Frequently asked questions
How much is a hand-knotted carpet worth?
- the origin – Persia (today Iran) has by far the best known and highest quality carpets from the Orient. Iran has over 80 provinces with their own original carpet designs. Major regions include Abadeh, Ardebil, Afshar, Bakhtiar, Bijar, Gabbeh, Ghashghai, Qom, Hamadan, Heriz, Isfahan, Kerman, Kashan, Koliai, Mashhad, Moud, Nahavand, Nain, Senneh, Shiraz, Tabriz, etc. Other countries are Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, India, China and also the Caucasus. With Turkey, Morocco or Egypt, for example, there are other important countries of origin with their own characteristics.
- the kind & delicacy
- the material
- the colors and the design
- the age and condition
- Originality, style, aesthetics and creativity of the pattern
- as well as rarity, supply and demand in the market.
How do you recognize a hand-knotted carpet?
A handmade (or hand-knotted) rug is made on a specially designed loom and knotted by hand. In contrast, a machine-woven rug is made on a fully automatic loom controlled by a computer.
The carpet can therefore be produced much faster than a hand-knotted carpet, which can take up to a year to produce.
Also, synthetic materials are more commonly used in machine-made carpets, while wool is predominantly used in hand-made carpets.
Below are some basic tips on how to distinguish genuine handmade rugs from machine-made rugs.
1. Fringes - On a handmade and hand-knotted rug, the fringes are an extension of the rug (warp) and are not sewn in or post-applied to the rug as is common with machine-made rugs.
2. Selvage - This is the outside long side of the rug. This is created by twisting the weft threads at the edge, which are then incorporated and fixed. The origin of a carpet can often be identified by the appearance of the edge, since the processing of the edges is also quite individual in the different weaving regions. A machine-made carpet usually has a very fine and precise edge. With a hand-knotted rug, the edges are sewn by hand and are therefore often a bit uneven and not quite straight.
3. Pattern and Design - The pattern of a machine made rug is usually very precise and the design is usually mirrored from one side to the other. There are few inconsistencies in the design of a machine-made rug as opposed to a hand-made rug.
The weaver often has no design template at all, but rather improvises and knots "from the head" - the result is a charming asymmetry.
4. Backing - One of the telltale ways to tell the difference between a machine-made rug and a hand-knotted rug is to look at the rug's backing.
The knots and weave pattern on the back of a machine carpet are almost always perfect and consistent - sometimes very prominent white threads can be seen (this is the warp thread). The majority of handmade rugs do not have their knots lined up perfectly on the backing and even if you try to calculate the knot density you will find that it is not consistent across the rug.
5. Size and Shape - The shape of a machine-made rug is usually precise and exact, while that of a handmade rug often varies simply due to the fact that everything is made by hand.
Finally, fakes abound and even for the trained eye, it can be difficult to tell the two types of carpet apart. When in doubt, or when considering purchasing a rug, always consult a reputable rug shop or retailer.
Which carpets are the most valuable?
The most expensive carpet in the world: The "Clark Sickle Leaf Carpet"
The most expensive carpet in the world is an antique Persian carpet from the 17th century. It is a Clark sickle leaf rug, which has the format of 2,67 by 1,96 meters and probably comes from the Kerman region in southeastern Iran. This particular red rug with a blue border and a gold-trimmed pattern belonged to the collection of American industrialist William Clark. After his death, it was first given to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington before finally auctioned at Sotheby's in New York in 2013 for nearly $34 million wurde.
The most expensive and probably best-known in Germany: the “Kerman Vase Carpet”
The most valuable German carpet is also a Persian carpet. The slightly wavy "vase technique" carpet, which bears a pattern of colorful flowers, leaves and branches, was made in the 17th century in the province of Kerman. The carpet was in the possession of the French art lover Comtesse Martine Marie-Pol de Béhague for many years, until it ended up in the possession of an elderly lady in Augsburg. The Kerman vase carpet achieved a high level of media awareness because its Augsburg auctioneer set a low value and the carpet later 7,2 million euros at an auction at Christie's in London redeemed what ended in a lawsuit.
How Persian carpets get their value
Persian carpets come from today's Iran, have a long tradition and are produced in a complex process. They have a higher knot density than other carpets and are delicately knotted by hand. Many Persian carpets have beautiful, complex patterns and tell their own unique story. Persian carpet art requires time, calm and experience. Valuable Persian carpets are made from natural materials such as cotton, wool or silk. Traditional manual knotting, passed down from generation to generation, requires some tools that have remained almost unchanged for centuries. Firstly, carpet weavers use a knife to cut the yarn. The pile is then compacted with a comb-like instrument. Finally, scissors are needed to trim the pile to a uniform length.
Carpet quality = high knot density
The knot density per square meter is an indicator of the complexity of a handmade rug and an indication of the quality and goodness of a Persian rug. Carpets are divided into different classes for knot density: 4La, 6La and 9La. The rule is that the denser the carpet is knotted, the lower the La value and the finer the knot and the higher the quality of the carpet. A 4La carpet has a knot density of over 1.200.000 knots per square meter. This density of knots is very rare and is a sign of a very fine carpet. Collectors and connoisseurs are mostly interested in high-quality carpets with a knot density of more than 500.000 knots.
