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Jan David Winitz,
Founder and President |
"The
finest antique carpets have been a form of international currency since
Marco Polo introduced the first rugs he brought from “the Orient” to
the Italian aristocracy at the end of the 13th century. Thus the term
“oriental rugs” was adapted. There are connoisseur-level buyers
seeking out the finest rugs in virtually every country of the world, so
trading the best antique rugs is tantamount to trading fine paintings or other works of art."
"Regardless
of the region in which they were made, investment-level rugs were
created as entirely individual artistic expressions. Whether they were
produced in city workshops, as part of the cottage industry of the
smaller towns and villages or in isolated nomadic encampments, they
represent the consummate achievement of only the most dexterous and
sensitive weavers. They usually are virtuoso adaptations of the
traditional designs, color palette and structure characteristic of that
particular region.”
"There are a few vital attributes
that a carpet must have to be considered investment-level. It
must utilize a harmonious palette of colors created from pure, natural
dyes, exclusively. The materials must be of the finest quality.
The wool must be lustrous, luminous and elastic, meaning it should be
soft and feel like what it is -- an alive material. Uniqueness and
rarity are both central. The individual stamp of the particular
weaver or weavers should be abundantly present.
"The most
important aspect is also the most intangible -- to be considered
investment-level, a rug must possess a stirring magnitude of artistry,
a level of beauty that is literally breathtaking. At the presence of a
true art carpet, the viewer is silenced, in awe of something that
emanates a profound level of balance and harmony."
“In
most cases, I find that to be considered investment-level, the carpet
should be a true antique, that is more than 100 years old. Frankly,
only an extremely small percentage of the 100-200 year old antique
Persian and tribal carpets that are available are what I specialize
in. As a life-long investor, I have experienced that highly
unique pieces I bought 20 to 30 years ago have increased in value
many-fold. The extremely rare 17th and18th century pieces in my own
private collection have literally skyrocketed. As the demand for
the best 19th-century antiques continues to escalate and their already
very limited availability dwindles further, the next decade should be
infinitely more exciting than even the past 30 years have been."
-- Jan David Winitz, from a lecture to a group of antique carpet connoisseurs.
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