Antique Persian or Oriental Rugs and Carpets

View our antique rugs (over 100 years old).

View our near antique rugs (80-100 years old).

View our semi-antique rugs (60-80 years old).

View our semi-antique rugs (40-60 years old).

While not all old rugs are better than new ones a quality rug with age will always be more valuable than a rug fresh off the loom. The reason for this is the rarity value to older rugs. A rug over 100 years old kept in prime condition can be an excellent financial asset if the quality is high enough.

The oldest knotted rug known to man was the Pazyryk Carpet, discovered in 1949 within the frozen tombs of Scythian chiefs in Siberia by Russian archaeologists. The Pazyrk Carpet shows that ever in the 5th century BC, the art of rug weaving was at an intricate and advanced stage.

View our very own hand-knotted replica of the Pazyryk Carpet

Another example of a priceless rug is that of the Ardabil carpet (pictured below) which till this day resides in the halls of Victoria & Albert Museum, London. The rug which was one of a pair until it's sister was used to reweave damaged parts of the rug in order to maintain the materials, dyes and texture of the originals, has been copied and reproduced many times but nothing will ever match the beauty of the original. Putting a price on this rug would be like putting a price on the Mona Lisa.

We are lucky enough to have the second most important carpet in the UK here in Glasgow. The Burrell Collection in Pollock House is home to the world famous Wagner Garden Carpet, one of the earliest three surviving Persian Garden carpets in the world. This rug was bought at auction in 1938 by Sir William Burrell for £2,500, a staggering amount of money at the time with the average house price in Scotland just £500 amidst a great depression.

While these rugs are truly priceless other antique rugs of note have been sold at public auctions around the world. Perhaps the most notable of all was the Isfahan rug (below) sold in 2008 at Christie's auction house, New York for $4.5m a record sum overtaken in 2009 by a jewel encrusted rug which sold for $5.5m. The silk Isfahan rug measuring 7'7" x 5'7" is approximately 500 years old and was in good condition. The rug has a perfect combination of colours and due to its uniqueness fetched such a colossal sum.

From our own collection we have a number of beautiful antique (over 100 years old) and semi-antique (over 50 years old) rugs. Which you may browse by using the age drop down box on the left. Some of our older rugs have signs of wear to them while others are faded. Those in prime condition such as this Qom piece demand a premium due to their rarity:

The condition of the antique rugs we sell range, some are more suited to be hung on walls so as not to be exposed to heavy traffic while others have plenty of wear in them and could be walked on for years to come. Feel free to ask about any of our older rugs by calling us or emailing us at info@little-persia.com.

View our antique rugs (over 100 years old).

View our near antique rugs (80-100 years old).

View our semi-antique rugs (60-80 years old).

View our semi-antique rugs (40-60 years old).