The ones from Kmart don’t usually have that much detail in the design. The colors are beautiful. Depends on whether you like it. Do you have someone near them who can check it out for you whose taste you trust? If you think you want it, have your parents hold it for you, and if you decide you don’t like it later you can sell it. That is a long way to go for a rug, but at least you’ll have a chance to visit.

It looks decent to me, but I'm not in love with it. I've seen many more Persian rugs that I like a lot better, but I have no idea what they would cost.

To me the combination (and proportions) of red plus navy blue is a bit boring - it does not look that distinctive. However, if I saw the entire rug, I might have a different opinion concerning the proportions. The secondary colors tend to get lost in this rug (to me). I like the border by itself, and I like the field by itself, but for some reason, I do not like them together as much.

To me, it does not look like a cheap rug, but I would need to see a better close-up to see the pile better. Also, a photo of the reverse side would help.

Would you have to drive to pick it up?

We'd drive to pick it up but we'll be heading over there this summer anyway.

We just wouldn't be there in
time to evaluate it in person. I do like the colors. I just don't want
to be stuck with it if it looks cheap or tacky. (Not to suggest that I don't
have many cheap and tacky things!)
I was actually
looking for this style or similar for my living room in a nice wool when
I realized that my living room is basically a mudroom. We don't have
snow but it gets dog traffic and kid traffic and dripping-from-the-pool
traffic and it would just be a terrible place for an expensive rug until
the kids are older and the dog is deader.

Is it navy? I thought it was black. I guess it doesn't matter. I'd like to see more photos too, Lars!

Maybe it's just on my computer, but my previous comment was formatted like a poem. Thanks, Houzz!

If you are going to visit anyway, and the rug is free, it seems like it's nice enough to take a chance on. Even as a place holder, if it's not a great quality, at least until the kids are older and the dog is deader - you are so funny!

And if you love it, then you'll be so glad you had them save it for you. Do they, or you, live in a place where there is an Oriental Rug cleaner? If you don't but they do, could they manage to get it to the cleaners before you pick it up?

At the very least, if you hate it, you could still bring it home and sell it - with the explanation to your parents that the colors didn't work as you had hoped.

I like the colors a lot. I am one who grew up with orientals as neutrals that, like Art, do not need to be matchy matchy with surrounding pieces. Think of Downton Abby rooms. The rugs worked without needing to match. If you should visit your parents anyway I would pick up that rug in a heart beat.

This looks like a good rug to me.

I agree that the navy and red Persians like this work with most rooms regardless of color of the walls or sofa (the exception is my sofa, which is a shade of pink that is a bitter enemy of that shade of red). In fact, most of the rooms I see here I think, “you know what that room needs? A big old oriental rug.”

My rugs don’t have fringe either, which doesn’t bother me. I think it could be replaced but I don’t bother because when I’ve had rugs with fringe, it just gets sucked into the vacuum.

Also, don’t feel you have to baby it. The dark colors and busy pattern hide dirt and stains. I think wool rugs resist staining better than cheap poly rugs. My cat regularly yaks up on mine and they haven’t stained yet. My mom lets her two big dogs (golden retriever and labradoodle) all over her rugs. I’d only not put it down if your dog isn’t potty trained reliably. In fact, I’d say this type of rug is a much better choice for family life than a lot of the beige rugs I see around.

I say go for it, especially if you’re being given the rug for free.

You can get belly bands for boy dogs who have problems, and little panties for girl dogs. I used to rescue and foster, and they can be a real sanity saver.

Thanks everyone! I have requested more photos but the ones I got were hard to get.

My dog doesn't have accidents (the skunks are totally intentional). He's just grubby. He could probably be trained not to lay on the rug. Beige would not be considered in this household! Currently I have a giant mostly red orientalish rug down. It is apparently suitable for use indoors AND out. It hides dirt. Or it's clean. I can't tell. :)

You can also add a dog bed to tempt him away from your rugs. Something easily washable. They’re not exactly decor but I used to keep four beds in every room.

I get navy blue when I put it in Photoshop and use the eyedropper tool. I could not find any black in it.

If you do like the colors, then you should definitely get it. For me, they would not work, but my decor is also different from yours! I do like things that don't show dirt - I picked my countertop quartz partially for that reason.

Looks like an antique Kashan. Maybe made in the 30s-50s.

I think it a beautiful rug and if you have a room big enough, go for it. You don't have to keep it forever if you aren't happy.

Here is a carpet place that will gladly give you an idea of age and worth just by looking at a picture. The owner is Javaid and he is an expert and knows just by looking at a carpet where it was made, about how long ago and it's worth in general terms. He has helped my several times and cleaned and repaired an old carpet at very reasonable prices. He will help you even if you don't live in New York.

Edited to add I was a customer I have no connection otherwise to this business.

Carpet Culture

392 Broome Street

New York, NY 10013

Tel. 1 212 219 2315

Fax. 1 212 219 2316

Email. info@carpet-culture.com

Web. www.carpet-culture.com

Virtual Tour. Google Virtual Tour to Store

This is a Persian Mashad rug with a wool pile and a cotton foundation, perhaps around 50-60 years old. If you end up paying for shipping cost, and also the cost of having the rug washed professionally and maybe do some minor repair work on the fringe, you will have a good quality Persian rug that's going to last another 50 years. Good luck. Here is an example of a Persian Mashad rug:

Just a note, has to be 100+ years old to be considered antique. If you like it, get it. Then, you can always have it appraised. Any good rug dealer (like Hadeed in the DC area) can tell you where the rug was produced and give you an approximate value if you don't want to pay for an appraisal. There are so many machine-made Persian type rugs these days, that it is hard to tell from a photo whether what you have is good or not. Do look at the underside, though. That can tell you a lot.

Yes take the rug.

(Or have them ship it to me, ha.)

Haha Shee, I'm closer so I'll take it :)

Your rug appears to be quite a good one. It looks almost exactly like a 3 1/2' x 5' that I inherited from my parents, especially in the colors and patterns. I took mine for a cleaning about a year ago by an Oriental rug specialist out here and he explained to me the following, which possibly might apply to yours: Mine is an Iranian Sarouk and was imported to the States around 1918-1925. Sarouks were extremely popular then, but American buyers preferred heavier colors, so after arriving in the States the reds and darker blues were re-dyed to enhance them. If you turn the rug over it should show the exact detailed pattern, but in more pale hues (quite pretty actually). The dealer also said that my rug was worth around $3,000. He said that if well-cared for - vacuumed, occasionally cleaned, and kept free of pet stains it should last another 75 years.

I've also been told that these rugs like bare feet on them; that's how they were originally made to be walked on.

I think your parents' rug is a beauty and well-worth having!

Google "Sarouk carpets" to learn more and compare colors and designs.