Modern Area Rugs
It is sometimes claimed that you can tell real silk modern area rugs from artificial silk by vigorously rubbing the pile with your open palm. The real silk modern area rugs feels warm, the artificial silk modern area rugs stays cool to the touch. We sometimes think we have felt this difference. Of course, it helps to have real silk modern area rugs with you so that you can compare a known quantity! This test is at least good modern area rugs theatre, and actually can be helpful.
Clip off a small piece of the fringe, or pull a knot out of the modern area rugs from the back. Burn it. Look at the ash and smell the smoke.
If the material was cellulose, the ash should be soft and chalky, and the smell should be like burning paper as paper is made of cellulose. If the modern area rug are made of real silk, the burning sample should ball to a black, crispy ash, and the smell should be of burning hair as the same stuff your hair is made of.
You've got to be a little careful with this test to avoid smelling the smoke from the match (and to avoid igniting yourself or the modern area rug dealer's shop).