Large Format Antique Carpet Specialists

Sell Antique Carpets —
Large Format Persian and Oriental Carpets Purchased

Room-size antique carpets are among the most valuable and hardest-to-sell pieces in any home. We specialise in large-format antique carpets — Tabriz, Agra, Kashan, Sultanabad, Oushak and more — and have the market connections to realise their true worth.

AnySize Considered
48hrValuation Turnaround
FreeHome Visits for Exceptional Pieces
£0Collection Costs

Large Format Antique Carpets Are a Specialist Market

A room-size antique carpet sitting under furniture in a family home is one of the most commonly undervalued assets in the UK. General dealers cannot place them. Auction estimates are often conservative. We buy directly and pay genuine collector market prices.

Antique Carpets We Buy

Our specialist interest covers the full range of room-size antique carpet traditions:

  • Tabriz room-size: The great commercial carpets of north-western Iran, often featuring medallion designs in soft blues and reds. Pre-1940 room-size pieces are highly sought.
  • Agra palace carpets: Made in the Indian city of Agra for European export, often in very large formats. Strong collector market for 19th-century pieces.
  • Kashan large format: Fine floral medallion carpets from central Iran. Pre-1930 large Kashans are among the most collectible Persian carpets.
  • Sultanabad / Mahal: Bold floral designs, open fields, room-size formats common. 19th-century Sultanabads particularly desirable.
  • Oushak palace carpets: Large-format Turkish carpets with distinctive soft palette (gold, terracotta, sage). Strong demand from interior designers and collectors.
  • Heriz room carpets: Bold geometric medallion designs in strong reds and blues. Extremely durable and very collectible in room sizes.
  • Ziegler / Mahal commercial: Made for the European export market in the late 19th century, often room-size, with distinctive open curvilinear designs.

Why Large Carpets Are Hard to Sell Without Specialists

Large antique carpets present unique challenges for private sellers:

  • Photography is difficult: A 5m × 4m carpet cannot be photographed in a single image from a standing position. Most people do not have a space large enough to unroll one for photography.
  • Moving is complex: Large carpets require specialist rolling and handling — folding damages the pile and foundation. Most carriers will not handle them.
  • Online marketplaces are unsuitable: Posting a 60kg carpet is impractical. Local buyers are rare. eBay and Gumtree audiences cannot assess value.
  • Auction houses are slow and expensive: 8–16 weeks to sale, 20–30% commission, plus the risk of a low hammer price. Not suitable for most sellers.
  • General dealers undervalue them: A dealer who cannot easily resell a 5m carpet will offer a fraction of market value or decline to buy at all.

We solve all of these problems. We assess from photographs, visit in person for exceptional pieces, and collect using specialist handlers — all at no cost to you.

How to Sell a Large Antique Carpet

Photograph in Sections

You do not need a single full-length photograph. Photograph each quadrant of the carpet, plus a close-up of the pile and one of the reverse. If it is under furniture, photographs around and beneath furniture are fine. Any labels, stamps, or writing on the back are important — photograph those too. We can work with imperfect photography and will guide you on any additional shots needed.

Receive Expert Assessment or In-Person Visit

Within 48 hours we will respond with an initial assessment and, in most cases, a purchase offer. For carpets of exceptional value or unusual size, we may propose an in-person visit to assess the piece before finalising our offer. We arrange and fund this visit — there is no cost or obligation on your part.

Accept and We Handle Everything

Once you accept, our specialist handlers arrive at a time that suits you. They carefully roll the carpet using the correct technique, wrap it, and remove it from your property. Payment follows promptly. You do not need to prepare the carpet, move furniture, or arrange anything beyond opening the door.

Start Free Valuation

What Determines Antique Carpet Value

Origin and Workshop

City workshop carpets (Tabriz, Kashan, Isfahan, Agra) from known traditions command the strongest prices. Sultanabad and Ziegler commercial pieces have a very active decorator market. Origin is determined by design vocabulary, wool quality, and construction characteristics.

Age

Antique (100+ years) carpets attract the most serious collector interest. Pre-1900 pieces, particularly from the classical periods of Persian and Agra weaving, are highly sought after. Semi-antique (60–100 years) carpets also attract strong demand from interior designers.

Condition and Completeness

For large carpets, condition is critical — large areas of wear, missing pile sections, or significant repairs reduce value considerably. However, even carpets with condition issues may be valuable enough to warrant a specialist offer. All-over even wear is acceptable in genuinely old pieces.

Size and Format

Certain sizes are particularly desirable: room-size (around 3.5m × 2.5m to 6m × 4m) for residential interiors, and palatial formats for institutional or gallery buyers. Very large pieces (over 5m × 4m) are rare survivors and can command significant premiums.

Dyes and Palette

Natural dyes — used in pre-1870s pieces and by some later high-quality workshops — produce extraordinary colour depth and age beautifully. Synthetic dyes from the 1870s onwards vary in quality. Harsh aniline dyes (common 1870–1920) can fade unpleasantly and reduce value.

Design Rarity

Unusual designs, rare colour combinations, or formats that deviate from standard production (oversized medallions, unusual border treatments, atypical colour fields) can attract premium prices from specialist collectors even when condition is imperfect.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I photograph a large antique carpet?
For large carpets, multiple overlapping photos from a standing position work well. Photograph each quadrant, one corner showing pile depth and condition, and the reverse. If furniture is on it, photograph around it. A photo of any labels or writing on the back is very helpful. We can request additional photos of specific areas if needed — no professional equipment required.
Do you buy carpets over 4m × 3m?
Yes — large format is a speciality, not a problem. We regularly buy palace-size carpets well over 5m × 4m. In fact, very large antique carpets are often rarer than smaller pieces because fewer have survived in usable condition. For a genuinely exceptional large-format antique, we may offer an in-person visit from our specialists before finalising our offer.
How does collection of a large antique carpet work?
We use specialist art handlers experienced with large valuable textiles. Our team carefully rolls the carpet (never folds it), wraps it in protective materials, and transports it using a suitable vehicle. You do not need to prepare the carpet — we handle everything from rolling to loading. For very large pieces we schedule a dedicated appointment, typically taking one to two hours.
Are large antique carpets worth more than smaller rugs?
On a per-square-metre basis, large antique carpets often command premium prices because so few have survived intact. A 5m × 4m Tabriz room-size carpet in good condition is significantly rarer than a smaller piece from the same period and can be worth considerably more per square metre. The challenge for most owners is finding a buyer with the expertise and market connections to realise this value.
How do I know if my carpet is genuinely antique?
Turn it over. A handmade antique carpet shows individual knots on the reverse with the pattern mirrored. Genuine antique wool has warmth and patina that modern pieces cannot replicate. Natural dyes show complex colour depth and slight variation across the field. Machine-made carpets show looped fibres on the reverse. We assess age and authenticity as part of every free valuation.

Don't Let a Large Antique Carpet Sit Unsold

Large antique carpets are genuinely difficult to sell without specialist buyers. We have the market connections, the expertise, and the logistics to buy yours at true market value — with free collection and no obligation.

Get My Free Carpet Valuation

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