant.  In conclusion, allow me to remind the neophyte collector that the value of any piece requiring a great deal of restoration is considerably less than that of a similar one in excellent condition!

Finally, it is my fervent hope that the above mentioned admonitions will prove some help to those  neophytes in avoiding the pitfalls which may beset his path!
 

Sam