The Art of Identifying a Genuine Hand-Knotted Rug

A genuine hand-knotted rug carries the marks of countless hours of skilled craftsmanship. Turn the rug over: hand-knotted pieces show the same pattern on the back as the front, with visible individual knots. Machine-made rugs have a uniform, mesh-like backing instead.

Fringe is another giveaway — on a genuine piece, the fringe is an extension of the foundation warp threads, not sewn on afterward. Irregularities in the weave, slight variations in color from natural dyes, and the density of knots per square inch all point to authentic, handmade construction.