We are specialist buyers of antique rugs — pieces over 80 years old from the great weaving traditions of Persia, Turkey, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Submit photographs for a free, expert valuation. We consider all conditions and make fair offers based on the real collector market.
Understanding age categories helps you set realistic expectations before valuation.
Rugs dated before 1946. Pre-1930 pieces are considered fine antiques and attract the strongest collector interest. These rugs were made before synthetic dye production became dominant.
Value indicator: Age alone can substantially increase value, even for pieces in worn condition.
Rugs made roughly between 1946 and 1996. Well-made pieces from this period — particularly mid-century Persian and Caucasian rugs — are increasingly sought by collectors.
Value indicator: Quality and origin matter more than age for vintage pieces.
Contemporary handmade rugs. Fine modern pieces from respected workshops can still hold value, but the collector premium for age does not apply.
Value indicator: Craftsmanship and materials are the primary value drivers.
We use dye analysis (natural vs synthetic), foundation materials (cotton vs wool warp), pile fibre, construction technique, design dating, and — where available — documentation. Photographs of the front, back, and pile provide most of the information we need.
We purchase genuine antique rugs from all major weaving traditions.
Pre-1946 pieces from Iran's great weaving cities and tribal regions. City workshop antiques from Tabriz, Isfahan, Kashan, and Heriz are consistently among the strongest performers.
Among the most avidly collected antique rugs in the world. 19th century Kazak, Karabagh, Shirvan, and Daghestan pieces are highly sought after by UK and international collectors.
Oushak, Bergama, and Anatolian village rugs from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Large antique Oushak pieces are especially sought by interior designers and collectors.
Pieces woven by nomadic peoples — Turkmen, Baluch, Kurdish — often before formal export rug production began. Natural dyes, distinctive tribal designs, and strong collector interest.
For handmade rugs, age is generally a positive quality indicator — assuming the piece is genuinely old and not a later reproduction. Pre-1930 antiques command collector premiums for several reasons:
For a genuinely antique piece in reasonable condition, age alone can add thousands of pounds to market value.
Not all old rugs are valuable. Certain factors reduce or eliminate the value of even genuinely antique pieces:
Our valuation will always be honest about when a piece does not merit a purchase offer, and explain clearly why.