What This Award Recognises
A specialist category. Hand-knotted rugs need dusting, dye testing and controlled drying, and they are the rugs where a cheap surface clean does damage that cannot be undone. This recognises companies that treat them properly.
The Criteria
All of these are checkable, and all of them are published before any judging happens.
- A real in-plant facility with dusting and controlled drying, not on-site shampooing
- Dye testing before immersion, with unstable dyes handled differently
- Documented experience with antique, silk and hand-knotted pieces
- Reviews from customers whose rugs were genuinely valuable or fragile
- Repairs and reweaving available or properly referred out
What It Does Not Mean
It does not mean every antique is safe with them, and it is not a substitute for asking how your specific rug will be handled.
The 2026 Winner
No winner yet. This category needs enough verified companies and published reviews to judge honestly, and that is still being built. When it is awarded, the reasoning will be published here alongside the name.