How Do You Sell a Persian Rug?

Before You Sell

• 1

  Read the manufacturing label. Note whether the rug is composed of silk, wool or cotton material.

• 2

  Make a notation of the quality of craftsmanship. Typical Persian rugs are made of myriad densities, ranging from 30 knots per inch (very coarse) to 290 knots per inch (very fine). Look for the curved lines (the knots) on the design to see if they run smoothly along the rug. Finely woven Persian rugs are higher in quality.

• 3

  Identify how the Persian rug was woven. Persian rug collectors and connoisseurs find that hand-spun rugs are better in quality than machine-spun rugs simply because they absorb more dye, producing a "pleasant variegation in the colors of a rug."

• 4

  Note the rug's specific designs and patterns. Traditional rugs are considered more valuable because of older ways of pattering designs. Contemporary rugs are more easily available and less expensive than traditional rugs.

• 5

  Restore worn rugs before selling them. Contact a rug restoration company in your area to hand wash or re-sew worn or faded patterns.

How to Sell

• 6

  Make a serious and honest assessment of the condition of the rug. Create an advertisement that highlights all of the rug's features. Include the rug's material composition, place of manufacture, the quality of craftsmanship (if the rug is finely woven and knotted) and whether the rug has been restored.

• 7

  Consider selling your Persian rug on an online platform such as eBay. Set up a free account and profile (if you haven't already), and post the advertisement you organized onto your sales page.

• 8

  Take between four to eight clear photographs of the rug. The first picture should be a full image of the entire rug. Indicate the top of the rug by placing two red dots beside it. Take a close-up photo of the rug's edges (known as the selvages) on the back side of the rug to show the buyer whether the rug is hand-knotted or machine-sewn. Take another close-up shot of the rug's fringes going into the carpet.

• 9

  Place a quarter in the middle of the rug and on top of the knots and take a close up photo of the shot. According to Rug Rag, relevant characteristics can be determined better by using a coin to attract the eye to the rugs fine details. This can include the knot count, yarn ply and weft.

• 10

  Set a fair price value for the rug according to its quality and condition. Be clear in the seller's description about return policies and shipping payments.