Straight answers about what you’re buying, how it’s made, and how to care for it. If your question isn’t here, email us — we answer honestly and quickly.
About the rugs
What is a hand-knotted rug?
A hand-knotted rug is made one knot at a time by hand on a loom. A weaver ties each individual pile knot around the foundation threads, row by row — a single rug can take months. Because every knot is placed by hand, no two are ever exactly alike. It’s the most durable and valuable way a rug can be made, and it’s why a good one lasts for generations.
How is hand-knotted different from “hand-tufted” or “power-loomed”?
- Hand-knotted — tied entirely by hand, knot by knot. Most durable; one of a kind. This is the heart of our collection.
- Hand-woven (flatweave / kilim) — woven by hand with no pile; flat and reversible.
- Hand-tufted — yarn punched into a backing with a tool, then glued; faster and cheaper, not the same craft.
- Power-loomed / machine-made — produced by machine, identical copies. Durable and affordable, but not unique and not the same value.
We sell mostly hand-knotted rugs. The few machine-made and flat-woven pieces we carry are labeled plainly and kept in their own collections — never sold to you as hand-knotted.
Are your rugs really one-of-a-kind?
Yes. Every hand-knotted rug we sell is the only one of its kind — there’s a single piece in stock, and when it sells, it’s gone. (Our clearly-labeled machine-made pieces are the exception, since those are produced in multiples.)
Are your rugs Persian? Where are they actually made?
This is the most important — and most often fudged — question in the rug world, so here’s the honest answer. A pattern name like Heriz, Tabriz, Oushak, or Kazak describes a design tradition, not a country of origin.
- Our genuine vintage, antique, and masterpiece rugs are overwhelmingly authentic Persian pieces, woven in Iran, often decades or a century old, curated from private collections and trusted sources.
- Many of our new rugs are hand-knotted in Afghanistan or Pakistan by master artisans, in these timeless Persian, Turkish, and Caucasian styles.
We tell you which is which on every product — a new rug woven in a Persian style is described as exactly that, never sold to you as a genuine antique Persian. That honesty is the whole point of Arteverk. Read our Authenticity Guarantee.
Do you weave the rugs yourselves?
We’re honest about our role. The Malik family has been in the rug trade for three generations. We source the materials and commission and support skilled village and workshop weavers for our new lines; we curate and acquire genuine vintage and antique pieces from around the world; and we clean, repair, and restore every rug by hand in our Houston workshop. The actual weaving is done by master artisans — we don’t claim to tie the knots ourselves. Read our story.
What are your rugs made of?
Most are wool, prized for its softness, resilience, and natural stain resistance. Our finest Persian pieces are wool and silk, where silk adds sheen and lets the weaver render very fine detail. Each rug’s exact fiber is listed on its product page.
Will my new rug shed?
A new wool rug sheds a little for the first few months — that’s just the short, loose pile left over from weaving working its way out. It’s completely normal, it isn’t a defect, and it slows and stops on its own. Vacuum gently (no beater bar) and it passes. See the care guide.
Will it have a smell?
A freshly unrolled wool rug can carry a faint wool or natural-dye scent. It airs out within a few days in a ventilated room.
Buying & choosing
What size rug do I need?
It depends on the room — and the most common mistake is going too small. We have a full guide with room-by-room rules for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. See the size guide.
Do you offer custom sizes or custom orders?
Yes. We can commission a piece to your room’s measurements, palette, and timeline. Contact us.
Are the colors online accurate?
We photograph every rug as accurately as we can, but natural wool, natural dyes, and your screen all affect how color reads. Local to Houston? See any piece in natural light at our showroom before you decide.
Do you offer financing?
Yes — you can pay over time at checkout. The option appears on the product page and at checkout.
Do you work with interior designers?
Yes. Our Design Trade Program offers trade pricing, dedicated sourcing, and showroom access. Learn more.
Shipping, returns & care
How much is shipping and how long does it take?
Free shipping on U.S. orders over $50; orders generally ship within 3–5 business days and arrive within about 7–10 business days. Larger rugs may ship by freight, which we coordinate with you. Full shipping policy.
What’s your return policy?
You have 14 days from delivery to start a return and up to 30 days to send the rug back in unused condition — and we cover return shipping with a prepaid label. Full return policy.
How do I clean and care for my rug?
Vacuum gently without the beater bar, blot spills (never rub), rotate twice a year, and use a rug pad. Every few years, treat it to a professional hand-wash. Full details — plus our Houston cleaning and restoration service — are in the care guide. Read the care guide.
Can you clean or repair a rug I already own?
Yes. We clean, re-fringe, re-weave, and restore rugs by hand in Houston — not just the ones we sell. Cleaning & restoration.
Still have a question? Email us or visit the Houston showroom — we’re glad to help.