Antique Persian carpet appraisal, online
That hand-knotted Persian carpet you inherited, or found rolled away in a back room, may be worth far more than its worn pile suggests. Our team researches what it is and what it would realistically sell for, and returns a clear value report within three days.
Structured research, reviewed for clarity
We start by reading the rug itself: the weave structure, knot type and density, the foundation, and the palette of dyes. From there our team places it to a likely weaving region and period, then compares it against recent sale records for similar pieces, the prices carpets like yours actually changed hands for, not asking prices. We weigh condition and any restoration honestly, and write it all up in plain English with an estimated value range and the reasoning behind it. Every report is reviewed by our team before it reaches you.
What affects the value of an antique Persian carpet
Value rarely comes down to a single feature. With Persian carpets in particular, several factors pull against one another, and our team weighs them together rather than in isolation.
Region, age & design
Where a carpet was woven shapes almost everything about it. A finely drawn Tabriz, a soft Kashan medallion, a bold geometric Heriz, and a silk Qum each sit in different parts of the market. Recognisable regional patterns, the curvilinear medallions of city workshops or the angular motifs of village and tribal looms, help place a piece, and genuine age, especially pre-1930 work, tends to lift value when the rug has held up well.
Materials, knots & dyes
Hand-knotting on a wool or silk foundation, knot density measured in knots per square inch, and the use of natural plant and insect dyes all point to careful, older production. The clean, slightly irregular abrash of vegetable dyes reads very differently from flat synthetic colour, and these details meaningfully affect where a carpet lands.
Comparable sales
We anchor every estimate to what comparable carpets have genuinely sold for at auction and through dealers, not to optimistic listing prices. Real results, matched to a rug's region, size, age, and condition, are the most honest guide to value.
Why condition and originality matter so much
Two carpets of the same origin and age can be worth very different sums depending on how they have lived. Even wear across the field, intact end finishes and selvedges, and original colour all support value, while heavy repiling, reweaving, harsh chemical washing, or trimmed borders can pull it down sharply. The trouble is that good restoration is meant to be hard to spot. Rather than walking you through how to judge every flaw yourself, our team examines the condition signals carefully and folds an honest assessment into your report, so you know not just what the rug is, but what its current state means for its worth.
Inherited a Persian carpet or a whole collection?
Persian carpets are often passed down quietly, a runner from a hallway, a room-size piece a relative bought decades ago on a trip, sometimes several at once. If you are not sure which are worth taking seriously, the simplest first step is to submit a few clear photographs of the front and back, the ends, and any labels or notes. Our team will research each one and tell you, in plain terms, what you are holding and what it is realistically worth. Start by submitting your item and we will take it from there.
A few reports we've delivered
Illustrative: early 20th-century Tabriz medallion carpet, fine wool pile, room size, light even wear
$2,800 – $7,500
Illustrative: 1920s Heriz carpet, bold geometric medallion, rust and indigo, sturdy village weave
$2,200 – $6,000
Illustrative: mid-century Qum silk rug, finely knotted floral design, small scatter size
$1,500 – $4,500
Illustrative: antique Qashqai tribal rug, natural dyes, all-wool foundation, some end loss
$700 – $2,400Estimated ranges shown to guide research — not official appraisals for insurance, tax, or legal use. Illustrative examples.
Questions, answered honestly
How old does something have to be to be an antique?
As a rule of thumb, an antique is generally at least 100 years old. Items roughly 20–99 years old are usually called “vintage,” and the line shifts by category — but age alone never sets value. A 60-year-old designer piece can be worth far more than a century-old everyday object.
What affects the value of my item?
Value comes from a combination of factors: who made it, its age and rarity, condition, originality, provenance (its documented history), and — most of all — what comparable pieces have actually sold for recently. Our research weighs each of these to produce an estimated range.
I’ve inherited a collection — what do I do?
Start with the pieces you’re most curious about, or the ones you suspect are most valuable. Submit them individually, or for more than ten items use our white-glove service and we’ll research the whole batch together at a tailored rate.
Is this an official appraisal?
No. Every report is a thorough, researched estimate to guide your research — not an official appraisal for insurance, tax, or legal purposes. For those uses you’ll want a certified appraiser, and our report is a great, fast first step before that.
How accurate is a researched value report?
Our research is based on real comparable sales and a structured assessment of condition, era, and maker. It’s designed to give you a credible, well-researched estimate quickly. Like any estimate it isn’t a guarantee of sale price, which is why we always give a range rather than a single number.
“I had a vase from my grandmother and no idea where to start. The report was detailed, fast, and honest about the range.”
“Three days, a fair price, and a genuinely useful breakdown of comparable sales. Far better than waiting weeks.”
“Loved that it was upfront about being an estimate. It gave me exactly what I needed before talking to an auction house.”
Illustrative examples shown during launch — verified customer reviews will replace these as reports are delivered.
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