Selling a handmade rug without knowing its value is one of the more common financial mistakes in the secondhand goods market. Dealers rely on it. Estate sale operators rely on it. Online platforms are structured around it. A Persian rug that would sell for several thousand dollars to an informed buyer regularly leaves an estate for a fraction of that because no one in the room knew what they were looking at.
At Kian Rug Company, we purchase Persian, oriental, tribal, and antique rugs outright and accept select pieces on consignment. We’re buyers first we handle the full range of rug services in Colorado which means our purchasing decisions are based on real market knowledge, not the opportunism of a generalist estate buyer.
This page explains how our purchasing and consignment program works, what types of rugs we buy, and what you should know before selling.
Two Ways to Sell Your Rug
Outright Purchase
We examine your rug, assess its condition and market value, and make you a direct cash offer. If you accept, the transaction is complete. This is the fastest path no waiting, no commission, no uncertainty about timing.
Outright purchase prices reflect the wholesale or dealer acquisition market, not retail replacement value. We need to price a piece to account for the cost of cleaning, any restoration work it needs, the time it may sit in inventory before selling, and our operating margin. If maximizing the total dollar amount is the priority and you have time, consignment usually produces a higher return. If certainty and speed are the priority, outright purchase is the right choice.
Consignment
Under consignment, we sell the rug on your behalf from our showroom and through our dealer and collector network. When the piece sells, you receive the agreed percentage of the sale price, minus our commission.
Consignment typically produces a higher total return than outright purchase because you participate in the retail or collector-market price rather than the wholesale price. The tradeoff is time: consignment pieces can sell in weeks or take months, depending on the piece, the market, and the price point. We discuss realistic timeframes at intake based on the specific piece.
We accept consignment pieces selectively only rugs we believe we can sell within a reasonable timeframe at a price that’s fair to both the owner and our buyers. We don’t take everything, and we’ll tell you honestly if a piece isn’t a good consignment candidate.
What Types of Rugs We Buy
Our purchasing focus is hand-knotted Persian, oriental, and tribal rugs. Specifically:
Persian City Carpets
Tabriz, Kashan, Isfahan, Kerman, Qom, Heriz, Sarouk, and similar workshop-produced pieces from major weaving centers. Quality and value vary enormously within these categories a fine Kashan from the early 20th century and a mid-century commercial Kerman are both “Persian rugs” but occupy entirely different market positions. We assess each piece individually.
Tribal and Village Rugs
Qashqai, Bakhtiari, Lori, Kurdish, Baluch, and related tribal pieces from Iran and Central Asia. We have particular interest in Zolanvari Gabbeh pieces and high-quality tribal work with natural vegetable dyes and intact pile. Tribal rugs have a strong collector following and, when the piece is right, sell well through our network.
Antique and Semi-Antique Pieces
Rugs over 50 years old whether city, village, or tribal are assessed with particular attention to condition relative to age. Genuine antiques in good condition are among the most desirable pieces in the secondary market. Pieces with significant moth damage, major foundation loss, or amateur repairs are more difficult to purchase at meaningful prices.
Caucasian, Turkish, and Central Asian Rugs
Kazak, Shirvan, Kuba, and other Caucasian pieces; Anatolian and Oushak-tradition Turkish rugs; Turkoman pieces including Tekke, Yomut, and Ersari. These categories have active collector markets and we buy selectively based on condition and quality.
What We Generally Don’t Purchase
Machine-made rugs, tufted rugs, contemporary reproductions of traditional designs, and heavily damaged pieces without restoration potential are not typically purchase candidates. We assess these honestly at the initial inquiry stage rather than wasting your time with an in-person appointment.
How the Process Works
Curious About Your Rug’s Value?
Send us clear photos of your rug (full length, back, and details) for an honest preliminary assessment before scheduling anything.
Step 1 Initial Contact and Photo Assessment
Send us photographs: the full rug from above, the back, close-ups of the pile, and any damage areas. Include the approximate dimensions if you know them. From this, we can usually determine whether the piece is a purchase candidate and give you a preliminary range before any in-person visit.
Step 2 In-Person Examination
For pieces that appear to be purchase candidates, we schedule an in-person examination either at your home for large or valuable pieces, or at our Denver facility. We assess construction, knot density, dye type, age indicators, condition, and any restoration needs.
Step 3 Offer or Consignment Discussion
For outright purchase: we make an offer on the spot or within 24 hours of the examination. The offer is firm we don’t adjust it after you’ve considered it unless new information about the rug’s condition comes to light.
