We often take in older Chinese Deco carpets for cleaning, and they present excellent examples of the way rugs age from long term foot traffic.
Their pile is full and even, the colors bold and the designs are largely floral incorporating symbols common to Chinese art and weavings.
When a loom in any country is strung the weaver frequently runs out of thread used to string the vertical foundation which is visible in the form of the freeing at each end (warp). At this point a new long piece of cotton is knotted around the end of the last few inches of the first and the loose ends are cut off. This leaves a hefty knot in the foundation. When the pile is woven going across the rug these knots disappear into the pile and are, for the new rug….completely invisible.
As the rug is used on the floor, the pile of the rug begins to wear away reducing the overall pile height. With enough time and foot traffic the rug begins to show the knots that were formed in the making of the foundation. This wear pattern happens more regularly to Chinese rugs of this age than of other carpets, precisely because the gauge of the cotton used by Chinese weavers of yore was, well, hefty.
Cutting these could damage the foundation of the carpet, and restoration of the pile is not viable or a cost-effective option.
Voila! The magic of cosmetics!
Now, if rugs have been serviced in the past, the “restoration remedy” for these emerging knots is a process called TOUCH UP. Often the dyes used to perform this cosmetic procedure are not color fast – to the effect of either water or light. (This choice often reflects the savvy dealer’s grasp of the fact that some buyers prefer NOT to have an older textile “jimmied up” and the “makeup” will go away.) The result is that the dyes lighten over time and additional touch up is needed. Cleaning can certainly result in a diminishing of the depth of color in the touch up dyes.
If an older Deco piece is sourced from a dealer, it may well have been a cosmetically enhanced piece. This is a customary practice in the rug business when a seller is making a carpet more attractive to the potential buyer to whom there should be full disclosure of the process used.
And to the bottom line...These knots may not be evident before cleaning. Residual dye and everyday dirt act as effective camouflage for these white spots. The irony is that a thorough cleaning may well reveal previously unnoticed wear. And, owners of this type of rug should consider whether or not to have their older Chinese rug touched up after a good wash.
