The size of a rug can determine whether it’s valuable or not. Larger rugs are more expensive than smaller rugs. This is because a larger piece of wool has more knots per square inch, making it more difficult to produce. Another way to determine your Persian rug’s value is to examine its design.
What rugs are valuable?
Silk rugs are the most valuable, particularly those that use a warp of silk and not wool or cotton. Silk has the ability to be hand spun exceptionally fine, so fine that you can hardly see it. It is also extremely strong. Silk also takes dyes well and has a sheen that is not found in wool and cotton rugs.
How do I find out what my rug is worth?
The carpets and rugs that are woven before 1900 (or the so-called Commercial Period) are considered more valuable. The earlier the piece, the higher its market value. When an old rug is in good condition, you can expect for the value to increase some more. Size – The larger the rug is, the higher its valuation is.
How can you tell if a rug is high quality?
Line count is the number of knots or stitches per square inch. As the number goes up, so does the quality. Rugs with 200 to 400 knots per square inch are often good-quality rugs, though you can find rugs with over 6,000 knots per square inch. These are typically handmade, expensive and have a very detailed pattern.
What makes an antique rug valuable?
Age and Preservation The making of oriental rugs is an ancient tradition in many countries. A rug's age matters a great deal; if the rug is damaged, however, its value will be lowered. As a general rule, the most valuable rugs will be those that are very old and still in good condition.
How can you tell how old a rug is?
Some Rugs Can Be Dated By The Number Of Knots Per Square Inch (KPSI) Another way to date a rug is to turn it over. Count the number of horizontal and vertical rows in one inch of weaving. Multiply these numbers together, and this will give you the knots per square inch, or KPSI.
How old does a rug have to be to be an antique?
80-100 years oldWhile any rug older than 80-100 years old is considered antique, the lesser-known range between antique rugs and vintage rugs 50-80 years old are labeled semi-antique. Any rug 20 years or older can be listed as vintage, but the typical consensus is vintage applies to the range between 20-50 years old.
How many knots is a quality rug?
Number of knots per unit area is directly proportional to the quality of carpet. Density may vary from 25 to 1,000 knots per square inch (4 to 155 knots per square centimetre) or higher, where ≤80 kpsi is poor quality, 120 to 330 kpsi is medium to good, and ≥330 kpsi is very good quality.
How can you tell a real Persian rug?
In short, a genuine Oriental or Persian carpet has no sewn-on fringes. The fringes form the end of the warp yarns and are therefore an integral part of the carpet. If you should see on the back of the rug that the fringes have been sewn on, then in all probability it is not a genuine oriental rug.
Who makes the best rugs in the world?
When it comes to quality handmade rugs, no one does it better than the Iranians. Iran, formerly known as Persia, was the center of handmade rug and carpet production throughout the Middle Ages. Iran is still a major rug exporter, with their handmade rugs being famous worldwide.
Are old Persian rugs worth anything?
The prices can vary, from less than $100 for a 2-by-3-foot accent rug to hundreds of thousands for the best antiques. "An area rug, 8-by-10, a new one, will average $1,400 to $2,200, and go up to $20,000," says Bahman Rais Dana. "For $1,600 to $1,700, you get a very good-looking rug that lasts forever."
How do you know if an Oriental rug is expensive?
With this in mind, here are three things to look for when making a personal valuation on your Oriental rug.Find the Knots-Per-Inch or KPI. One of the items that can have a profound effect on the value of an Oriental rug is a carpet's knots-per-inch, or KPI. ... Identify Your Rug's Origin. ... Learn Your Rug's Age and Condition.
Which Persian rugs are the most valuable?
Antique Kerman Persian Rug The most expensive rug ever sold was an antique 17th century Kerman rug. The Clark Sickle-Leaf Vine Carpet sold for 33.7 million dollars at Sotheby's auction. Kerman rugs are a type of Persian rug woven in Kerman, Iran featuring a vase pattern.
