Historically, Oriental rugs served as confirmation of one’s status and level of refinement. Since Marco Polo introduced them to Europe at the end of the 13th Century, rug enthusiasts have ranged from queens and emperors to corporate titans and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. But for the most part, their true merit has been overshadowed in the Western steam wallet hack online world by the idea that something walked piano tiles 2 cheats tool on is something less valued, at best more craft than art. «Under foot» equaled under-appreciated.

So what explains piano tiles 2 cheats tool this transformation of attitude among collectors? My view is that it stems from a confluence of factors.

In 2010, antique rugs received center stage recognition when Christie’s London sold a 17th century Persian Laver Kirman for $9.59 million, almost double the previous world record set just a year before. The Wall Street Journal feature, «The Rug Market Takes Flight», cites both historical carpets and 19th Century antique rugs as major collecting niches, adding, «These days, top antique rugs are sold more like works of art than pieces of decor» (6/19/10). The Financial Times struck a similar tone, emphasizing, «Antique rugs are as valuable as art — and not always for treading upon.»

The recent attention given to these «portable monuments,» as the New York Times called them (10/27/11), is already having an enormous influence on the interest in, and steadily increasing value of, these weavings in today’s market. Long «under the radar,» they’re finally emerging to take their proud place alongside traditionally recognized artworks.

Although museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles and The Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar are actively acquiring major historical carpets, the best art-level rugs from circa 1800-1900, the «Second Golden Age» of Oriental rug weaving, can still be found in private homes. The art value of pieces from this era can be seen in purchases such as a Caucasian Chelaberd «Eagle Kazak,» measuring 4×7, selling for $341,625, over 13 times its $25,000 high estimate at Freeman’s Auction in Philadelphia.

Numerous connoisseurs are building major collections of art-level 19th Century oriental rugs, storing pieces that are not on display in dedicated chests or rug vaults. They consistently note the tremendous «staying power» of elite rugs and often emphasize that over time, one becomes ever more enthralled, discovering the myriad individually rendered designs and nuances of color the weavers employed to create a unique vision of balance and harmony.

A trend I have witnessed during the past 40 years is dramatically escalating at this time. While there is still a supply of 19th century decorative-level carpets on the international market, art-level antique rugs typically become available only when families divest long-held collections. A result of the recent increased exposure is that art-level pieces are disappearing much more rapidly as established collectors purchase more ambitiously and younger aficionados strive toward higher-level pieces. I firmly believe that the art-level rugs occasionally found today will not be available to the next generation at any price.