Jafri Oriental Rugs restored this rug by doing the following:

1. Inspection and Identification

• Rug origin and weaving style such as warp and weft
• Fiber type (wool, silk, cotton, camel hair)
• Natural vs. synthetic dyes
• Age and wear patterns
• Existing damage:
  • Fraying of fringe
  • Holes for the wool replacement
  • Dry rot
  • Moth damage
  • Color bleeding
  • Water damage

Antique rugs often require dye-stability testing before any moisture is introduced.

2. Dusting and Dry Soil Removal

Before washing, deep dry soil is removed.

• Rug dusting machines
• Gentle compressed air
• Soft beating/vibration systems
• Hand brushing

This step is critical because antique rugs can hold pounds of embedded grit that cuts fibers over time.

3. Dye Testing

Technicians test every major color area for bleeding risk.

Especially vulnerable:

• Reds
• Dark blues
• Blacks made with iron compounds

If dyes are unstable, cleaners may:

• Lower water temperature
• Adjust pH
• Use moisture-controlled cleaning
• Apply dye stabilizers

4. Hand Washing

Antique Persian rugs are usually hand-washed flat on a wash floor.

Typical process:

1. Pre-soak (if safe)
2. Gentle wool-safe shampoo application
3. Soft brushing with the pile direction
4. Thorough rinsing
5. Fringe cleaning by hand

Harsh steam cleaning is generally avoided because it can:

• Damage lanolin in wool
• Cause shrinkage
• Distort the foundation
• Trigger dye migration

5. Water Extraction and Drying

Excess water is carefully removed using:

• Centrifuge wringers
• Compression rollers
• Controlled extraction systems

Then the rug is dried in a climate-controlled room with:

• Air circulation
• Dehumidification
• Temperature monitoring

Proper drying prevents:

• Mildew
• Browning
• Fiber weakening

For the repair work Jafri Rugs will do the following:

Fringe Repair

Jafri Rugs will add new fringe implants to the rug

The side edges are reinforced to stop unraveling.

Hole and Tear Restoration

Color Restoration

When fading or bleaching occurs:

• Vegetable-dye matching may be performed
• Small areas are color-corrected by hand

Jafri Rugs not only cleaned the rug but brought back the
vitality of the rug and increased the overall value of the rug. Jafri Rugs
antique weavers repaired the rug to its original state and restored a century
old rug. The rug required spot treatment and binding and fringe restoration.

The rug additionally required reweaving into the field of
the rug which was all done by hand.

All repair work is done by hand.

1. Inspection and Assessment

• The
  first step in Jafri Rugs restoration is a detailed inspection to assess
  the extent of the damage. This includes evaluating areas of wear,
  unraveling threads, fading colors, and any holes or tears in the rug.
  Special attention is given to preserving the original design and integrity
  of the stitching.

2. Cleaning Before Restoration

• Before
  any restoration work begins, the rug must be cleaned thoroughly. Cleaning
  ensures that any accumulated dirt or stains are removed so that the
  restoration work can be done on a clean surface. This also helps identify
  areas that may require special attention during the restoration process.

3. Reweaving Damaged Sections

• Reweaving:
  If the rug has areas of missing or damaged stitches, skilled artisans can
  reweave the missing sections, matching the original patterns and colors as
  closely as possible. This requires a high level of expertise to ensure the
  new stitches blend seamlessly with the rest of the rug.

4. Fringe and Edge Repair

• The
  fringe of a rug is often subjected to wear over time. If the fringe is
  frayed or missing, it can be reattached or replaced by hand, ensuring that
  it matches the original design and material.


• The
  edges of the rug may also need reinforcing or re-binding if they have
  started to unravel. This can be done by re-stitching or using a similar
  material to secure the edges.

5. Dyeing and Color Restoration

• Color
  Fading: Over time, the dyes in a hand knotted rug may fade due to
  exposure to sunlight, wear, or improper cleaning. Skilled restoration
  experts can re-dye the affected areas using professional, colorfast dyes
  to restore the rug’s original hues.


• Matching
  Colors: When dyeing a rug, it’s critical to match the colors exactly
  to ensure that the restoration is seamless. This process is usually done
  by hand to ensure accuracy.

6. Final Inspection

• Once
  all the restoration work is completed, a final inspection is conducted to
  ensure the rug is restored to its original condition. The rug is checked
  for any missed areas, color inconsistencies, or stitching issues that may
  need to be addressed before it’s returned.

1. Inspection and Assessment

• The
  first step in Jafri Rugs restoration is a detailed inspection to assess
  the extent of the damage. This includes evaluating areas of wear,
  unraveling threads, fading colors, and any holes or tears in the rug.
  Special attention is given to preserving the original design and integrity
  of the stitching.

2. Cleaning Before Restoration

• Before
  any restoration work begins, the rug must be cleaned thoroughly. Cleaning
  ensures that any accumulated dirt or stains are removed so that the
  restoration work can be done on a clean surface. This also helps identify
  areas that may require special attention during the restoration process.

3. Reweaving Damaged Sections

• Reweaving:
  If the rug has areas of missing or damaged stitches, skilled artisans can
  reweave the missing sections, matching the original patterns and colors as
  closely as possible. This requires a high level of expertise to ensure the
  new stitches blend seamlessly with the rest of the rug.

4. Fringe and Edge Repair

• The
  fringe of a rug is often subjected to wear over time. If the fringe is
  frayed or missing, it can be reattached or replaced by hand, ensuring that
  it matches the original design and material.


• The
  edges of the rug may also need reinforcing or re-binding if they have
  started to unravel. This can be done by re-stitching or using a similar
  material to secure the edges.

5. Dyeing and Color Restoration

• Color
  Fading: Over time, the dyes in a needlepoint rug may fade due to
  exposure to sunlight, wear, or improper cleaning. Skilled restoration
  experts can re-dye the affected areas using professional, colorfast dyes
  to restore the rug’s original hues.


• Matching
  Colors: When dyeing a rug, it’s critical to match the colors exactly
  to ensure that the restoration is seamless. This process is usually done
  by hand to ensure accuracy.

6. Final Inspection

• Once
  all the restoration work is completed, a final inspection is conducted to
  ensure the rug is restored to its original condition. The rug is checked
  for any missed areas, color inconsistencies, or stitching issues that may
  need to be addressed before it’s returned.

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.

The first image shows how this circa 1900 hand knotted Kerman rug has been left in a very poor condition. This rug requires enormous attention to the following areas:

-Reweaving worn areas where warp and weft is showing

-Refringing as the fringe is torn off

-Rebinding as the binding is unraveling

-Vegetable dyes are fading

-Field of the rug is also showing unevenness in the wool pile

-Stains due to water damage and wool that is destroyed

Jafri Rugs did not perform any repair work on this rug, the second image shows cleaning and color restoration work