The Oriental Rug
Market Pyramid ™
Museum-Quality | 13th to 18th centuries and early 19th century High-Collectible | Primarily early 19th century to 1875
Connoisseur-Caliber | Primarily circa 1850 to late 19th century High-Decorative | Primarily circa 1875 to 1910
Decorative | Primarily circa 1920 to 1970 Reproductions | Typically 1970 to present
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examples in quite good condition can only be found through a handful of specialty dealers and the finest offerings of major auction houses. Level 4 | High-Decorative Primarily 1875 to 1910 — To meet growing international demand, the number of working looms greatly increased. With aesthetic appeal and originality still playing a large role, weavers created less complex designs using palettes adapted to Western tastes. Synonymous with sophistica- tion and grace, and capable of working harmoniously with a broad range of furniture and art styles, the finest of this level are widely sought after today. Level 5 | Decorative Primarily 1920 to 1970 — When the decorative rug market ex- ploded, most of the resultant weavings fell into this category. The level of materials, craftsmanship and innovative artistry decreased notably, with modern chemical dyes usually sup- planting more subtle natural pigments. Level 6 | Reproductions Typically 1970 to present — By far the most widely available hand-woven Oriental rugs today and the newest contribu- tions to the hand-woven market, these offer adaptations of traditional Persian designs in a broad range of qualities. These mass-produced rugs may be labeled with famous Persian regional names, yet are typically woven in India, China, Pakistan, Egypt and Romania. The best Oriental rugs in Levels 1-3 are valuable artworks and precious tangible assets, while Level 4 rugs are quintes- sential floor coverings for sophisticated homes. Rugs in Levels 5 and 6 are durable, handsome handmade rugs with no intrinsic art value.
By Jan David Winitz, President and Founder, Claremont Rug Company
For nearly four decades, I have worked closely with collectors and connoisseurs, many of whom were not initially versed in antique rugs, although they often collected other forms of art and antiques. Through this, I have developed a propri- etary Oriental Rug Market Pyramid ™ as an illustrative tool to evaluate handwoven Oriental rugs. As the tiers descend, the number of available pieces increases. Level 1 | Museum-Quality Primarily 13th to 18th centuries and usually held by museums— In 2013, a stunning 17th century Persian Kirman rug sold at Sotheby’s auction for $33.8 million. Level 2 | High-Collectible Primarily from early 19th century to circa 1875 — Of tremen- dous interest to serious collectors, these rarely found, best- of-the-best caliber 19th century rugs exhibit fluid, subtly varied designs, a highly nuanced use of rarely found, exotic colors and superb aesthetic balance. The finest rugs from “The Second Golden Age” were woven primarily in Persia and the Caucasus Mountains. The main weaving styles include Mothasham Kashan, Hadji Jallili Tabriz, Bakshaish, and from tribal groups including Caucasian Kazaks, Shirvans and Kubas, and South Persian Qashqais. While historical rugs from Level 1 are typically too fragile, many High-Collectible pieces are sufficiently durable for floor use. Level 3 | Connoisseur-Caliber Primarily from circa 1850 to late 19th century — This category encompasses standout rugs from all of the major Persian and tribal groups, created by highly talented weavers using excel- lent quality materials to animate their original, captivating designs and color combinations. In today’s market, excellent
This is a superb, classical example of the penultimate floral rug style of the 19th century. At over one-and-a-half-centuries-old, this Mohtasham Kashan in the versatile 7' x 9 ' size boasts unfathomable craftsmanship and sublime, delicate drawing of its motifs. Persian Mohtasham Kashan | 7' 2" x 9' 8" | 3rd quarter, 19th century, Connoisseur-Caliber
Read the entire article published in the Chubb Collector's Newsletter on www.claremontrug.com
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