How to Estimate the Value of Oriental Carpets

Turn the rug over (if possible) and examine the knots on the underside of the rug. Thousands and thousands of knots are tied to each other to form tufts on oriental rugs, through techniques known as either a Turkish knot or a Persian knot. The closer the knots are to each other, the higher the quality of the rug, indicating a higher value.

Determine if the rug is a tribal rug, which means that it was made by specific tribes, often with ceremonial or customized designs or colors. The rug will be marked with the tribal name, such as Afshar, Bakhtiara or Baluchi. Some tribal rugs are highly valued because oriental tribal rugs were originally never meant to leave the tribe and therefore have value to collectors.

Learn some important terminology that helps indicate the value of an oriental rug. For instance, “kurk” means the rug is made from high quality wool, which will increase the value of the rug. In addition, “boteh” means a paisley pattern, which is viewed as bringing good fortune in Asia and may therefore elevate the value of the rug as well.

Ensure that the rug is sold with a certificate of origin, which states the country in which it was made and other important details about the rug. Possessing the certificate of origin will help the rug maintain its value over time.

Research oriental rugs, their history, background and detailed information and photos. Examples of research books include “Official Price Guide to Oriental Rugs” by Joyce C. Ware and “Sotheby’s Guide to Oriental Carpets” by Walter B. Denny, Norma Jean Jourdenais and Sotheby’s.