Antique Rugs and Tapestries

Our antique rugs and tapestries not only offer a means of elegant interior decoration, but also a way to bring history and culture to an establishment. Ranging from as early as the 16th Century, each of our antique rugs and antique tapestries carries its own story, having been passed on from one generation to the next over the centuries. As you browse through our extensive collection of some of the finest Persian, Oriental, and European rugs and tapestries in the world, keep in mind the rich historical and cultural backgrounds these unique works of art represent.

What makes a rug antique?

A rug is considered to be "antique" if it was produced prior to around 1920. Rugs that were produced between the 1920s to 1950s are "semi-antique". The rugs created from the 16th century to the late 19th century are considered to be important works of art. These antique rugs were mostly created for royal and aristocratic families and a very limited number of them were ever made. These pieces of art remained within their families for generations, giving each antique rug its own rich and unique history. When these antique rugs become available for sale in the marketplace today, most of them can be traced back multiple generations due to the fact that these households usually kept an inventory list of their furnishings.

Antique rugs are finally becoming recognized as significant antiques because collectors have come to understand that a hundred year old antique rug, having been stepped and walked upon on a daily basis for a hundred years, if found in good condition, is considerably more valuable than other types of antique furnishings such as a side table which just sits in the corner of the room as decoration. Today, rugs from the 16th and 17th century are being sold at record prices in auction houses all around the world, reaching well into the millions of dollars, for just a single antique rug.