Persian rugs are truly works of art, each piece painstakingly created entirely by weavers using traditional hand-knotting techniques. And just like any piece of art, their price depends on a variety of factors. Rug size is just one of them. Here’s a breakdown on the different factors that go into setting the price of a Persian rug.
Size Of The Rug
Generally, the larger the rug the higher the price. That’s just a broad generalization however. There are several other factors that are all factored into setting the price of any rug.
The reason larger rugs cost more is because more material and labor goes into creating it. First, the weaver has to prepare and dye additional material to use in a larger rug. The most laborious and time-consuming task is creating each knot. The weaver spends hours creating knots for every inch that’s added to a rug. This is what drives the price up, especially after a certain size.
Knot Count
You’ll hear a lot of discussion about the knot count of various rugs, especially about rugs with higher knot counts costing much more. So what exactly is knot count?
It is the number of knots created per square inch of the rug. As you can imagine, it takes much more time to create more knots within a one inch square than it would take to create fewer knots. It’s not just the extra time that drives the price up however. The higher knot count allows the weaver to add a lot of finer details into the design. In rugs with a higher knot count, the detailing in the designs is very well defined, giving the entire piece a more sophisticated look.
Material
The materials used in making any rug have a direct effect on its price. Persian rugs are typically made solely from wool, cotton or silk or a combination of any two of the materials.
Wool is easier to source and easier to process. It is the most commonly used material in Persian rugs. Rugs that are made completely from wool are the least expensive of all the variations.
Cotton is finer than wool. It takes longer to weave than wool rugs but less time than silk rugs. It is generally priced between the wool and silk rugs.
Silk rugs are the most expensive of the three. For one thing, the material is more difficult to source. Secondly, and more importantly, weaving silk is labor intensive. Weavers spend hundreds of hours creating exquisite details into the design. Prices vary depending on the combination of materials. Silk rugs on a cotton or wool foundation are priced lower than silk rugs on a silk foundation.
Age of the Rug
An older rug would generally cost more than a newer rug with similar features. But we’re not talking about a few years difference. It’s the older rugs from the 15th to 17th centuries that command the highest prices. This is because those rugs were created under different conditions.
Older rugs were created by weavers for their personal use. They paid great attention to every tiny detail, from the designs they created to the colors they used.
Although, newer rugs are also created with attention to detail, the older pieces have a different look that you won’t find in the rugs that are produced on later years.
2 thoughts on “How Much Does Rug Size Affect The Price Of A Persian Rug”
Hello
Thank you for your informative videos. I have an oriental rug that was purchased by my grandmother in the late 40’s or early 50’s. It is approximately 10.5 feet by 13.5 feet in size. I remember as a child my grandmother telling me it was very valuable and that it took an entire generation for one family to produce it. It has a signature at one end. I also believe she told me it was silk. I know it has a high thread count.
Would it be possible to send you some pictures so that you could direct me to how to find out its value? We may decide to sell it or perhaps leave it in the family. Any direction would be appreciated.
If it’s a Persian rug, you can send us pictures and we may be able to identify it. We are not able to give you any idea around the value. I recommend finding a trusted local rug dealer that can do an appraisal of the rug in-person.