How to buy Leatherwork (Charm-duzi)

• Turn the piece over: hand-knotted or hand-stitched work shows slight irregularities on the back.
• Look at fringes and edges — on knotted carpets the fringe is usually the warp itself, not a sewn-on strip.
• Check colour consistency; natural dyes often show gentle banding (abrash), which is not a defect.
• Rub a damp white cloth on a small area to test for dye bleeding before buying.

Typical materials: leather.

• Perfectly uniform backs, glued backing cloth or a latex layer (typical of machine or tufted rugs).
• Listings that say 'Persian style', 'Persian design' or 'inspired by' without naming a place of making.
• Printed patterns sold as hand-embroidered or hand-block-printed.

A genuine Leatherwork (Charm-duzi) piece should come with a named place of making in Iran (often tabriz, mashhad, isfahan) and a clear statement that it is handmade.

• Where and by whom was this made, and roughly when?
• What are the fibre and dye (wool, silk, cotton; natural or synthetic)?
• Can you show a close-up photo of the back and the edges?

• Vacuum rugs gently without a beater bar, in the direction of the pile.
• Rotate floor pieces every six to twelve months to even out wear and light exposure.
• Blot spills straight away with cold water; never rub.
• Send valuable or old pieces to a specialist cleaner rather than a general dry cleaner.

• Roll with the pile facing inward, never fold.
• Wrap in breathable cotton, not plastic.
• Protect against moths with regular airing and inspection.

Rolled textiles travel well; ask for tube or rolled packing and tracked delivery.

This guide is educational. It cannot confirm that any particular object is genuine, old or valuable. For important purchases, ask an independent specialist. Read the full Leatherwork (Charm-duzi) entry.