World Heritage carpet
Persian carpets are surrounded by something very special and it becomes clear that they are unique in their design and manufacture. Almost like in a fairy tale from 1001 Nights, they have been convincing people of all cultures for many centuries. They carry the knowledge of many generations and are real collector's items. A piece of cultural history that enriches many houses and apartments with its splendor and aura.
How do you recognize an expensive carpet?
It must first be determined whether the carpet is hand-knotted or machine-knotted. There are three ways to be sure of what type of carpet it is:
A machine-knotted rug has fringes sewn on.
Turn the rug over so you have a good view of the knots at the fringed edge at the back. Pull a single fringe. Observe the knots that are in line with this fringe and connected into the carpet. Do these move when you pull the fringe? If so, that means the fringes are not sewn on and the warp thread through the rug forms the fringes.
A machine-knotted rug is flawless.
Turn the rug over and get comfortable on the back. Look for a pattern that recurs in two different places on the carpet. Compare a row of knots and look for differences. If the knots are of different sizes or if there are even errors in a color sequence, it is clear that it is a case of manual work, which always remains error-prone due to the enormous number of knots.
A machine-knotted rug has no size deviations.
Take a tape measure and measure the width in different places. A hand-knotted carpet shows clear differences in the millimeter range.
However, it must be said that most re-knots are also dedicated manual work, just as elaborate patterns and often interesting pattern variations. Only the advantages of a real carpet are not always given due to the often inferior material quality and simpler knotting technique.
(#306) 320x210cm Hand-knotted Nain Persian carpet 9La with silk 9La 350.000/sqm
€4200€1620Knot density: 9la (9 yarn layers), 350.000/sqm
Pattern: Lachak-Toranj Nain-Medallion Floral
Origin: City of Nain, Iran
Condition: new, freshly washed
Material: pile 90% virgin wool 10% silk - warp 100% cotton
1 stock
Features
Nain Persian carpet
The small town of Nain with about 70.000 inhabitants is about 140 kilometers east of Isfahan. Among the Nain carpets there are main quality levels, Nain 4La, 6La, 12La and Nain 9La. The number (before La) indicates the number of individual yarns that make up the warp. La means yarn layer.
The velvet material is also high-quality pure wool, the borders are decorated with silk. Nain patterns were woven in the northeastern Persian city of Kashmar in the Khorasan region. These have the lowest knot density among the Nain carpets with about 250.000 knots per square meter.
Nain rugs are divided into many different classifications. This is based on knot density per square meter. A 9La rug has a capacity of 400.000 to 550.000 knots per square meter - a high value that few other Persian rugs can match. Thanks to this strict classification, Nain carpets can be judged very well in terms of quality. It should be noted that all Nain rugs are of good quality. The design of these Persian carpets is very oriental.
A central medallion is surrounded and decorated with flowers and arabesques. Those looking for the East will find it in Nain's tapestry. Nain rugs have their own classification that divides them into classes. Depending on the node density, a distinction is made between 4La, 6La, 9La and 12La.
The following applies: the smaller the quantity, the higher the quality and the more complex the carpet. A 4La has a knot density of more than a million knots per square meter, is almost never made and can only be made by very experienced and skilled dwarven master weavers.
Therefore, such carpets are very interesting for collectors. Along with the Isfahan rug, this quality is one of the best Persian rugs. These masterpieces are made in a year by the most skilled weavers in the country.
The density of the relevant knots at the edges of the carpet can be controlled. If a pony consists of two strands, it is 4La. On the other hand, if it consists of three, you have a 6A in front of you.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a hand-knotted carpet worth?
How do you recognize a hand-knotted carpet?
A handmade (or hand-knotted) rug is made on a specially designed loom and knotted by hand. In contrast, a machine-woven rug is made on a fully automatic loom controlled by a computer.
The carpet can therefore be produced much faster than a hand-knotted carpet, which can take up to a year to produce.
Also, synthetic materials are more commonly used in machine-made carpets, while wool is predominantly used in hand-made carpets.
Below are some basic tips on how to distinguish genuine handmade rugs from machine-made rugs.
1. Fringes - On a handmade and hand-knotted rug, the fringes are an extension of the rug (warp) and are not sewn in or post-applied to the rug as is common with machine-made rugs.
2. Selvage - This is the outside long side of the rug. This is created by twisting the weft threads at the edge, which are then incorporated and fixed. The origin of a carpet can often be identified by the appearance of the edge, since the processing of the edges is also quite individual in the different weaving regions. A machine-made carpet usually has a very fine and precise edge. With a hand-knotted rug, the edges are sewn by hand and are therefore often a bit uneven and not quite straight.
3. Pattern and Design - The pattern of a machine made rug is usually very precise and the design is usually mirrored from one side to the other. There are few inconsistencies in the design of a machine-made rug as opposed to a hand-made rug.
