Pre-owned vs. new
Many rug lovers have their heart set on new, unused rugs when it comes to buying. After a proper professional cleaning, though, a pre-owned rug can be a sensible and decorative alternative, because hand-knotted rugs are extremely hard-wearing and made to last for ever. But pre-owned and pre-owned are two very different things.
The value of old, pre-owned rugs is an extremely complex subject. It sounds like a tale from the Arabian Nights, but a few years ago a rug, which specialists had valued at 900€, went under the hammer for 7.2 million euros. By now a certain sobriety has set in regarding how rugs hold their value, and even in times of unattractive interest on fixed-term deposits rugs are no longer a favoured investment. Exceptional antique rugs, however, are still much loved and fetch top prices at renowned auction houses. Particularly well-preserved old rugs from 40 years of age and antique collector's pieces from 100 years of age can be found in our online shop under the category Old & Antique Rugs service.
By no means every rug has the history, the special features and the provenance to achieve high prices at auction. Old Oriental rugs from the 60s, 70s and 80s were traded in Europe in large numbers and at high prices. In recent years, interest in bright colours and bold patterns has fallen markedly. Almost exclusively, muted colours and patterns that complement a modern interior or the country-house look have been in demand.
For some years now, European designers have been reinterpreting the classic patterns and colours, carrying their character over into the aesthetic of the 21th century. These innovative designs sell very successfully at exclusive prices. At the same time, they are also boosting the popularity of classic rug patterns in general. It is the birth of modern designer rugs.
Anyone who loves richly coloured floral patterns currently has the chance to acquire pre-owned but well-preserved Oriental rugs from the years of the German economic miracle at attractive prices. A new tradition can just as well be founded with a pre-owned rug. Rugs are made to last. Pre-owned rugs – even though some have changed hands several times – often look like new once cleaned and show hardly any signs of wear. In our online shop you will find these rugs under Vintage Rugs and Old & Antique Rugs.
Rugs with damage – worn patches, holes or fringes coming loose – are a category of their own. Without the appropriate repairs, these rugs are not quite as hard-wearing as well-preserved ones. They can, however, still give several more decades of service. Lovers of the "shabby chic" interior style like to reach for rugs such as these. You will find pieces like this among our vintage rugs. For us, though, vintage does not mean damaged but a style: pre-owned rugs from around 20 years of age, often with patina and softer colours.
In the end it is of course a question of taste and style whether you would rather decorate your own rooms with a pre-owned or a new rug. What you shouldn't do is rule pre-owned rugs out from the start.
