Antique Rugs refers to any area rug that is at least eighty years old. Limited in numbers, antique rugs will become even more rare as time goes on . In the antique rug world, the term "antique" implies more than just age.
The onset of the twentieth century ushered in the industrial era and a more global economy. This resulted in more Western influences in the Middle East than ever before. During this period, the uniqueness of the antique rugs, that once thrived in the native cultures, began to wane.
During the early part of the 20th century, economic instability began to set in. The productions became more commercial, less expensive and far less appealing. This resulted in the degradation of the rug production throughout. Designs, colors, overall quality and appeal all took a back seat as manufacturers looked to lower costs. True antique rugs are a testament to the time period prior to the advent of mass production.
A little known fact that I would like to talk about is price. Despite the difference in quality between the antique and new, many antique rugs might be less expensive than the newly manufactured ones. Antique Rugs have many more unique assets compared to their newer counterparts. For instance, antique carpets with hand-spun wool and natural dyes have a more luminous and animated surface. New rugs will never have the patina that the antiques do and they do not have any true intrinsic value. This makes antique rugs ideal decorative items as well as solid investment objects.
Below we have selected a few types of rugs for you to see. Simply click on the type of rug that you like to see a selection:
