Most Expensive Rugs of 2009

From January 2009 through December 31, 2009 there were some very impressive numbers posted by both Sotheby's and Christie's for high prices fetched for luxury Persian rugs and Oriental carpets.  There's no question the market for antique rugs has exploded in recent years.  Here are some of the results for the year 2009 in closing. 

Be sure to click on images for more information!

Number 10

Estimate:  $40,000 - $60,000

Price Realized*:  $ 128,500

Age:  1880's 

Size:  Approximately 29 ft. x (884 cm.) x 16 ft. 9 in. ( 511 cm.) 

Origin:  Northwest Persia

Type:  tabriz

Sale:  No. 2203 "500 Years; Decorative Arts Europe Including Carpets from The Corcoran Gallery of Art"

Number 9

Estimate: £30,000 - £50,000 ($49,050 - $81,750)

Price Realized*:  $ 130,049

Age:  1880's

Size:  22 ft. 6 in. x 14 ft. (684 cm. x 442 cm.)

Origin:  North India

Type:  Agra

Sale:  7817  The Manolo March Collection From Son Galcerán, Mallorca

Number 8 (3-way tie!)

Estimate:  $80,000 - $120,000

Price Realized*:  $ 134,500

Age:  Circa 1800

Size:  Approximately 12ft. 4in. by 10ft. 11in. (3.76 by 3.33m.)

Origin:  Northwest India

Type:  Agra

Sale:  N08597

Number 8 (3-way tie!)

Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000

Price Realized*:  $ 134,500

Age:  17th Century

Size:  Approximately 18 ft. 3 in. (556 cm.) x 8 ft. 2 in. (249 cm.)

Origin:  Central Persia

Type:  isfahan

Sale:  Sale 2203 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe Including Carpets from The Corcoran Gallery of Art

See Lot 204 on Christie's

Number 8 (3-way tie!)

Estimate: $50,000 - $80,000

Price Realized*:  $ 134,500

Age:  17th Century

Size:  Approximately 26 ft. 6 in. (808 cm.) x 10 ft. 10 in. (330 cm.)

Origin:  Central Persia

Type:  Isfahan

Sale:  Sale 2203 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe Including Carpets from The Corcoran Gallery of Art

Number 7 (2-way tie!)

Estimate: $80,000 - $120,000

Price Realized*:  $ 158,500

Age:  17th Century

Size:  Approximately 6 ft. 7 in. (201 cm.) x 4 ft. 6 in. (137 cm.)

Origin:  Central Persia

Type:  Isfahan

Sale:  Sale 2203 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe Including Carpets from The Corcoran Gallery of Art

Number 7 (2-way tie!)

Estimate: $60,000 - $80,000

Price Realized*:  $ 158,500

Age:  17th Century

Size:  Approximately 28 ft. (853 cm.) x 11 ft. 7 in. (353 cm.)

Origin:  Central Persia

Type:  Isfahan

Sale:  Sale 2203 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe Including Carpets from The Corcoran Gallery of Art

Number 6

Estimate: 25,000—35,000 GBP

Price Realized*:  $ 169,464 USD (106,850 GBP)

Age:  Late 16th Century

Size:  Approximately 153 by 113cm., 5ft. by 3ft. 8in.

Origin:  West Anatolia

Type:  Oushak

Sale:  L09723 

Number 5

Estimate: $80,000 - $120,000

Price Realized*:  $ 170,500

Age:  17th Century

Size:  Approximately 22 ft. 5 in. (683 cm.) x 9 ft. 8 in. (295 cm.)

Origin:  Central Persia

Type:  Isfahan

Sale:  Sale 2203 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe Including Carpets from The Corcoran Gallery of Art  

Number 4

Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000

Price Realized*:  $ 206,500

Age:  17th Century

Size:  Approximately 9 ft. 1 in. x 7 ft. 8 in. (277 cm. x 234 cm.)

Origin:  Northeast Anatolian

Type:  Anatolian

Sale: 2172 Important European Furniture, Works of Art, Ceramics, Tapestries and oriental carpets  

Number 3 (2-way tie!)

More Information on Lot 130

Estimate: $60,000 - $80,000

Price Realized*:  $ 254,500

Age:  17th Century

Size:  Approximately 17 ft. 6 in. x (633 cm.) x 8 ft. 1 in. (246 cm.)

Origin:  Central Persia

Type:  Isfahan

Sale:  Sale 2203 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe Including Carpets from The Corcoran Gallery of Art

Number 3 (2-way tie!)

More Information on Lot 129

Estimate: $60,000 - $80,000

Price Realized*:  $ 254,500

Age:  17th Century

Size:  Approximately 26 ft. 6 in. (805 cm.) x 13 ft. 7 in. (414 cm.)

Origin:  Central Persia

Type:  Isfahan

Sale:  Sale 2203 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe Including Carpets from The Corcoran Gallery of Art

Number 2

More Information on Lot 600

Estimate: £500,000 - £800,000 ($810,500 - $1,296,800)

Price Realized*:  $ 939,186  USD (577,250 GBP)

Age:  Third Quarter 18th Century

Size:  15ft.7in. x 11ft. (475cm. x 336 cm.)

Origin:  France

Type:  Louis XV Savonnerie

Sale:  7827  The Collection of a Lady - Magnificent French Furniture, Savonnerie, Sèvres Porcelain, Silver and Chinese Works of Art  

Number 1

&

World Record $/sq. ft.

More Information on Lot 276

Estimate: £80,000 - £120,000

Price Realized*:  $ 4,328,590 USD (2,729,250 GBP)

Age:  Late 16th or early 17th century

Size:  Approximately 163 by 110cm., 5ft. 4in. by 3ft. 7in.

Origin:  Central Persia

Type:  Safavid

Sale:  L09723

Honorary Mention

Although not an Oriental Carpet by definition, the pearl carpet of Baroda is noteworthy as the most expensive canopy/carpet to have sold at auction.

Auctioneer:  Sotheby's Doha, Qatar

Estimate: $5,000,000

Price Realized*:  $ 5,458,500

Age:  1860's

Pearl Carpet Images

*Price realized includes buyer's Premium.  For Details, see Christie's Buyer Premiums and Sotheby's Buyer Premiums.

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Want to purchase rugs like the ones mention in this post? Here are some options...

Isfahan

Moderately priced: Take a look at Isfahan Design Rugs up for bid on eBay! Inexpensive: Take a look at Isfahan Design Rugs up for bid on eBay!

Tabriz

Inexpensive: Take a look at Tabriz Rugs up for bid on eBay! Moderately priced: Take a look at RugRag's Pick for Tabriz Rugs on RugMan.com! Moderately priced: Take a look at Tabriz Rugs on RugMan.com!