The weaver often has no design template at all, but rather improvises and knots "from the head" - the result is a charming asymmetry.
4. Backing - One of the telltale ways to tell the difference between a machine-made rug and a hand-knotted rug is to look at the rug's backing.
The knots and weave pattern on the back of a machine carpet are almost always perfect and consistent - sometimes very prominent white threads can be seen (this is the warp thread). The majority of handmade rugs do not have their knots lined up perfectly on the backing and even if you try to calculate the knot density you will find that it is not consistent across the rug.
5. Size and Shape - The shape of a machine-made rug is usually precise and exact, while that of a handmade rug often varies simply due to the fact that everything is made by hand.
Finally, fakes abound and even for the trained eye, it can be difficult to tell the two types of carpet apart. When in doubt, or when considering purchasing a rug, always consult a reputable rug shop or retailer.
Which carpets are the most valuable?
The most expensive carpet in the world: The "Clark Sickle Leaf Carpet"
The most expensive carpet in the world is an antique Persian carpet from the 17th century. It is a Clark sickle leaf rug, which has the format of 2,67 by 1,96 meters and probably comes from the Kerman region in southeastern Iran. This particular red rug with a blue border and a gold-trimmed pattern belonged to the collection of American industrialist William Clark. After his death, it was first given to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington before finally auctioned at Sotheby's in New York in 2013 for nearly $34 million wurde.
The most expensive and probably best-known in Germany: the “Kerman Vase Carpet”
The most valuable German carpet is also a Persian carpet. The slightly wavy "vase technique" carpet, which bears a pattern of colorful flowers, leaves and branches, was made in the 17th century in the province of Kerman. The carpet was in the possession of the French art lover Comtesse Martine Marie-Pol de Béhague for many years, until it ended up in the possession of an elderly lady in Augsburg. The Kerman vase carpet achieved a high level of media awareness because its Augsburg auctioneer set a low value and the carpet later 7,2 million euros at an auction at Christie's in London redeemed what ended in a lawsuit.
How Persian carpets get their value
Persian carpets come from today's Iran, have a long tradition and are produced in a complex process. They have a higher knot density than other carpets and are delicately knotted by hand. Many Persian carpets have beautiful, complex patterns and tell their own unique story. Persian carpet art requires time, calm and experience. Valuable Persian carpets are made from natural materials such as cotton, wool or silk. Traditional manual knotting, passed down from generation to generation, requires some tools that have remained almost unchanged for centuries. Firstly, carpet weavers use a knife to cut the yarn. The pile is then compacted with a comb-like instrument. Finally, scissors are needed to trim the pile to a uniform length.
Carpet quality = high knot density
The knot density per square meter is an indicator of the complexity of a handmade rug and an indication of the quality and goodness of a Persian rug. Carpets are divided into different classes for knot density: 4La, 6La and 9La. The rule is that the denser the carpet is knotted, the lower the La value and the finer the knot and the higher the quality of the carpet. A 4La carpet has a knot density of over 1.200.000 knots per square meter. This density of knots is very rare and is a sign of a very fine carpet. Collectors and connoisseurs are mostly interested in high-quality carpets with a knot density of more than 500.000 knots.
World Heritage carpet
Persian carpets are surrounded by something very special and it becomes clear that they are unique in their design and manufacture. Almost like in a fairy tale from 1001 Nights, they have been convincing people of all cultures for many centuries. They carry the knowledge of many generations and are real collector's items. A piece of cultural history that enriches many houses and apartments with its splendor and aura.
How do you recognize an expensive carpet?
It must first be determined whether the carpet is hand-knotted or machine-knotted. There are three ways to be sure of what type of carpet it is:
A machine-knotted rug has fringes sewn on.
Turn the rug over so you have a good view of the knots at the fringed edge at the back. Pull a single fringe. Observe the knots that are in line with this fringe and connected into the carpet. Do these move when you pull the fringe? If so, that means the fringes are not sewn on and the warp thread through the rug forms the fringes.
A machine-knotted rug is flawless.
Turn the rug over and get comfortable on the back. Look for a pattern that recurs in two different places on the carpet. Compare a row of knots and look for differences. If the knots are of different sizes or if there are even errors in a color sequence, it is clear that it is a case of manual work, which always remains error-prone due to the enormous number of knots.
A machine-knotted rug has no size deviations.
Take a tape measure and measure the width in different places. A hand-knotted carpet shows clear differences in the millimeter range.
Where is the carpet from?
Since the traditionally knotting countries always guarantee a standard that promises the advantages of a real carpet, it is particularly important to pay attention to the country of origin. This must always be specified for a carpet offered for sale, as you can only directly compare carpets from the same region of origin.
However, it must be said that most re-knots are also dedicated manual work, just as elaborate patterns and often interesting pattern variations. Only the advantages of a real carpet are not always given due to the often inferior material quality and simpler knotting technique.
Real carpets come from:
Iran/Persia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Russia
Reconnections come in particular from:
Pakistan, India (often disguised as "Indo-" before the name), China and North African countries.
"Errors and errors excepted"
Additional Information
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