Are old Persian rugs worth anything?
The prices can vary, from less than $100 for a 2-by-3-foot accent rug to hundreds of thousands for the best antiques. "An area rug, 8-by-10, a new one, will average $1,400 to $2,200, and go up to $20,000," says Bahman Rais Dana. "For $1,600 to $1,700, you get a very good-looking rug that lasts forever."
Who buys second hand rugs?
Some of the most popular options include eBay, Craigslist, Etsy, and Facebook Marketplace. You can also sell your rug on apps like Mercari and 5miles.
Which Persian rugs are the most valuable?
Antique Kerman Persian Rug The most expensive rug ever sold was an antique 17th century Kerman rug. The Clark Sickle-Leaf Vine Carpet sold for 33.7 million dollars at Sotheby's auction. Kerman rugs are a type of Persian rug woven in Kerman, Iran featuring a vase pattern.
How do I identify a Persian rug?
Check the back of the rug. Flip the rug upside-down and check the back. Persian oriental rugs will have visible foundation threads that are most likely blue, white or red. These weft threads are sewn horizontally with the rug fringes and are interfered with the wool knots.
Why do you need an appraisal for a rug?
In addition to helping you find out what your rug might be worth should you decide to sell it or require a replacement due to fire or theft, having an appraisal helps to authenticate it and ultimately adds value to the carpet. Verbal estimation of value.
How much does a verbal estimate of value cost?
Verbal estimation of value. These less formal estimates will usually cost around $100 unless you're asking the dealer to make an offer on the rug. Dealers may do some research on sales of comparable pieces to help them determine values, but no written documentation is provided with a verbal estimation of value.
Is it possible to research the value of antique rugs?
Since antique rugs vary in quality, and tastes are changing in terms of decorating with antiques, which impacts demand, it's almost impossible for the average individual to research the true value of an antique rug on their own.
How to determine the value of a handmade rug?
If it is a handmade rug, further examination of the pile, the design, the ends, and the sides, whether the foundation is wool, silk, or cotton, what type of knot was used, etc., can usually determine its general value.
Why is it important to inspect a rug?
and suggest any repairs that may improve the appearance of the rug but not exceed its value.
What is a machine made rug made of?
However, we have found that so many of our clients have no idea how to tell the difference between a handmade rug made of wool, silk, or cotton and a machine-made rug made of wool, cotton, nylon, olefin, polyester, etc.
Do we always inform customers if their rug exceeds its value?
We will always inform the customer if the cleaning of their rug will exceed it's value. Sometimes, though, the dollar value is not as important as the sentimental value and we understand that.
Is a hand woven rug more valuable than a synthetic rug?
Common sense would dictate that a hand woven rug or even a machine-made rug made of wool in good condition would be more 'valuable' than one made of synthetic fibers. That is usually the case.
Can you buy rugs at different prices?
Rugs can be bought at all different prices. Attaching an actual dollar value to a rug is the job of a Certified Appraiser. We would be happy to direct you to one of these professionals. Just call or text us at (607)-272-1566 or contact us here.
The most expensive rug in the world
The value of rugs, while determined by some of the aforementioned factors, can also be largely influenced by the appeal of owning a unique piece of cultural history. Take for example “the most expensive rug in the world”.
Oriental rugs
There are still plenty of beautiful modern and antique oriental rugs out there for those of us who don’t have a cool $34 Million lying around. However, the Oriental rug business can be extremely complex. If you only buy a rug as a memento of your holidays then the price you pay is probably the most important thing to you.
Sentimental Value
For many people, the true value of their rug is sentimental. In many ways this is more important to us than the monetary value. Although we are covered by public and product liability insurance for any eventuality, sentimental value and personal attachment is impossible to replace. This was brought home to me vividly a couple of years ago.
Not Just a Rug
Almost every rug we clean has a story to it. Buying a rug can be a really unique experience. It evokes memories (usually good ones) for years. That is why we take the cleaning of these rugs so seriously. We are dealing with more than just your precious rug.
