Buying from a private individual or dealer can be extremely beneficial, but unless you have a knowledge of the subject, or both know and trust the person involved, such transactions are not without risk. If you are buying from a friend it may be worth obtaining an independent assessment in order to avoid the risk of either side feeling that they may have been unfairly treated. When buying from a dealer, or a person you do not know, it is advisable to take along an independent expert to negotiate on your behalf. Private dealers are neither more nor less scrupulous than dealers who operate from a retail outlets, but they may prove more to tract down if something goes wrong. A good private dealer can offer the same advantages as a retail outlet, including home trials, often at considerably lower prices. Dealers can also provide a useful service in locating specific types of rug or generally buying in your behalf. The Riches of design, symbolism and beautiful colors make oriental rugs among the world’s most prized possessions.In addition to Bijan’s personal shopping services, Bijan also offers the service and care for your rugs such as: Cleaning, Fringing, Repairing, and expert appraising for your protection and insurance. http://www.bijansorientalrug.com The term “oriental rug” can be a source of some confusion to those unfamiliar with the subject. It literally means a rug manufactured in the Orient, and could legitimately be applied to any rug of oriental origin, regardless of its appearance or how it was made. In practice, however, the term is normally used only to describe hand-made rugs produced by traditional methods in the ancient weaving regions of Persia (Iran), Anatolia (Turkey), Afghanistan, the Caucasus, Baluchistan, Turkistan, China, India, Pakistan, the Balkans, and parts of North Africa. An oriental rugs, in order to be truly authentic within the generally accepted meaning of the term, must be either hand-knotted or hand-woven, originate from one of the traditional weaving regions and also follow certain ancestral patterns of composition and design. http://www.bijansorientalrug.com/html/oriental_rugs-buying_guide.html All Oriental rugs are made in one of two ways: they are either hand-woven (Kelims, Dhurries, or in general flat weave) or hand-knotted (pile rugs). Individual weaving groups my adopt slightly varying methods of construction, particularly in the type of knot used to form the pile, and it is often these slight differences in weaving and structure, taken in conjunction with their appearance, that enable rug experts to attribute individual rugs correctly. The fundamentals of construction are basically the same, however, and before discussing the two methods of weaving in detail, t is important to clarify some universal weaving terms. http://www.bijansorientalrug.com/html/how_rugs_are_made.html