To be traders of integrity among a world of mass-produced imitations and dubious closing down sales put The Rug Shop in an elite category with just a handful of others across the country. We deal in both antique rugs and traditionally produced contemporary rugs, directly supporting the families at source.

Paying forward the good faith extended to them back in Herat half a century ago, the Caters welcome customers taking rugs home to try in situ before purchasing, and in all their years of entrusting strangers with such precious works of art, have, with only one exception, had their faith in the essential good of humans sustained.

On the subject of whether rugs are art or not, Milton is passionate. “We have this hierarchy in art scholarship - there’s fine art and domestic art, and it’s so wrong. Everything here,” he says gesturing at the walls of exquisite colour and patterns, “in the Western canon, is not considered art. We consider it art.”