European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 23, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A amps Michael Abrams a Vendor in Izmir Turkey holds up a Kilim a a patterned reversible Wool Rug a for inspection. Shopping for turkish treasures Don t let carpet dealers pull the Wool Over your Eye by Randy Pruitt staff writer you find yourself being led by a smiling stranger through a labyrinth of twisting Alle like streets. The Pell Mell of gleaming brass supple leather and exotic spices keeps your head spinning. Bazaar owners Beckon you inside Quot just to  you stay behind the Young stranger growing More nervous. If this were new York you d expect to be mugged and separated from your Money. But you re in Istanbul Turkey and the thoughts Are Only half right. The Friendly stranger s sights Are definitely on your Money but he Means you no harm. He Only wants to sell you a Rug. So do hundreds of others. Frankly everyone in Istanbul seems to be a Rug dealer. Either that or they have a brother or Distant Cousin who peddles these Woven wonders. It s not uncommon for strangers to Stop on the Street and steer you toward a Rug store. Many americans never think of buying an Oriental Rug until they arrive in Turkey. Perhaps it s the magic warmth these handmade carpets convey. Maybe it s the Power of the Middle East custom of sipping hot Tea while these works of Art Are Laid at your feet. In any Case Rug purchases in Turkey or at Home Are too often based on emotion rather than on facts. Since a Rug can be a big financial Purchase it should be approached seriously. So How do you avoid being taken David Amini a new York Rug dealer says prospective buyers can save themselves a lot of trouble if they la do one thing find a reputable dealer. Quot i think you have to be More a judge of character than of rugs when you re buying and you re a Novice a Amini said. If you re buying a Rug at Home Amini recommended Quot looking for people who have been Long established not people who Are running close out sales. Avoid people who seem to be giving 50 or 80 percent  he Calls places offering huge discounts Quot scam  a amps Michael Abrams Errin Ford right fingers the fringe of a Wool Kula carpet in the Izmir shop of Mahmut Oncel. Quot the rugs Are marked up High then reduced Quot he said. Quot if you re dissatisfied a year later there s no one there to go  Amini who has been in business 27 years said gaining knowledge of rugs can take years. He compared buying a Rug to purchasing Good Antiques or furniture. Novice buyers can glean valuable information from books available in the Public Library. Full color photos will give an idea of the types of rugs made in Turkey Iran Pakistan India Afghanistan and the former soviet Union. When a design catches your fancy Jot it Down. A Good Book will give you a particular Rug s history and Tell whether it was made by nomads or permanent residents of an area. Rugs Are usually named after a tribe City or Region. You la learn about vegetable and synthetic dyes knot counts and All the painstaking Steps taken to manufacture a Rug. You la discover Why experts always study the backside of a Rug where defects and repairs can be easily spotted. You la also learn to appreciate the Mellow Patina offered Only by a time worn Rug. But Amini warns that Quot books Are cold and not the same As handling and seeing rugs so after your research visit As Many area shops As possible even it von Don t plan to buy. This step will further your Rug education and give you a basis for comparison. You should t just like the Rug you should love it. Rugs can be As individual As people. Two rugs of the same it be can look vastly different. Color pile age weave even stripes Magazine apr/7 23, 1992