Again, these Nain rugs are among the more technical rugs today. They are highly categorized by quality. One of the easiest ways to know this is because of the grade of qualities they produce. A low level Nain is in the area of 130 KPSI (and even less) and be very poor quality with bad wool, the average around 200 - 240 or maybe something. These top, top Nain rugs can achieved maybe 900 KPSI, but there are places even in India which are getting this KPSI and much higher too. The fact is quality-wise, these carpets are much more differentiated than we may have it. I guess this is 9 Laa? Funny, because it doesn't seem to have spaghetti fringe, just slightly thicker tassels. Usually the fringe gets thicker as the rug gets coarser on these weavings.
Okay, with this carpet, be very, very careful washing it, maybe you plan on selling back in the states or what have you. If this is a red highlight which was used, it is way more saturated in the wool than usual. If this carpet gets wet, I think there is a good chance these colors will run. If this is purple or maroon, you should be ok. The funny thing about this carpet is the it could pass as being slightly higher quality than you say just from looks, so that is the good. The design is a little unusual, although not completely rare.
Purchasing overseas can be very tricky. I do not know what your experience was like and it does not seem to be the case I only think this is worth noting. Some people get very taken advantage of by these oversea sellers overseas. They think they're getting a better deal, but often these carpets are sold locally because the quality or design is not good for the Western Market. Seconds goods often show up in Bazaars which were not fit for exportation due to poor shearing or what have you. Remember, these sellers have much more in the line in terms of competition. They'll tell you anything to get you to buy that rug. Sometimes they say, I'll give you your money back if you don't like it. But sending these things back from the United States is not easy, and where is the guarantee they'll send the money back if you send the rug? Maybe you paid with Credit Card and that's ok, but they often capitalize on what Westerners don't know. I had a friend of mine come back to the states with what the seller had promised was a museum type of rug. It was a 1000 KPSI silk on silk Qum. Incredible quality. But the design was nasty. It had big chickens in it, and a cartoon Bambi, and I think there may have been a frog. It was odd. Really, really odd. I didn't know what to say to her - these colors alone made the rug practically lose 80% its resale value as soon as she paid the seller. All these pinks, and the design - all this is unsaleable here. There is no demand for a rug here in the states with a chicken and frog in them. She paid $5000 for the piece, and the seller said it was worth 20,000. Granted, if the rug were of good design and good color, I could understand $10,000, but a 5,000 chicken and frog rug is wrong.
I have seen this design Nain you have posted links to. Good choice, this is somewhat of an unusual design I have seen only a handful of. Someone else here on the board posted another Nain from ebay which was very nice too.
