There are some details that you can rely on to make sure you are dealing with an authentic hand-knotted Oriental rug; 1. The back of the rug One of the first tells about the authenticity of an Oriental rug is the back of it. A hand-knotted Oriental rug has a softback featuring the same image as the front, just mirrored. A fake rug will have a harder back, displaying just a dull color on it, with no hint of design at all. 2. Material Authentic Oriental rugs are made in silk or wool, on a cotton foundation. If you are dealing with a very old traditional rug, then chances are it is produced in wool. If the rug has a sheen on it, then it is made of silk. Some modern rugs are entirely made in cotton and are still regarded as authentic. 3. Fringe The third and most important tell on whether you are dealing with an authentic rug or not is the fringe. In hand-knotted Oriental rugs, the fringe is part of the structure of the rug, while in fake rugs, this element is usually a last moment addition to the piece.