The Oriental Rug Library
Forty-plus years of hands-on conservation work, organized by what you’re trying to solve — not generic advice. Written and reviewed by Ghorban Ahmadi, Master Conservator to the Louvre and the State Hermitage Museum.
Rug Care & Cleaning
Wash, stain, store, and protect a handmade rug the way a conservator would.
Rug Repair & Restoration
Fringe, moth damage, water damage, and honest reweaving.
Comparisons
Persian vs. Turkish, hand-knotted vs. hand-tufted, and more — compared honestly.
Valuation & Appraisal
What your rug is really worth, and how a certified appraisal is built.
Interior Design
Coming soon.
Featured guides
- Rug Care & Cleaning
How a Museum Conservator Cleans a Rug
The full conservation-grade hand-washing process — dust extraction, dye-test, cold immersion, controlled drying.
Ghorban Ahmadi - Valuation & Appraisal
What Is My Rug Worth?
The five factors that determine value — what makes one rug worth $500 versus $50,000.
Ghorban Ahmadi - Comparisons
Hand-Knotted vs Hand-Tufted Rugs: A Buyer’s Guide
Why construction method drives an order-of-magnitude difference in price, lifespan, and how the rug can be cleaned.
Ghorban Ahmadi - Rug Care & Cleaning
How to Clean a Persian Rug at Home
Weekly maintenance, spot cleaning, stain-specific tips, and the mistakes that cause the most damage.
Ghorban Ahmadi
Ghorban Ahmadi
Master Conservator. Trained at the State Hermitage Museum and Musée du Louvre. RICA Certified Appraiser. Forty-plus years of hands-on conservation work in Skokie, IL.
Full bio and credentials