| You either love Oriental rugs or you hate them. | | | | supply of assorted rugs and the auction house will |
| There is no in-between, at least for most people. | | | | sell a certain number of them at each of their |
| Those who are into modern or contemporary | | | | sales. When inventory gets low enough, the dealer |
| furnishings enjoy clean straight lines so these rugs | | | | sends more rugs. |
| would not be their cup of tea. Others who tend | | | | You may wonder why would an Oriental rug |
| to lean toward antiques or traditional decor usually | | | | dealer send rugs to auction if they are going to |
| would not be happy with anything other than | | | | bring a minimum amount of money when they |
| Oriental rugs. | | | | can get so much more selling them retail? That is |
| Where do you go to buy an Oriental rug? Usually | | | | a fair question. The answer is a two-fold one. |
| there are only two choices. The first is a rug or | | | | First, the majority of rugs sent to auction, |
| carpet store and the second is an auction house. | | | | although they are very expensive, have minor |
| There are many different carpet stores; some of | | | | defects and are therefore not of the quality |
| them sell nothing but Oriental rugs. Should you go | | | | required for a store's showroom. |
| this route, bring the big checkbook with you | | | | Anyone in a market for an Oriental rug for his or |
| because it is going to cost you. At an auction, | | | | her home would do well to ignore whatever |
| depending upon the location, a fabulous deal may | | | | defects exist and buy such a rug for a fraction of |
| only be a single bid away. | | | | its retail price. Usually the defects are not easily |
| Oriental rugs in the Southeast, especially Florida, | | | | detected except by an experienced rug person. |
| ordinarily go for much less than they do in the | | | | Even if one or two minor flaws can be seen, by |
| Northeast, such as New York. For whatever | | | | the time the rug is covered with furniture no one |
| reason, many areas within Florida are inundated | | | | is going to really notice. If someone does, then |
| with such rugs so they sell rather cheaply at | | | | you can dazzle them with your shopping prowess |
| auction. It is a matter of supply and demand. | | | | by telling them how you saved hundreds or |
| But where do these rugs come from? Some | | | | possibly thousands of dollars. |
| come from estates. When someone passes | | | | The second reason dealers send these rugs to |
| away, many times their possessions are sent to | | | | auction is money. When your product line is made |
| auction and those possessions can, and often do, | | | | up of items that sell for what could be thousands, |
| include Oriental rugs. Some of the rugs that come | | | | the customers are not lined up at the cash |
| from estates can bring more money than is | | | | register waiting to pay for their purchases. Maybe |
| customary, even in Florida. This is because estate | | | | an Oriental rug store sells one rug in a week, |
| rugs have not been on the open market in some | | | | maybe they sell two or maybe they don't sell |
| time. Most of them get handed down to family | | | | any. Sending a supply of rugs to one, two or |
| members over a period of many years so they | | | | even three different auction houses on a |
| qualify as antiques before they finally make it to | | | | consistent basis provides a rug dealer with what |
| auction. Oriental rugs are considered antiques after | | | | might be much needed cash flow. Many dealers |
| 50 years, unlike most antiques that have to be | | | | are probably willing to make less profit or, in some |
| around for 100 years. | | | | cases, break even to guarantee financial fluidity. |
| However, the majority of Oriental rugs, at least in | | | | Since most good Oriental rugs are hand made or |
| the Southeast, come from rug dealers. Many | | | | hand knotted they are a wonderful investment |
| auction houses have arrangements with one or | | | | and, if cared for properly, will last for decades. |
| more rug dealers to auction rugs for them on a | | | | You would be hard pressed to find a better deal |
| regular basis. A dealer will ship an auction house a | | | | at auction than an Oriental rug. |