A Guide to Finding the Perfect Vintage Berber Rug
Berber rugs are rugs woven by hands by the Berber people living in the Sahara and North Africa. These are rugs in both traditional and modern designs, which come in different fabrics, textures, knitting patterns, and dyes. Berber rugs are highly durable home furnishings that do not easily break. It can last for more than a decade in your home, even when exposed to dense traffic areas.
If you are looking for a quality home rug with a touch of tradition and culture, you can always choose a Berber rug, and you will not be disappointed. Finding a quality rug, especially a vintage one, can be intimidating and complicated. Nowadays, a lot of markets offer low quality, fake tribal rugs in the market, and for a beginner, it is not something easy to distinguish.
Here are some tips from the experts on how you can find your perfect and genuine vintage Berber rug.
Do not be fooled by antique washes
Because of the recent demand for vintage rugs, some weavers in Morocco started to produce fake and antique washed rugs. These are the rugs that are made to look ‘aged.’ Weavers often achieve it through washing, fading, raking the mats, and more. Be wary of these tactics.
Check the age
When we say vintage, these rugs refer to the rugs produced before the 1900s. That means that different families have used these rugs in different Berber homes. During that time, rugs are not in demand or sold outside of Morocco, so families stitch their rugs.
You should expect these rugs to be damaged. Some might have some unraveling, sun fading, drops of candle wax, henna stains, and more. These are ordinary damages to see in a vintage rug, and professionals can restore these.
Observe the colors
In the early 20th century, colored dyes do not yet exist. Weavers use vegetable dyes to produce colors for their rugs. Most of the vintage rugs created then were in the deep hue colors of blue, tangerine, amber, and aubergine. These are the colors sourced from natural resources.
If you see Berber rugs in colors aqua, blush, baby pink, or pastel colors, that is one sign that is a fake vintage rug. Those colors were not yet available during the early Berber rug creation. You might see Berber rugs of these colors woven nowadays to cater to the Western market’s needs, but it is not vintage.
They are quality rugs of high value
Women often weave vintage Berber rugs for their homes. You should expect that these are carefully crafted with pride. They are detailed, not symmetrically perfect, and may often have special touches. These are home rugs designed to last a lifetime. Quality vintage rugs are limited. That is why they often come at a great price.
Conclusion
Knowing whether the vintage rug you are eyeing is authentic or not may require a professional and knowledgeable eye. Still, we hope our notes above help you distinguish the authentic from the fake ones. To ensure you get genuine and quality vintage rug, buy only from a reputable rug store.
Are you looking for a convenient way to find your authentic dream Berber rug? Why not look up our store and check our Atlas Berber rugs? We offer various sizes and designs, and we work closely with rug retailers and interior designers to make sure you get the quality rug you need.