For consignment: we discuss the proposed listing price, our commission rate, the expected timeline, and the terms of the agreement in writing before the rug enters our inventory.
Step 4 Transaction Completion
Outright purchase: payment by check or bank transfer, same day or within one business day. Consignment: the rug enters our showroom and network, and you receive payment within a specified number of days of the sale.
📸 Start with Photos
Send us clear photographs of your rug full length, back, and any damage areas and we’ll give you an honest preliminary assessment before scheduling anything.
Pricing: How We Determine What We Offer
Outright purchase offers reflect several factors:
Condition is the primary variable. A rug in full pile with no moth damage, no major repairs, and intact foundation commands a meaningfully higher offer than the same rug with significant pile loss or structural damage.
Market demand for the specific type. Some categories have deep collector markets and sell quickly; others are beautiful rugs that take longer to find their buyer. We price our offers to reflect the actual market, not an optimistic ceiling.
Restoration needs. If a piece needs professional cleaning or repair before it can be shown, we factor in the cost of that work. We’re transparent about this if our offer is lower because of restoration costs, we’ll tell you what those are.
Current inventory balance. We occasionally have more of a particular category than we can sell efficiently. This affects our interest in additional pieces of the same type, which we’ll also disclose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to sell a Persian rug?
The right channel depends on the rug and your priorities. A dealer purchase (like ours) is the fastest and most certain. Auction works well for exceptional pieces with established collector demand. Consignment with a specialist dealer usually returns more than outright sale but takes longer. Online marketplaces work for some categories but require knowledge of how to photograph, describe, and price accurately and attract bottom-feeders as often as serious buyers. For most people with a good rug and no specialist knowledge of the market, consignment with a specialist dealer is the best balance of return and effort.
How do I know what my rug is worth before selling?
The most reliable approach is a professional appraisal before any sale conversation. An appraisal gives you a documented fair market value which is the basis for evaluating whether any offer you receive is reasonable. We provide appraisals separately from our purchasing program, so the valuation is independent of our purchase interest.
Do you buy all types of rugs?
Our focus is hand-knotted Persian, oriental, tribal, and antique pieces. We don’t typically purchase machine-made rugs, tufted area rugs, or heavily damaged pieces. We’ll tell you at the photo-assessment stage if a piece isn’t in our buying range before you arrange transportation or a visit.
How does consignment work for rugs?
You leave the rug with us. We list it in our showroom and offer it through our dealer and collector network. When it sells, you receive your agreed percentage of the sale price. We provide monthly updates on viewing interest and any offers received. If the piece doesn’t sell within the agreed consignment period, we discuss options price adjustment, return, or extended consignment.
How long does it take to sell a rug on consignment?
Depends entirely on the piece and the price. A well-priced tribal rug in good condition can sell in weeks. A fine antique city carpet priced at collector-market levels may take several months to find the right buyer. We give honest timeline estimates at intake based on the specific piece not optimistic projections designed to get you to leave the rug with us.
Will you come to my home to evaluate my rug?
For large pieces, valuable collections, or clients in the Denver metro area, yes. We arrange in-home assessment for pieces that are difficult to transport or where the collection warrants it. For single pieces in good condition, our facility evaluation is standard.
Why Sell Through Kian?
We’re buyers with specialist knowledge. When we make an offer, it reflects what we actually know the rug is worth and what we can sell it for not the lowest number we can get someone to accept. Dealers who rely on seller ignorance as a strategy don’t build long-term reputations in small markets like Colorado’s.
We’re also transparent about what we don’t want. If a piece isn’t right for us, we’ll tell you why and, where we can, suggest more appropriate channels.
For sellers considering multiple options, we’re happy to discuss the market context for your specific piece what it would realistically sell for through different channels before you make any decision. If that conversation leads you to sell through us, fine. If it leads you somewhere else, also fine.
If your rug needs cleaning or restoration before sale, we offer those services and can coordinate them as part of the selling process. A cleaned rug presents better and typically commands a higher price than the same piece in soiled condition.
Start the Conversation No Obligation
Ready to Sell Your Handmade Rug?
Whether you prefer an outright purchase with immediate payment or a consignment arrangement to maximize value, Kian Rug Company offers transparent and professional services across the Rocky Mountain region.
Send photographs, call us, or stop by our Denver showroom. We respond to photo inquiries within one business day with an honest preliminary assessment.
Kian Rug Company Denver, Colorado Buying and selling handmade rugs across the Front Range and Rocky Mountain region.
