the value of a RUG

1. Materials and fixed costs
2. Knot density and size
3. Origin and age
4. Patterns, colours, cultural significance
5. Aesthetics and design​

---

​1. Materials and fixed costs when making a carpet
An essential factor in determining the price of a carpet are the fixed costs of making a carpet. This applies first of all to the materials and the special tools being used. There is a great variation in the required raw materials, such as the quality of the wool. The same applies to the dyes, whose quality is not usually known until after the carpet has been subject to decades of use. That is why it is worthwhile to have the highest quality requirements when manufacturing a carpet, and to accept the higher prices. Also, labour costs can vary greatly, depending on how much experience and expertise the carpet-making artists have.

---

2. Knot density and carpet size
The number of knots in a carpet is one of the biggest determining factors when it comes to the amount of work required to make a carpet. The more knots there are per square inch, the more work required. Of course, this also depends on the size of the carpet. In view of the fact that a carpet knotter ties an average of 30,000 to 5,000 knots daily.

---

3. Origin and age of the carpet
Thanks to the knowledge we have about a carpet’s origins, we can draw conclusions on the techniques and workmanship used to make the carpet. When it comes to knots, there is a difference between Persian and Turkish knots, and depending on the region and the traditions, different techniques are used. Every region has acquired experience over generations and further developed and refined its techniques.

When classifying the age of a carpet, there are four broad categories:

• Antique carpets

older than 100 years

• Semi-Antique carpets

between 50-100 years

• Neo-classic carpets     

less than 50 years

• Newer carpets

less than 5 years or not used

 The origin of a carpet is a significant factor in determining a carpet’s value, whereby the age of a carpet does not necessarily affect its price. The condition the carpet is in also plays a significant role.

4. Patterns and colors and their cultural significance
Not only the origin of a carpet can tell us a lot about a carpet – the order of the patterns and the use of colors can also be used as an identifying feature, depending on how the color is applied and combined. These are usually linked with values and traditions that distinguish the carpet as an unusual item of cultural heritage.


​
5. The aesthetic value of a carpet
One might disagree on matters of taste – and naturally, it’s hard to capture the aesthetic value of a carpet in numbers. After all, taste is subjective. However, or maybe because of this, the aesthetic value is often the biggest factor in determining the value of a carpet.

---