The Oriental Rug Library
42+ 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 who has performed conservation work for the State Hermitage Museum, the Musée du Louvre, and the British Museum.
Rug Care & Cleaning
Wash, stain, store, and protect a handmade rug the way a conservator would.
Rug Identification
Knots, dyes, motifs, and age — how to read what your rug is telling you.
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
Sizing, placement, and layering — how to live with a handmade rug, room by room.
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?
A 10-minute self-assessment to get a ballpark value yourself, before deciding whether an appraisal is worth it.
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. Conservation work for the Hermitage, Louvre & British Museum. RICA Certified Appraiser. 42+ years of hands-on conservation work in Skokie, IL.
Full bio and credentials