Antique Rugs
Hand-knotted antique rugs from Persia, the Caucasus, Turkey and beyond — antique Heriz and Serapi, Sarouk, Kerman and Tabriz, Caucasian Kazak and Karabagh, antique Oushak and antique kilims. Every piece is roughly 80 to 150 years old, woven with hand-spun wool and natural dyes, and one of a kind. Pacific Rugs has bought, sold and placed antique carpets for collectors and interior designers since 1986.
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Shop Antique Rugs by Weave
Heriz & Northwest Persian
Persian City & Court
Persian Village & Tribal
Antique Kilims & Flatweaves
Decorative & Specialty
About Antique Rugs
A rug is considered antique once it is at least 80 years old; most of the pieces here were woven between roughly 1880 and 1940. They are entirely hand-knotted on wool or cotton foundations and coloured with natural dyes — madder red, indigo blue, walnut and pomegranate — which age into the soft, luminous tones machine production cannot imitate. Light, even low pile and a gentle abrash (colour variation) are marks of authenticity, not flaws.
Every antique rug is a single object with no reorder. Sizes are those the weaver made, so they rarely match modern standards, and each piece carries its own history of wear, repair and repatination. We inspect, professionally clean and, where needed, conservatively restore each rug, and we describe condition plainly so you know exactly what you are buying.
Pacific Rugs has dealt in antique Oriental carpets since 1986, supplying private collectors and interior designers across the United States and worldwide. If you are looking for a particular weave, age, size or palette that is not shown, contact us — much of our antique inventory turns over by request.
Antique Rug FAQs
What is an antique rug?
An antique rug is a hand-knotted rug at least 80 years old, woven before the mechanisation of the craft. It uses hand-spun wool, natural plant and insect dyes, and traditional regional designs. Rugs 30 to 80 years old are called semi-antique or vintage; newer hand-made rugs are simply "new".
How can I tell if an antique rug is genuine?
Turn it over: a genuine antique is hand-knotted, so the pattern is visible on the back and the knots are slightly irregular. Look for natural-dye abrash (subtle colour shifts), low even pile from decades of use, and hand-finished selvedges and fringes that are part of the weave rather than sewn on.
Are antique rugs a good investment?
Fine antique rugs in good condition — especially room-size Heriz, Sultanabad, Sarouk and Oushak carpets — have held or increased their value over decades because supply is fixed and shrinking. They should be bought first to live with and enjoy; long-term appreciation is a realistic bonus, not a guarantee.
How do I care for an antique rug?
Use a quality rug pad, rotate the rug once or twice a year to even out sunlight and foot traffic, vacuum gently without a beater bar, and blot spills immediately with cold water. Have it professionally hand-washed every few years and any worn edges secured early — small repairs prevent large ones.
What is the difference between antique and vintage rugs?
It is about age. Antique rugs are 80 years or older; vintage (or semi-antique) rugs are roughly 30 to 80 years old. Vintage pieces often have a more muted, overdyed or distressed look, while antiques show genuine natural-dye colour and hand-spun wool.