Maybe you only remember playing on an Oriental carpet as a child, or maybe you grew up with them all around you and still do. But we can bet you won’t be able to name and place each type of carpet you’ve seen before, because the different styles, patterns, and traditions of carpet weaving amass in the hundreds. But there’s one thing that all carpets have in common, and that’s value. A hand-woven carpet - even an old and raggedy one - is going to be very expensive. But why is that exactly, and how do you value your carpet at home?
History, History, History
We can’t stress this enough. The tradition of carpet weaving in Central and East Asia has been around for at least 2,500 years. In Iran, carpets were being woven and developed between nomadic tribes, in towns and villages, and in royal courts all in parallel to each other. Because of this simultaneous traditions of patterns and styles developed, all telling the story of Iran’s history and various peoples through the centuries. The carpets woven in the royal Safavid Courts of Esfehan in the 16th Century are treasured in museums all over the world because of their size, intricate designs, and elaborate colours. These carpets like many others today would have taken years upon years to complete, it’s no surprise they’re priceless.
Age versus Condition
Now onto your carpet at home. If you have a carpet that’s been passed down through generations, there’s a good chance it’s one-of-a-kind and won’t match any other carpet out there in the world. Carpet appraisers usually pay the most attention to the age versus the condition of a carpet, as the older it is and the better kept, the higher the value. That being said, even carpets with a considerable amount of wear and tear can still be highly valuable and worthwhile to collect, just as a historical painting would be.
Origin
Where a carpet was made holds weight in determining its value, no matter whether it’s old or new. Many small regions in the East are famous for their tradition and style of carpet weaving, for example brilliant medallion patterned Nain carpets originated from the town of Nain in Iran, and if your vintage or new carpet also originated from Nain, then it belongs to an ancient tradition which is still being continued, and that gives it value. A Nain style carpet produced in India, even if it’s as beautiful, would not be the same.
Dyes and Materials
The quality of the material used to weave a rug or carpet is important, and many are commonly made from wool. Though cotton, silk, metal threads, goat hair, and camel hair can also make an appearance. The grade of wool and the way it is spun (hand versus machine spun) all affect the final quality and softness of a carpet. In the same way natural dyes are considered to be more valuable than synthetic dyes, even if this means that the eventual outcome of the colours are less intense and saturated, and can also fade in uneven patches over time. The complicated techniques and knowledge necessary to work with natural dyes inherently raises the value of each carpet. At the end of the day natural is always more beautiful.
Knots, knots, knots.
The way each region of the East weaves it’s patterns can be geographically traced no matter where the carpet ends up in it’s life. This is because techniques are usually passed down through mothers and daughters for generations. It’s no surprise then that the higher the density of a carpet’s knots, the higher the value. A carpet high in density will feel secure and soft in your hands, while one with a looser density will feel flimsy. These will last for much longer as well, and it’s this combination of age, origin, material quality, dyes, and knot density that can reveal whether or not your old carpet is a priceless piece of art.
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