Wool carpets & oriental carpets: Value, cleaning & knot density explained

Cleaning wool carpets & identifying quality – knot density, Raj & La explains

1. How is the value of a genuine wool carpet determined?

A hand-knotted oriental rug is more than just a floor covering—it's a work of art. Many factors determine its value: the knot density per square meter, the materials used (e.g., high-quality new wool or genuine silk), the fineness of the workmanship, but also the origin, age, and artistic design.

A Persian carpet with 300.000 knots per square meter is often a sign of high quality – but more important than just the density is the harmonious interplay of material, technology, and design.

2. Handmade carpets: Perfectly imperfect

For hand-knotted or woven carpets Small irregularities are not a flaw – on the contrary: they are a sign of authenticity. Whether slightly slanted lines, color gradients, or small size variations – all these are testaments to genuine craftsmanship. Especially with Kelim carpets, color changes create characteristic weave slits ("Slit kilims")

3. Calculate node density – How it works

On the back of the carpet, count the knots per centimeter horizontally and vertically. Example: 3 knots horizontally × 4 vertically = 12 × 10.000 = 120.000 knots/m². This simple method provides a good estimate of the fineness.

4. Tabriz Carpet & Raj: What does 35, 50, 60 or 70 Raj mean?

Raj represents the number of knot rows per 7 cm width. The higher the Raj value, the finer the carpet. An overview:

• 35 Raj ≈ 300.000 nodes/m²
• 50 Raj ≈ 500.000–600.000 nodes/m²
• 60 Raj ≈ 750.000–900.000 nodes/m²
• 70 Raj ≈ over 1 million nodes/m² (extremely rare)

5. Nain Carpet & La: 12, 9, 6 or 4 La explained

For Nain rugs, the quality is determined by the number of threads per warp. The lower the number, the finer the rug:

• The 12: approx. 150.000–250.000 knots/m²
• The 9: approx. 350.000–550.000 knots/m²
• The 6: approx. 850.000–1.200.000 knots/m²
• The 4: Rare, extremely fine

A real Nain carpet mostly comes from eastern Iran and is one of the finest Persian carpets.

6. Cleaning wool carpets – Our recommendation

A regular Care and cleaning Maintains the value of your carpet. Vacuuming, gentle stain removal with gall soap, and professional carpet cleaning every 4–5 years are ideal.

Conclusion: Why real carpet is worth it

A genuine oriental rug is an investment in craftsmanship and culture. Its quality, history, and durability make it a lifelong companion. Follow more articles in our Knots of Stories Blog.

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