Murray Eiland's Oriental Rugs has long been the standard introduction to oriental rugs. The authors have extended the range of the book by incorporating new material on Chinese and Indian rugs, and the text has been completely revised. The plates of all the illustrations have been remade, and many of the rugs shown are new to this edition.

The book's focus is the nineteenth- and twentieth-century weaving of the Middle and Far East. This is introduced by a brief history of carpets, followed by a discussion of weaving techniques, dyes, and design. Traditional practices are described, along with modern innovations, such as computer-aided design. The use of synthetic dyes and the recent revival of natural dyes are given a balanced appraisal. The importance and methodology of technical analysis is firmly emphasized.

The endmatter includes extensive notes, a bibliography, and an index. The book includes more than 330 color illustrations, the majority of them new to this edition. They show classic pieces along with others that are more likely to be available to readers. Where possible, the captions include a structural analysis.