You are wanting to invest in a work of art, but you'd like it to be functional as well? Have you considered buying an oriental rug? High quality Turkish rugs are beautiful and functional pieces of art that can really hold their value. Even better, you can find these rugs to fit most any budget. A large, well constructed handmade carpet can cost as much as four thousand dollars or more, while a small machine made area rug may be priced as low as forty or fifty dollars. If you have a large budget, an antique oriental rug is a wonderful investment.

Turkish rugs are actually something of a misnomer. Although they were made popular in Turkey, they are made throughout the Middle East and some parts of Africa. You will need the help of an expert with a good reputation if you go to this part of the world to buy a rug. Some guides may seem helpful, but are actually getting a percentage of the sale price from shop owners who make deals with them. If you use one of these guides, you will end up paying more.

Before you buy your rugs be aware of the difference in machine made and hand made. The weave will either be perfect or have some irregularities (gaps between the knots). A true hand weave will usually be the one with imperfections. The edges and fringe are another clue to quality. Mass produced rugs are usually not as full or not completely finished.

Turkish area rugs of the highest quality are luxurious and thick, and are one hundred percent wool. Among the better rugs some are made from a silk and wool blend. The low end of the quality spectrum in these rugs are made from cotton. These will have visible wear much quicker, and they do not retain their resale value well. One way to be certain whether or not a rug that you are looking at is a high quality wool rug, or one of the cheap cotton imitations, take a good look at the fringes. The high quality wool rugs are wool one hundred percent, so a cotton fringe indicates that the rug is not made of wool.

Lastly, do not hesitate to check out the various items on sale slowly and carefully. The seller will take this to mean that you are showing the proper respect for his merchandise. After you have made your choice, you can feel free to politely reject the merchant's opening offer. Customers are actually expected to begin the buying process by bargaining. However, the broadest array and the finest deals in Turkish and other oriental rugs are offered to buyers on the Internet.

The best quality Turkish Area Rugs are very thick and luxurious and made with one hundred percent wool. The best selection and the best deals can be found by purchasing your Oriental and Turkish rugs online.