Value & Authentication

What to inspect, ask, and budget for before bidding on a rug at auction — condition cues, fees, and authentication basics explained.

Rug prices come from materials, labor, origin, age and condition — not a single fixed formula. Here’s what actually drives the number.

Key questions to ask before buying an antique rug: age, condition, dyes, repairs, and when to insist on a professional appraisal.

No. Age alone doesn’t make a rug an antique — learn the real criteria appraisers use before you assume value.

Two rugs can look nearly identical yet differ by thousands. Here’s what actually drives rug price: construction, materials, and condition.

How to spot a chemically washed or painted rug: dye bleed, sheen, brittle fibres, and painted fringe — plus safe ways to test at home.

What happens at a rug appraisal, what an appraiser examines, and how to prepare a rug for a fair, accurate valuation.

Learn how appraisers weigh wear, patina and repairs when valuing a rug, and why cleaning mistakes can do more damage than age.

Learn how abrash, fading, and crocking reveal whether a rug’s dyes are natural or synthetic, and what that means for its care.

High knot count doesn’t always mean a better rug. Here’s what knot density really tells you, and what it doesn’t.