Whether you have recently purchased a rug or you're enjoying a family heirloom, the intrinsic beauty of a fine quality Oriental rug will bring you many years of pleasure. For me, Oriental rugs conjure up childhood memories of visits to grandmother's house and the happiness that such recollections bring. Now, with the knowledge I've gained as a personal property appraiser for more than 13 years, my appreciation and love for these woven works of art has only increased.

Though called Oriental rugs, most of these fine rugs come not from the Far East but rather the Middle East, notably the Caucasus, Iran and Turkey. The technique of knotting short lengths of wool on a woven foundation hasn't changed much in the last 25 centuries. However, there is a vast difference between the new brightly colored Oriental rugs found in home furnishing stores, and antique (made 100 or more years ago) and semi-antique rugs (50 to 99 years ago).

The majority of the older rugs were made with natural vegetable dyes as opposed to chemical dyes and they maintained a greater adherence to traditional design colors. However, over the years as parts of the Middle East have catered to producing rugs for the American and European market, traditional designs and artistic execution have been compromised.

One of the unique characteristics of these hand woven rugs is that each rug reflects the weaving traditions of the city or region where they originated. For example, Kashans from central Iran incorporate a curvilinear floral design with a fine weave on a cotton foundation. Kazaks from southwestern Caucasus have geometric patterns on a loose weave with wool warp. And Oushaks from Western Turkey use pale shades of color with uncluttered designs that make them very popular today.

However, all Oriental rugs fall into two general categories: tribal or city. Tribal rugs typically have a wool foundation and bright colors. Due to the loose weave of a tribal rug (50 knots per square inch or less) the patterns are typically geometric with sharper angles.

In contrast, the sophisticated tight weave of a city rug (up to 1,200 knots per square inch) can create intricate curvilinear designs sketched on paper by palace artists. Although city rugs from desirable regions such as Kashan, Tabriz and Isfahan make good heirlooms and will hold their value over time, most serious collectors prefer tribal rugs that reflect early weaving traditions.

If you are in the market for an Oriental rug, I suggest purchasing a semi-antique rug that is in good condition. Be suspicious of going out of business liquidation sales and estate auctions held in hotels. You may find your best deal at established local auction houses or dealers who have been in business for at least ten years. If you choose to buy at auction, be sure to attend the preview and look closely at the merchandise.

If the rug has an interesting design and balanced colors, it will most probably appreciate in value. A rug with a tighter weave, (200 knots per square inch or more) will generally last longer than a rug with a looser weave. Another condition factor to consider is wear. Most early rugs will show some wear, however, slight overall wear is better than areas of uneven wear. Stay away from rugs with holes or areas of poor repair, and severe losses to the selvage ends that compromise the main border design.

The rug should also lay flat and not be stiff. Make sure to inspect the underside or foundation of an antique rug for insect eggs, moth damage and mildew. Mildew is a thin, often whitish growth that requires moisture to thrive. Mildew molds leave greenish gray splotches that have a musty odor and eventually weaken the fiber of a rug.

Dry rot is common among antique rugs with cotton foundations. It is an airborne, microscopic plant-like fungus that feeds on cellulose fibers. The effect of drying fibers from dry rot is irreversible. You may detect dry rot by carefully bending the rug back and forth at various points and listening for the crackling sound of a weakened foundation. Although an infected rug may appear perfect, the affected fibers become brittle and will eventually disintegrate.

Once you purchase your antique rug, it is important to maintain its present condition. Frequent cleaning will certainly extend the life of the rug. Grit trapped in a rug's pile can cause abrasion and weaken the foundation of a rug.

New or sturdy Oriental rugs should be vacuumed in the direction of the pile. Be careful with brush attachments. Rug borders are often lost due to the unraveling of unsecured loose salvage ends. It is a good idea to inspect and vacuum the underside of large rugs at least once a year. A wet washing with natural soap or mild detergent is recommended over dry cleaning. Chemicals used in the dry cleaning process tend to remove natural oils from the wool and give white wool a yellowish cast.