-
Antique Rugs and Carpets Consignment
Sotheby’s is your best resource for selling rare rugs and carpets at auction. We offer fine hand-woven rugs, carpets and textiles from tribal peoples and villages, as well as from cities in Europe and the Far and Middle East dating from the 15th Century through the 20th Century. With a multitude of enthusiasts participating in Sotheby’s auctions and online sales every season, we achieve hammer prices well above our low estimates.
Auctions of European, Persian, Indian, Turkish and Chinese rugs and carpets take place throughout the year in New York as part of Americana, English Furniture, French Furniture and Continental Furniture sales. In London, rugs and carpets are included in English Furniture, Continental Furniture, House Sales, and standalone Rugs & Carpets sales. When you are ready to sell your antique rugs or carpets, Sotheby’s can help you realise the highest price. To start, simply submit images and information through our easy-to-use online estimate form. Our global team of specialists will review your submission and issue preliminary estimates for items that can be included in our sales.
Find Out the Value of Your Rug or Carpet
Submit photos and information about your antique rugs or carpets and begin your complimentary estimate request.
Get an Estimate
Rugs and Carpets Consigned with Sotheby's
a baktiari carpet, west persia
a baktiari carpet, west persia
Get an Estimate
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the best time to sell my antique rug or carpet?Exceptional old rugs, carpets and textiles are in demand throughout the year. During Sotheby's auctions, collectors, academics, museum curators and new buyers assemble to purchase fine carpets and rugs. Auctions of rugs and carpets take place throughout the year in New York as part of Americana, English Furniture, French Furniture and Continental Furniture sales. In London, Rugs and Carpets are included in English Furniture, Continental Furniture and House Sales. There is no better time to consign your antique rug or carpet with Sotheby’s. If you are considering selling your fine textile, simply send photographs, paperwork and other background information to Sotheby’s for a free estimate.
- Why are antique carpets and rugs highly collectible?Enthusiasts and connoisseurs buy and sell rare and important rugs and carpets because they are exquisitely designed and constructed, and because each piece is one of a kind. Exquisite carpets of fine workmanship are the masterpieces of a fast-vanishing industry where supply of these treasures is as limited and rare as any other historical artefact we preserve in museums. When you are ready to sell a handmade, hand-dyed antique carpet or rug, Sotheby’s can help you realise the highest price.
- How much does a Sotheby's appraisal of my antique clock cost?Because this category is quite diverse, many types of old rugs and carpets are in demand. Sotheby’s top-selling textiles include fine textiles and even fragments of rugs from Europe, Persia, India, Turkey, Morocco, China and other countries noted for their rug-making skill. Recent Sotheby’s auctions have included a rich selection of collectible carpets and rugs, such as classical Chinese and East Turkestan weavings. Notable works include the Larsson lion-dog medallion, the Scofield Thayer dais carpet, other rare works from Ninghsia, Khotan and Kashgar, as well as a Selendi ‘Bird’ rug fragment, ‘Transylvanian’, ‘double-niche’ and column niche rugs, a rare fragment of an Oushak carpet, early Anatolian village rugs from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, including Caucasus Wher Chajli rug and a Schurmann red-ground Karagashli, and carpets from Persia and India represented by 17th-century fragments and room-sized carpets.
More information on how to sell with Sotheby's
Sotheby’s is your best resource to buy and sell a vintage rug, antique carpet, runner, Turkish rug, Kilim rug, susani rug, susani carpet, chuval, main carpet, gallery carpet, royal carpet, tribal carpet, long runner, town carpet, village carpet, Tabriz carpet, fragment or textile made of silk, wool, metal-thread or hand-dyed. Consign a hand-woven Kashan Dabir rug or pair of Ispharan rugs from Central Persia, a Teheran carpet from North Persia, Qazvin carpet or Saber Mashad carpet from Northeast Persia, a Kirman carpet or Afshar rug from Southeast Persia, a Zieglar Mahal carpet, Bijar or Sarouk Fereghan rug from Northwest Persia, a Peking long gallery carpet from Northeast China, Khotan rug from East Turkestan, Amritsar carpet or Lahore carpet from North India, Konya rug from Anatolia, flatweave rug from Morocco, Karabagh gallery carpet from Southwest Caucasus, embroidered fragments from Greece, a silk and wool susani from Uzbekistan or an Aubusson carpet from France.