How to tell if a rug is handmade?
You can also see a clear pattern of the carpet on the underside of a handmade rug. On the topside, fold the carpet, revealing the tufts. Check to be sure the color goes to the base of each tuft and look for knots at the base. These are also indicators that the rug is handmade.
How to tell if a silk rug is real?
Identify a true silk rug by rubbing the palm of your hand over the surface for several seconds. If your hand becomes warm, the silk is real. Manufactured silk doesn’t warm to the hand. Silk carpets have a high sheen, tight weave and a fringe of real silk.
What is the difference between Persian carpet and wool?
If yours has a sheen that increases with age, your wool was taken from a live animal. The lanolin and oils contained in the fibers prolong the life of your carpet and are softer than other wool. Carpets made of dead and recycled wool are dull and rough to the touch, giving them little value.
What is Persian carpet?
Owning a Persian carpet is like owning a valuable piece of history. Genuine carpets from Iran, formerly known as Persia, are treasured by collectors world-wide. Famed for the beauty of their patterns, their intricately woven colors, durability and the years of labor that went into making each carpet, Persian rugs add an element ...
How long does it take to make Persian rugs?
Handmade. Authentic Persian rugs are handmade on looms placed in the home of the man or woman weaving it, as it takes almost a year to complete the carpet. Turn your rug over and examine the stitching for slight irregularities in the weave, an indication of the handmade process. You can also see a clear pattern of the carpet on the underside ...
What is the best material for Persian carpet?
Wool . Several types of wool are used in making Persian carpets, and the type of wool reflects in its value. If yours has a sheen that increases with age, your wool was taken from a live animal. The lanolin and oils contained in the fibers prolong the life of your carpet and are softer than other wool.
Is there an embargo on Persian rugs?
Persian Embargo. If you own a Persian rug, it’s valuable. Since September 2010, the U.S. government put in place an embargo against goods from Iran. This includes Persian rugs coming into or going out of the United States. You can buy Persian rugs that are already in the country without recourse, but by excluding the importation of these rugs, ...
What does it feel like to have an old rug?
Very old rugs will feel gritty, sandy, or even smooth on the back. A fine rug that looks tightly woven, but that still feels somewhat floppy or supple, is probably old, since even tightly woven rugs become supple with time.
How to tell if a carpet is antique?
Once you have used the general guidelines above to determine if the carpet is antique, style is an excellent way to tell the age of an antique carpet. In many cases, knowing the style of the carpet can help you tell the age of it. For instance, you know that if the pattern is a Ziegler Mahal, then it could not have been produced earlier or later than a certain date (since Ziegler produced rugs during a specific point in time).
What is the KPSI of a rug?
Certain regions and time periods had characteristic KPSI. Many modern carpets have a higher KPSI than antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries. However, there are some antique silk rugs that can go quite high. The KPSI can help determine the age of a rug.
What are the different types of Persian rugs?
One of the most noticeable changes can be seen on the antique Northwest Persian rugs -mainly three specific rug types – antique Persian Heriz, Serapi and Bakshaish rugs.
How to tell if a rug is synthetic?
This will reveal if the color is the same all the way down into the pile to the rug foundation. If it the colors get darker the further down the pile you go, the dye has probably faded on exposure to light and is probably synthetic.
Why do rugs feel fuzzy?
Newer modern rugs will feel fuzzy on the back since their yarns still possess their fibrous surface. As a rug ages, even if walked on carefully, the underside will become polished or abraded through pressure and friction, diminishing the fuzzy or hairy texture. Very old rugs will feel gritty, sandy, or even smooth on the back.
When did carpet dye become common?
Such carpet dyes became more common from the late nineteenth century on. If a rug has considerable amounts of faded dye it is an indication that rug may have been made after the 19th century. Closely examine the pile to help determine the age of a rug. On the other hand, rugs with color that is completely uniform, ...