Sell Antique Carpets —
Large Format Persian and Oriental Carpets Purchased

Antique Carpets We Buy

Our specialist interest covers the full range of room-size antique carpet traditions:

• Tabriz room-size: The great commercial carpets of north-western Iran, often featuring medallion designs in soft blues and reds. Pre-1940 room-size pieces are highly sought.
• Agra palace carpets: Made in the Indian city of Agra for European export, often in very large formats. Strong collector market for 19th-century pieces.
• Kashan large format: Fine floral medallion carpets from central Iran. Pre-1930 large Kashans are among the most collectible Persian carpets.
• Sultanabad / Mahal: Bold floral designs, open fields, room-size formats common. 19th-century Sultanabads particularly desirable.
• Oushak palace carpets: Large-format Turkish carpets with distinctive soft palette (gold, terracotta, sage). Strong demand from interior designers and collectors.
• Heriz room carpets: Bold geometric medallion designs in strong reds and blues. Extremely durable and very collectible in room sizes.
• Ziegler / Mahal commercial: Made for the European export market in the late 19th century, often room-size, with distinctive open curvilinear designs.

Why Large Carpets Are Hard to Sell Without Specialists

Large antique carpets present unique challenges for private sellers:

• Photography is difficult: A 5m × 4m carpet cannot be photographed in a single image from a standing position. Most people do not have a space large enough to unroll one for photography.
• Moving is complex: Large carpets require specialist rolling and handling — folding damages the pile and foundation. Most carriers will not handle them.
• Online marketplaces are unsuitable: Posting a 60kg carpet is impractical. Local buyers are rare. eBay and Gumtree audiences cannot assess value.
• Auction houses are slow and expensive: 8–16 weeks to sale, 20–30% commission, plus the risk of a low hammer price. Not suitable for most sellers.
• General dealers undervalue them: A dealer who cannot easily resell a 5m carpet will offer a fraction of market value or decline to buy at all.

We solve all of these problems. We assess from photographs, visit in person for exceptional pieces, and collect using specialist handlers — all at no cost to you.

Origin and Workshop

City workshop carpets (Tabriz, Kashan, Isfahan, Agra) from known traditions command the strongest prices. Sultanabad and Ziegler commercial pieces have a very active decorator market. Origin is determined by design vocabulary, wool quality, and construction characteristics.

Age

Antique (100+ years) carpets attract the most serious collector interest. Pre-1900 pieces, particularly from the classical periods of Persian and Agra weaving, are highly sought after. Semi-antique (60–100 years) carpets also attract strong demand from interior designers.

Condition and Completeness

For large carpets, condition is critical — large areas of wear, missing pile sections, or significant repairs reduce value considerably. However, even carpets with condition issues may be valuable enough to warrant a specialist offer. All-over even wear is acceptable in genuinely old pieces.

Size and Format

Certain sizes are particularly desirable: room-size (around 3.5m × 2.5m to 6m × 4m) for residential interiors, and palatial formats for institutional or gallery buyers. Very large pieces (over 5m × 4m) are rare survivors and can command significant premiums.

Dyes and Palette

Natural dyes — used in pre-1870s pieces and by some later high-quality workshops — produce extraordinary colour depth and age beautifully. Synthetic dyes from the 1870s onwards vary in quality. Harsh aniline dyes (common 1870–1920) can fade unpleasantly and reduce value.

Design Rarity

Unusual designs, rare colour combinations, or formats that deviate from standard production (oversized medallions, unusual border treatments, atypical colour fields) can attract premium prices from specialist collectors even when condition is imperfect.