Fringe looks a little more "antique" than they normally would. This rug screams Kerman. I would say every bit of 40 years old, could be as old as 1955 but I doubt it. I do think this rug has an herbal wash, especially going by how some of the colors are softened, and the heavy saturated tint on the reverse side of the rug. There either appears to be some abrash, or a really bad fold, can you tell us what this might be?

It is hand knotted, wool pile, cotton foundation. This is a rug from Iran, as is the sarouk rug. Actually, the sarouk rug, call it persia, as it didn't start really getting called iran until the late 1930s.

Here's the thing on the tea wash:
http://www.rugrag.com/post/Tea-Wash--Luster-Wash.aspx

there are 2 types of tea wash. Both have the same objective of giving a rug an aged patina, or older look. This is sometimes done to soften BRIGHT colors, or sometimes even to hide wear or stains (unfortunately). The process is not fail proof. That is to say, if you used a chemical cleaner to spot clean a stain prior to tea washing a rug, that area of the rug may absorb dyes differently.

1: tea wash/herbal wash- give the overall rug a tinted, aged patina
2: golden wash - give the overall rug a tinted aged patina, BUT ALSO chemically reacts with certain types of rose colors and literally can replace them with brown.

Certainly a Kerman from the 1960's. The herbal wash is most probably recent. Might be interesting to note what's on the wash tag (upper left corner of photo taken from back of rug). It usually reveals the importer's code/initials from when the rug was given its original luster wash.

The blue streak across the back of the rug is called an "abrash". Abrash means "spotted" or "speckled" in persian. Abrashes come about when the weaver ties knots using wool wool of a slightly different shade or from a different dyelot... Sometimes dyed wool contains slight variations imperceptable to the eye until enough is woven to show a variation in color. This is part of the beauty and character of a handknotted rug. Weavers excuse abrashes by saying, "Only God, (Allah), is perfect"

The wash tag "CH 5719" indicates the rug might have been imported by Chatalbash Rug Company, NY. That company is no longer in the importing business.

Wow! Not only are you guys quick, but incredibly informative! I just realized I already have a picture taken of the tag:

Great! You guys are awesome! I will add that to my notes for sure! Should I add information about the tea wash being more recent? Or would someone buying it know that already... or not even care? (I wish I knew more about rugs.)

Hello again! Today I was looking closely at this rug once more and realized that the darker blue areas actually do not feel any different than the rest of the rug. What was funny was it did feel different to me with my eyes open, but when I closed my eyes I could no longer tell where the darker lines were. I guess my eyes were deceiving my touch. It is kind of embarrassing, but I also thought it was interesting enough to post. It looks like you guys were right about it being an abrash. Your eyes were better than mine and I was looking right at it! :)

Greetings Atropine. And good luck with your sales. I'll just throw you a side comment here. I have bought a lot of rugs on ebay. More than 200. You might not appreciate this advice, but you might want to reconsider the "Great Aunt's cedar chest" part. Even if it is true. I have seen countless rugs advertised as having been kept in grandmother's cedar chest or dowry chest for the last twenty years. And it always seems to be "twenty years" One seller might list 150 rugs, all kept in their grandmother's dowry chest for the last twenty years. Somebody else I know on there has a perpetual revolving door of rugs kept in somebody's cedar chest "in the old country" that they hate to part with. It ends up soundling like a "line" and a lot of people I know ignore sellers who use those kinds of stories. Real buyers will see through them, and naive new buyers will quickly spot the same language too many times for it to be true. Just a comment and not a challenge to you or anything. But I know that such language is "getting around the scene" as it were. And ultimately, it won't make any difference if a buyer falls in love with it and the price is right for them.

krow, you're hilarious, after reading that I couldn't stop laughing. Atropine, I believe you when you say this is what these rugs are, this is where they came from. In all honesty, I think you should say whatever you feel. Part of the reason I was laughing so hard was because of one specific story I read about an ebay item that was so off the wall... there was NO way this person was telling the truth about any of it. But I got completely wrapped up in the first sentence, and never would have thought twice about the item until after reading the extent to which this person spun their tale.

Atropine, each of the rugs you've posted on this forum are very, very charming pieces. The Sarouk is a bit worn, but you know what? a lotttt of people specifically want worn rugs. In fact, for many years, rug weavers have been trying to make rugs look worn with chemicals and sometimes even intentional uneven clipping. Last but not least, I think the only way these rugs could have survived dormant for 40 years is if they had either been moth flaked regularly, or kept in a cedar chest.

The best thing to do is work backwards. The kerman probably costs $22 to send anywhere in the continental usa with UPS. I've seen these rugs get decent money per a square foot, but eBay is not a real market in the sense that seasons can affect value (e.g. retailers more often than not keep prices steady year around.) Right now, the ebay rugs are being watched. one of my long time friends has an ebay store and has said traffic is picking up, and he knows because he's getting a lot more emails. Just be sure you don't lay down the auction to end on a holiday as I'm sure you know.

As for the .99 cents listing, in all honesty, I'd do this for the sarouk without question. this will not only attract a lot of people, but a appeal to a much larger group of people than the kerman will. I can't remember what size the mohajeran was, but I think if it's 4x6, actual shipping cost is probably going to run $30 via UPS.

The kerman is more of a smaller crowd/following. you may want to try it with a buy it now of whatever $ + 22 shipping + $ handling and do a best offer. Possibly run it twice, but at first just see what happens on this one for a 10 day listing, it's worth the 40 cents when you have a best offer on it I think. Keep in mind, this may be a $4-5 listing from what I see on ebays charts, but you may get what you want. If you go this route, they can also set the rug into proportion to what would be considered a "fair market value", but I don't want to speak for him you'll have to check because this may only be for importers. If you have offers on the kerman from anyone who's interested during the fixed price, that's great, but hold out for as long as you can to respond to them, someone may come around to purchase at your asking price.

The verifications do look sharp, but the most important thing is to make sure people see it. Maybe you center it or whatever. Too much text and it will get lost, so I wouldn't repeat much of the info that's in there only because it looks better to have a 3rd party stating the facts.

Don't expect high numbers for these rugs. be ready to part with them for whatever they go for! Also make sure to mention in your auction you're selling other rugs, and have them all listed at the same time. A lot of people forget to mention they have several similar items.

As for the wilton rugs, I would do the best offer thing as well. I can't say what would be a good number, I guess whatever you feel comfortable with. Just make sure shipping is covered!!! You may even want to say on the big one "shipping is actual cost + $xx" The small one should be less than $35 if it's smaller than 4x6 as will the sarouk too.

Can you think of a way to describe that without it sounding like a "line"? I would hate to drive off buyers by it sounding like I am making the chest story up. >>>


Your additional information is fascinating and adds to the authenticity of the story. Of course theret there. Mention the cedar dust and the cedar smell, by ALL means. This makes it sound true. I am an eBay buyer who has bought over 250 rugs on eBay so I read these listings myself. The cedar dust and smell would definitely add a charming touch and authenticate the story, particualrly for the lucky buyer. Good luck.