The value is often the result of the rarity and of a well-preserved specimen. You can imagine the quality of antique carpets like a pyramid. There is a very broad mass of poorly preserved pieces and a tiny bit of carpets of excellent quality. The pricing is similar to pictures. The broad base costs a price that can be understood more as recognition of the work done. Few artists earn a good salary with their art and the values of works by some painters are measured in millions.
The Valuation Of Carpets
Why Are Oriental Rugs So Expensive?
Oriental rugs are relatively expensive due to the enormous workload. In the countries of origin, the price and wage levels are significantly lower than in Europe. If one were to make an oriental rug in Europe, the rug would cost five to ten times as much, so that its production would be worthwhile at all. The value of carpets can be determined well on the basis of fixed criterias. These include:
Material Quality
The material quality should not be saved. Wool quality is the most important for the user. For example, highland wool is more fatty and shines more. This type of wool is more expensive, but also more beautiful and durable.
Ancestry
For the price determination must be distinguished whether it is, for example, a genuine silk trade from Turkey or a reconnection from China. As stated, the main part of the price is attributable to the elaborate manual work that requires spinning, knotting and dyeing. Reconnections in countries with significantly lower labor costs are less valuable because they are not the traditional places of origin and the carpets were produced more cheaply.
Is “Old” Valuable?
Even second-hand carpets are not valuable just because they are “old”. Only if this is well preserved, similar to classic cars and has a certain age, they are valuable. Only ancient and really old carpets experience an increase in value, which to a large extent is also due to the fact that they are rare and rarely well preserved, because they come from the time before mass production.