Rugs & Carpets

S otheby’s offers a carefully curated selection of exceptional rugs, carpets and textiles within its biannual Arts of the Islamic World & India sales each spring and autumn. These auctions attract collectors, institutions and connoisseurs from around the world, drawn to the finest classical carpets of the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries as well as the rich decorative traditions of the nineteenth century and beyond. Sotheby’s has long been entrusted with the most important carpets to appear at auction, including the world‑record‑setting Clark Sickle‑Leaf carpet, which achieved $33.7 million in 2013, and the Hirth Mamluk carpet, which set a record for any Mamluk carpet in 2020.

Alongside these flagship Islamic Week sales, rugs and carpets are also featured throughout the year in Classic Design, Royal & Noble, and major single‑owner auctions, demonstrating their enduring appeal and transformative impact on interior spaces. Today, Sotheby’s remains the global leader in presenting rare and historically significant carpets, offering clients unparalleled expertise, trusted scholarship and access to the most distinguished examples of Islamic and classical textile art.