Rug types

What to look for

• China and Eastern Turkestan—Long, uneven cut wool, almost shaggy, on older carpets. (New Chinese look like silk, this is because the wool is given a chemical lustre.)

• India—Dry almost cotton look, but tough.

• Turkestan—Short tough pile, silky look.

• Pakistan—Medium pile, very soft wool, which you can depress and has little or no resilience. Silky look is due to chemical washing, which does not last.

• Persia and the Caucasus—Short tough pile with resilience (please note, in eastern parts of Persia and Kazakestan the pile tends to be a little longer).

• Turkey—Long, heavy, lustrous pile on most modern rugs, old pieces tend to have the Persian look.

• Europe—Long, heavy pile, tough but with a sheen.