Ravat's Persian Carpet Gallery

Persian Carpet Value

Few subjects have resulted in such misrepresentation, misunderstanding and heated argument, as the value of Persian Carpets. This is to some extent a result of the subjective nature of the appreciation of carpets. Most Persian Carpets are, however, subject to the same laws of supply and demand as all commodities.

The commoditised value in money terms of a Persian Carpet is typically determined by:

Origin - certain types of carpet are more popular and fetch higher prices
Construction - silk is more valuable than wool and cotton
Knot density - the finer the knot, the more valuable the carpet
Age - carpets older that 50 years are becoming increasingly rare
Condition - damage and wear detract, but must be judged against age
Size

The real value of a Persian Carpet lies locked up in it's artistic value and collectibility, which distinguishes the true Persian from a commodity, and may multiply the commoditised value several times. Refer to our 7 Levels of Excellence to glean an understanding of the issues that influence these values.

How to Value a Carpet

Probably the easiest and most accurate way of establishing the money value of a carpet is by comparison with current trade prices for similar pieces. This may be simple for typical carpets, however, care must be exercised with unusual or valuable pieces to ensure that the comparison is representative.

Most carpet dealers will do a quick verbal valuation as a courtesy - use these values only as a guideline, however.

Ravat's Gallery offers professional appraising services for clients who need accurate valuations for insurance or other purposes - see our Services page.