Job completed for Customer in Delmar

Completion date: June 20, 2025

Location: Delmar, NY

Why did the customer contact us?

This is an example of recent rug restoration work completed on an antique Heriz rug. The rug has characteristics of a prayer rug as well. The rug came in completely worn throughout the medallions and required reweaving and color restoration. The before and after images show the actual traffic and faded dyes and the final work where the cleaning and restoration process brought back the vegetable dyes of the rug. The rug has a very bold navy and red color scheme and now looks as though it came off the loom circa 1900.

Solutions provided:

A Persian antique prayer rug of this threadbare quality with these
issues requires a very careful and specialized approach for cleaning and
restoration. Each problem needs to be addressed individually to restore the rug
while preserving its value

1.Inspection and Identification: Jafri Rugs carefully
inspected to assess the extent of the moth damage. This involves checking the
front and back of the rug for signs of infestation.

• Moth
  Treatment: The rug would be treated to eliminate any remaining moths
  and eggs. This usually involves a deep fumigation process using
  eco-friendly chemicals or freezing the rug to kill any pests.


• Re-weaving
  or Repairing Damaged Areas: The affected areas would likely require Jafri’s
  weavers reweaving the entire field. The damaged wool would be carefully
  removed, and new wool fibers, typically dyed to match the original, would
  be woven into the affected areas to restore the rug's appearance.

2. Worn and Faded Areas of the rug

As an example the medallion is a central feature in Persian
rugs, and significant wear or fading can take away from the rug’s beauty and
value.

• Color
  Restoration: To restore the faded vegetable and chrome dyes, Jafri’s
  first class weavers dyeing techniques may be employed. This could involve
  carefully re-dyeing the  area using
  natural dyes or color-safe synthetic dyes. This process is done with
  precision to match the original hues and avoid dye bleeding.


• Reweaving/Restoration:
  If the medallion’s pattern is worn down to the point of damage, Jafri’s
  weavers had to reweave the intricate design. This involves painstakingly
  replicating the original design and colors.

3. Fringe and Binding Unraveling

The fringe and the binding are crucial for maintaining the
structural integrity and aesthetic of the rug.

• Fringe
  Repair or Replacement: The unraveling fringe would need to be
  reattached or replaced, depending on the extent of the damage. Jafri’s
  weavers often restore the fringe by knotting it back into place using
  similar fibers (wool or silk, depending on the rug’s original material).
  If the fringe is too damaged, it might need to be completely replaced.


• Binding
  Reinforcement: The edges and binding would also be repaired. This
  could involve stitching new binding material (usually wool or cotton) onto
  the rug’s edges, followed by a careful reinforcement of the stitching to
  prevent further unraveling. A careful color match is essential to keep the
  aesthetic intact.

4. Wool Pilling

Pilling happens when fibers get tangled and form small balls
of fuzz, which can occur naturally over time with wool rugs.

• Shaving
  the Rug: Pilling can be removed through a careful process of shaving.
  Special tools or razors designed for rugs are used to gently remove the
  pill without damaging the fibers underneath. The professional would
  carefully go over the rug to ensure the pilling is removed evenly, leaving
  the wool in good condition.


• Deep
  Cleaning: After shaving off the pilling, the rug would undergo a deep
  cleaning to remove any remaining loose fibers and dirt. This would also
  help restore the softness of the wool.

Additional Steps in the Restoration Process:

• Deep
  Cleaning: Once the repairs are done, the rug would be carefully
  cleaned using appropriate techniques for Persian rugs. This would likely
  involve hand-washing the rug with a gentle, wool-safe detergent to remove
  dirt, oils, and any debris, followed by rinsing and drying.


• Final
  Inspection: After repairs, the rug would undergo a final inspection to
  ensure that all issues (moth damage, wear, pilling, etc.) have been
  properly addressed. Any minor touch-ups or final adjustments would be
  made.