Rug Auction Breaks Records

Freeman's Auction, in Philadelphia PA, surpassed it greatest expectations with an auction that included some very expensive rugs. Many rugs sold for far beyond there expected price. An 18th century North Indian measuring 22’ x 13’-6” area rug brought in $17,925 when it was only expected to go for between $10,000 to $15,000. A 15’-5” x 11’-10” Northwest Persian Bakshaish from the late-19th-century went for $26,290, twice its estimated value. Here are a couple more examples.

“A late-19th-century 17-foot-six-inch-by-12-foot Haji Jalili Tabriz from North Persia wove to $46,605 (estimate $20,000-$30,000), while another 23-foot-seven-inch-by-15-foot-two-inch Northwest Persian Tabriz achieved $38,838 against its $8,000-$10,000 forecast.” ReadingEagle.com

The biggest surprise of all was a Chelaberd Kazak rug which sold for a record $341,625.

“The single medallion six-foot-one-inch-by-five-foot-four-inch rug, which only had a $15,000-$25,000 pre-sale estimate, was from the Robert Montgomery Scott estate “Androssan,” Radnor, Montgomery County. Freeman's said the price, which included a 19.5 percent buyer's fee on the first $75,000 and 12 percent on the balance, ‘represented a record for a Caucasian carpet of any kind at auction.’” ReadingEagle.com

That would have been a very exciting auction. Hopefully no one bid over there heads. I haven’t seen any picture of the pieces but I’m sure they were beautiful.