Rug Appraisal and Resale: How a Rug Is Valued
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A rug appraisal is a written opinion of what a rug is and what it is worth, given by someone qualified to judge and with no interest in buying it. People need one for insurance, for dividing an estate, after damage, or before selling. The answer is often lower than the owner hoped and occasionally much higher, and in both cases it is better to know. This page explains what an appraiser examines, why there are several kinds of value and not one, and how rugs are actually resold. It is general information, and we do not appraise or buy rugs ourselves.
From the Atelier
Currently in our collection
What an appraiser looks at
First, identification: where the rug was made, how, of what and roughly when. An appraiser reads this from the back of the rug, the knots, the foundation, the wool, the dyes and the design. Then size, since value is partly a matter of area and of how useful the dimensions are.
Then condition, which often counts for most: the evenness of the pile, the state of the ends and edges, old repairs, moth damage, stains, fading and dry rot. Finally the market: what comparable rugs have recently fetched. A good appraisal states all of this in writing, with photographs.
Several kinds of value
Replacement value is what it would take to buy a similar rug new or from a dealer. It is the figure used for insurance, and it is the highest. Fair market value is what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller, typically the level of an auction result. It is used for estates and gifts.
Liquidation value is what the rug would bring if it had to be sold quickly, and it is lower again. The same rug therefore has three honest figures that may differ several times over. Always ask which one a valuation refers to, and never treat an insurance figure as a guide to what you could sell for.
Choosing someone for a rug appraisal
Look for someone with specific training in rugs and textiles who charges a flat or hourly fee and not a share of the value. Professional appraisers' associations publish directories of their members. Ask for a sample report, and for the appraiser's experience with rugs like yours.
Avoid free valuations from anyone who then offers to buy the rug, since the interest is obvious. Avoid valuations by photograph alone for anything of importance: knot structure, repairs and rot have to be handled to be seen. For an ordinary modern rug a formal appraisal is not worth doing, and an insurer will normally accept the purchase invoice.
How rugs are resold
There are four routes. Auction houses suit old and collectable rugs, charge a commission and give no guarantee of a sale. Dealers may buy outright, at a figure that leaves them a margin, or sell on your behalf. Online marketplaces reach the most people and demand the most work: good photographs, exact measurements, honest notes on condition. A private sale to someone who already admires the rug is the simplest.
Before any sale, have the rug cleaned by a specialist, photograph it flat in daylight, front and back, and measure it properly. State the fibre and the construction. Keep the original invoice with it. A hand-knotted wool rug in clean, sound condition, with its paperwork, finds a buyer sooner than one without.
Our rugs and resale
We sell rugs to be lived with and make no claim about what they might fetch later. As with nearly all furnishings, a rug resold privately brings less than it would in a shop. What supports its value is what it is made of and how it has been kept.
Our collection is 275 hand-knotted wool rugs from Morocco. Keep your order confirmation and the description of the rug, which records its type and its measured size. Each rug is one of a kind, with its exact measurements on its own page. Delivery is free worldwide, duties and taxes included.
What you can verify about us
- Origin
- Made in MoroccoHand-knotted Berber rugs from the Atlas regions. Every rug is one of a kind.
- Construction
- Hand-knotted woolVerified at every stage — never machine-tufted.
- Delivery
- Duties includedFree shipping; import duties and taxes are included in the price.
- Returns
- 14 daysIn condition received, full refund of the purchase price.
Frequently Asked
Questions
- What is a rug appraisal?
- A written, independent opinion of what a rug is and its value, used for insurance, estates or sale.
- How is a rug valued?
- By origin, age, construction, materials, size, condition and recent results for comparable rugs.
- Why is the insurance value higher than what I can sell for?
- Insurance uses replacement value, the amount needed to buy a similar rug. A private sale normally brings less.
- Do you buy or appraise rugs?
- No. For a valuation, use an independent appraiser who has no interest in buying.
Sources & References
What this page rests on
- 1. Vintage Carpet Market Index
- 2. Sotheby's Textile Department
The person behind the piece
“Before you buy, I’ll send you a video of the actual rug in natural light — not a stock photo. I answer the messages myself.”
I’m Youssef. I started ARINID because this market is full of middlemen and machine-made imitations sold as the real thing — and I grew up close enough to the looms to know the difference.
Every piece we list is one of a kind, hand-knotted in Morocco. If you want to talk through sizing for your room, I’m on the other end of the message. A rug at this level is a thirty-year decision. You should be able to look the person selling it to you in the eye.
Youssef
Founder, ARINID
The next step
See every rug we currently offer
Each piece is hand-knotted in Morocco and delivered to your door, with shipping, duties and taxes included.