How do you determine the price or worth of an oriental rug or Persian rug?

In many respects rugs are commodities. They’re worth what the market bares. In the 1950s Persian Kermans were all the rage. They consisted primarily of floral designs in pastel colors. Many were well made, quality rugs. Today however, even being semi-antiques, they are almost impossible to sell.

The sell ability of new rugs can also be influenced by style and color.

Let’s say avocado is a hot color scheme and you purchase an avocado colored rug. Even if it’s of exceptional quality it will be difficult to sell in the future when avocado is out. Therefore, it won’t command a high value.

Valuing a rug according to knots per square inch is impossible.

Even if a rug has thousands of knots per square inch it isn’t worth a great deal if it’s ugly or in a “seen one seen them all” (not unique and imaginative) design. You could make a comparison between valuing rugs by knot count and valuing paintings by the number of brush strokes. Neither takes into consideration beauty, how harmonious a color palette is, or unique artistic merit. Not to mention, the knot density of different kinds of production is expected to vary. I pay about the same for Persian tribal rugs that may have as few as 50 knots per square inch as for Persian city carpets containing hundreds of knots per square inch.

Tribal pieces are woven in cottage industry settings.

A woman weaves a rug in her home or tent (called a yurt) and sells it. They often feature natural dyes (the root of the madder plant producing the red dye, etc.). These dyes produce glowing colors. Not every detail is symmetric and lines may not be perfectly straight. The rug may even be slightly crooked! This is not considered a flaw for a tribal rug. They’re valued for their simplicity and organic feel.

A city rug is made in a workshop in an urban area.

Every aspect of the rug’s creation is closely overseen. A high knot density is expected, detail should be precise and intricate, something akin to “perfection” is sought and expected. So, in terms of “nuts and bolts” the two products could not be more different. But, they can cost the same amount. Personally, I gravitate more towards tribal rugs. The naturally dyed colors are spectacular and the pieces have true personality.

Part 2 coming next week…