Above, measuring in at a mere 6'1" x 5'4", the current world record for a Caucasian Oriental rug (Chelaberd Kazak) was sold by Freeman's Auctioneers in PA at a hammer price of $341,625. That translates to $10,534.23 per square foot.
This 16th centruy Tabriz, previously a Rothschild carpet, sold in 1999 at a Christies auction in London for a cool $2,400,000. The carpet measures 21 feet 8 inches by 11 feet 9 inches. That translates to $9,427.18 per square foot.
Above: A Safavid Carpet from the Late 16th Century, East Persia from the collections of Lili & Edmond J. Safra offered by Sotheby's for $2,032,000 (including buyer's premium) in November 2005. The carpet measures 27 feet 4 inches by 11 feet 3 inches. That translates to $6,608.21 per square foot.
Measuring in at only 3'8" x 3'9", this Chinese rug from the late Ming Dynasty was sold by Sotheby's Auctioneers in New York at a hammer price of $163,000 including buyers premium of 25%. That translates to $11,854.55 per square foot.