Persian Carpet Values

The value of any Persian or Oriental Rug must be established by comparison with peer pieces, ie. other handmade carpets of similar nature. We find that these carpets can be classified into various levels of excellence and therefore value:

These are the humblest of merchandise, typically general use items. Included here are the flat-woven dhurries, hand knotted Moroccans, and other similar pieces produced by skilled labour. Although handmade, these pieces are disposable merchandise and of limited value.

Handmade pieces originating from India and Pakistan, possessing a degree of technical perfection, and in Pakistan also combined with a tradition of craft. Other sources include lower grade Iranian, some Turkish, Egyptian, Moroccan and Balkan production. Some examples may qualify as collectible, however, these pieces generally possess no intrinsic value apart from their quality of construction. They are available in abundance, and caution is required when acquiring, not to overstate or read nonexistent value into these pieces.

Typically recent production (since 1994) from Iran, Afghanistan, the southern Russian States and Turkey, this level of carpet starts to display the basic requirement for a valuable Persian Carpet - artistic integrity. The value of this group is limited by the greater supply of new production, however, these pieces would more often than not become collectible over time, and must be considered the lowest level of carpet with any realistic "future" value.

Production from the Persian region at large, and more specifically from within Iran, between 1945 and 1994. With these pieces, craft and technical excellence in construction are allied to tradition and artistic inspiration - in short, these pieces are very well made, functional works of art.

Within this level, the group of Iranian carpets produced during the latter Pahlavi period 1945-1979 (between WWII and the 1979 Revolution) must be distinguished as more valuable, since they belong to a socio-political era of which the cycle is complete, and they are becoming increasingly scarce.

As such they are imminently collectible, however more importantly, the better examples embody for the astute collector a means to aspire to greater heights, as such pieces will invariably mature into invested art.

1970 Tabriz

Typically Iranian production from 1870 to 1945, including the latter part of the Qajar dynasty 1870-1927, and the early Pahlavi period 1927-1945.

Pre-1927 examples are generally considered "antique". These pieces are scarce, with few examples available in the trade.

Apart from being collectible and valuable, this level of carpet may be considered for its investment value, ie. these carpets begin to qualify as invested art, where investment value will be retained, but will also appreciate over time.

1940 Beshir Afghan

Production from 1796 to 1870.

These pieces demonstrate artistry, imagination and integrity of tradition unmarred by modern influence. They are superbly succinct creations, possessed of a timeless perfection, that fixes the soul and ethos of their time and place in the same manner, but more subtly, than an Impressionist period painting.

This level of carpet is the embodiment of invested wealth.

1850 Tabriz

Production prior to 1796.

These pieces embody the same qualities as Level 6, however, it has to be appreciated that the successful preservation of a piece of this age is no less than miraculous. These carpets are extremely rare, examples older than 300 years virtually non-existent, and the greatest examples are quite literally priceless.

Late 17th Century Ladik