Q&A For a Rug Won at Auction

Question:

-anonymous

Response:

Hi, Thanks for contacting.

Assessing the value of an item over the internet is a very difficult thing to do.  However, what we can do is provide additional insight regarding this piece.

This is an authentic hand knotted rug.  It appears to be wool pile on a cotton foundation.  Going by the colors, the design execution, the arrangement of knots, the killim, and the knotting of the fringe, we can say with a fair amount of certainty this is specifically a Chinese rug.

The general design of this piece is what many would consider to be a Chinese interpretation of a William Morris Design.  The design is an allover floral field with repeating print. 

As for originality: The rug was probably made sometime in the late 80's or mid 90's.  An example such as this may have been part of a collection of programmed rugs in a department store.  This means that the same design/style/quality and color combination would have been produced in several different sizes.  Depending on optimization of the design map in relation to design and commissioned quality, some patterns may have been produced with larger or smaller scale "print" or size.  While there is much discussion as to whether or not a rug is a "one of a kind," it's fair to say almost identical rugs were probably made to this piece, especially given the origin.  The exception to this would be a full scale "sample rug", however these usually were produced in 6'x9' to 9'x12' sizes.

Pictures included don't show the knots on the back of the rug in relation to a measurable inch, however we're guessing this is between a Chinese 120 line and 160 line.

If the rug were in very good condition: e.g. lays flat, shape of the rug is equal, with no stains, dry rot, moth damage, odors, repairs, painting, chalking, etc... A very loose assignment of the value of this rug (as we have not seen it in person*) would probably be as follows.  A retail showroom would may have a similar rug in very good/near excellent condition for around $400-500 after all discounts, coupons and negotiating is done.  Outside of slight wear or lower pile, excessive matted pile or blooming of the wool will also adversely affect the value of the rug.  Private party and/or auction acquisition would be lower than this.  Replacement value for insurance would be higher.  We have seen similar pieces at online auction fetch a fraction of the above mentioned value, but these could be considered "higher risk purchases" due to all sales final terms or quick liquidation sale.

Let us know if you have any questions, feel free to post comments at the bottom of this entry.  Hope this has helped, it's a very nice looking rug.

Sincerely, 

-Rug Rag

*We have not qualified the knot density nor inspected the quality of wool, blooming of the pile etc.

We look forward to talking with anyone who may have questions on or about oriental rugs.  We are an Independent Reviewer, and will give you our opinion for any rug, new or old.  Should you have any questions you would like to submit for a blog entry response, please do so, and be sure to include photographs of your rug.  For more information, please take a look at the bottom of this page, or feel free to Contact Us at Info@rugrag.com

See More From "The InBox"

For all those interested in submitting a question to the Rug Rag Editors:  We'd be more than happy to help, please send some photographs of the reverse side of the rug very close up with a quarter placed on the knots, plus a picture of the fringe, the whole face of the rug and detail shot of the pile.  If the rug is worn, please include photographs of worn areas.  For rugs of any age, please be sure to check for dry areas, moth damage, odor, and whether or not the rug is straight/has right angles where called for.  If you have any questions about our assessment request feel free to send us an email.  Otherwise, we are looking for something similar to these images posted here. 

Click here for The InBox Disclaimer

Share this!