Issues → January/February 2007 → Home & Garden → Hooked Rugs: Floor to Wall →
Collecting Antique Rugs
by Lynn C. Van Dine
The demand for antique hooked rugs has been growing over the past decade, and with that, prices and appreciation have grown, too. Hooked rugs dating to the 1800s and early 1900s command thousands of dollars. "A lot of the value has to do with the condition and the handiwork," says rug restorer Jessie Turbayne. "Victorian styles are popular, and folk rugs are always in demand." To ensure the rug you choose is of good quality, Jessie advises:
- Inspect the craftsmanship, color planning, and design.
- Do a sniff test. Many smells, such as pet urine, never go away.
- Look for holes. A few small holes may be repaired, but don't buy a rug that has more holes than rug to it.
- Avoid rugs that show signs of dry rot (a fungal rot that causes cracking and crumbling of the fibers) or mildew.
- Like any antique, buy what you like and what you can truly afford.
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