You’ve just bought an oriental rug for you home, but something has been gnawing at you. The seller didn’t seem particularly trust-worthy, and the more you look at your new rug, the less sure you are that it’s authentic. If you’re worrying about the authenticity of your oriental rug, you can look for these top 3 signs that your rug is a fake.

Hard plastic on the back

Authentic oriental rugs should match the front like a mirror image. They never have hard plastic on the back like other area rugs do. This is because other area rugs are made out of synthetic rug materials, while oriental rugs are handmade from wool. If your rug has hard plastic on the back, then this is a sign that it was made from synthetic materials instead of wool and, thus, is a fake.

The colors are bleeding

Authentic oriental rugs are made from natural, vegetable dyes. As such, the colors never bleed when they get damp. This is not the cause with chemical dyes. Chemical dyes, when wet, will bleed. So, a quick and easy way to test if your rug is a fake would be to rest a damp cloth on top of the rug overnight. When you remove the cloth, there should be no color on it. However, if you’ve noticed that some color has transferred to the cloth, then your rug is likely a fake.

The fringe is sewn or glued on

The final sign that that your oriental rug is a fake is that the fringe has been sewn or glued on. All types of high-quality oriental rugs use the fringe as the foundation of the loom, so designs are tied around the fringe structure. They are never glued or sewed on.

When you’re buying an oriental rug, it’s important to find a reputable dealer. At Surena Rugs, you can trust that all our oriental rugs are 100% handmade and authentic. Browse our rug collection online or call us at (404)-812-1881 to learn more about our rugs.