Jan David Winitz, President & Founder

Jan David Winitz is president/founder of Claremont Rug Company, an art dealer specializing in the top-tiers of antique Oriental rugs from 1800-1890. In the collecting world, he is acknowledged as having elevated the perception of the finest…

Antique Persian Bakshaish Soars in Vaulted, Chateau-Inspired Space

Living with a virtuoso example of the most coveted folk art Village style in Persian carpets is indescribably rewarding. The refined decor of this wonderfully airy space and the large 170-year-old Bakshaish seem to have been made for each other.…

Art on the Wall and on the Floor in this Curated Entryway

The opportunities to achieve an impressive display with antique art rugs are legion. In the entryways of grand homes and apartments, they particularly shine. In this image, the artistically energetic over 120-year-old Caucasian Shirvan visually…

Two Antique Village Weavings Reflect Rustic Ambiance of Log Cabin Mountain Retreat

Clients find that our selection of Northwest Persian styles is second to none. As you can see, the two antique rugs in this cozy room appear to have been made specifically for each space. Both the area-size Karaja near the door and the Heriz…

Rare Corridor-Sized Ferahan Rug Adds Luminous Comfort to Entryway of Traditional Omaha Home

This image is of an artistically exploratory 170-year-old Ferahan rug in a rarely found corridor size that graces the entryway of a grand traditional home near Omaha, Nebraska. The tawny-hued border immediately draws upon the rich tones of the…

Masterfully Woven 170-Year-Old Mohtasham Kashan Carpet Enhances Elegant Ambiance of Earth-Toned Dining Room

Discovering the perfect antique rug is an unforgettable outcome to the “thrill of the chase” as this gracious, inviting dining area aptly demonstrates. This transformative experience is even more rewarding due to the vast variety of art-level…

Antique Rug Pairing Establishes Exquisite Syncretism in Traditional Living Room

Antique Persian rugs bestow to myriad spaces an unrivaled and invigorating dynamism. This is all the more apparent and enlivening when combined with traditional furnishings and neutral color schemes. In this refined setting, the jovial, complementary…

Harmonious Triad of Antique Caucasian Rugs Complements Passageway of Connoisseurs’ Home

In this antique rug connoisseurs' home, their love of tribal weaving starts at the front door, through the living room, and continues right past the kitchen. These rug owners carefully kept the rugs in the passageway adjacent to the cooking…
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Antique Rugs in Art Collections (Chubb Collectors)

When I founded Claremont Rug Company in 1980, a gallery that specialized exclusively in older Oriental rugs was not unusual. However, a company whose niche was art-level antique carpets was revolutionary. When I founded Claremont Rug Company…

A Primer on Antique Rug Acquisition from an Eminent Expert

The private showroom at Claremont Rug Company, displaying some of the 3500 antique Oriental rugs in the Gallery's collection. OAKLAND, CA.- As a part of his ongoing art education outreach, eminent global art dealer Jan David Winitz, founder/president…

World Record Shattered by Historic Kirman Vase Rug

Today's sale at Sotheby's of William Andrews Clark's Sickle-leaf, Vine Scroll and Palmette 'Vase'-technique carpet for $33.76 M has enormous significance not only for the antique Oriental rug field, but for the art world as a whole. Clearly…

Claremont Rug Company Reports Significant Increases In Sales of “High-End” Antique Oriental Rugs

In this interview, Claremont Rug Company's Jan David Winitz discusses what to look for when purchasing collectable antique persian rugs and caucasian rugs
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The Sum of the Parts: When It Comes to Selecting Your First, Or Next, Exquisite Rug

In this interview, Claremont Rug Company's Jan David Winitz discusses what to look for when purchasing collectable antique persian rugs and caucasian rugs

The Rug Pyramid: A Practical Guide to Determining the Right Oriental Rugs for You (Private Air/Luxury Homes)

Published in Private Air, Luxury Homes Magazine The antique Oriental rug market can be daunting at first. The quest to “know” rugs is a journey of gaining exposure, knowledge, and discovering your personal taste. To guide our clients,…

Antique Rugs in Eclectic Interior Design

International Expert Jan David Winitz Says Collectors Drawn to Complementary Impact While prices for 15th-18th-century historic Oriental rugs are only recently approaching the level of comparable contemporary works of art, collectors and…

Peruse Our Array of Antique Rugs

View our vast collection of High-Collectible, Connoisseur-Caliber, and High-Decorative art-level antique rugs from our four-gallery complex.

Subtle Elegance – Exquisite Art Carpets in Understated Tones

Claremont Rug Company has long waited to complete a significant collection of ‘continental style carpets’ in understated earth tones, one of the most intriguing groups of rugs to emerge from the Eastern Court weavers. With their predominant…

Client Accolades

We take pride in clients’ first-hand testimonials detailing their satisfaction with our diverse rug collection & first-cabin service.

A Basic Primer for Buying an Oriental Rug (AXA Art)

Published in AXA Art The term “Oriental rug” is a generic term that applies to any carpet woven by hand across the Eastern world. It includes both new production created in a wide area stretching from Romania to China, and antique…

Antique Oversize Carpets

Among the most prized 19th-century carpets in the Claremont Rug inventory are those in the Oversize rug category. Defined as rugs in sizes between 11 x 15 to 17 x 20 feet, these antique Persian & Oriental oversize rugs include some of the…

Concierge Services – Before Purchase

Whether your project is for a single rug or an entire home, our highly experienced rug consultants & free shipping program can assist you in making satisfying rug choices.

Hands at the Loom

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder Claremont Rug Company (Part 1 of 2 Parts | Read Part 2 Here) Upper: Kurdish mother and her child at a horizontal loom as she prepares the weft threads, testing them…

Antique Tribal Rugs Transcend the Decorative

OAKLAND, CA. - To many Westerners, the patterns of Near Eastern tribal rugs appear mysterious, even unfathomable. But these colorful geometrics are, in fact, windows to a venerable wisdom. Oral histories, passed down through countless generations…

Concierge Services – After Purchase

Our Long-Term Care Program is committed to supporting you ongoing — through expert hand-cleaning, restoration, and our full-exchange policy.

The Oriental Rug Market Viewed as a Pyramid

President Jan David Winitz outlines 6 levels of Oriental rugs based on artistry, age, originality, craftsmanship & provenance.

Expand Your Education of Antique Oriental Rugs

Immerse yourself in our extensive educational section, including our comprehensive Rug Type Guide, videos and numerous articles.

Increasing Appreciation of Antique Oriental Rugs in the Art World

        As a lifetime lover & connoisseur of 19th-century Oriental rugs, this has been a very exciting time for me. Over the years, while interest in antique carpets from the Second Golden Age of Persian Weaving (1800 to 1910) has…

Using Catalogs to Educate and Inspire

Looking back over the years since I opened Claremont Rug Company in 1980, I occasionally reflect on decisions that were made early on that have proven extremely important to building our business. I have always been deeply passionate about antique…

Selected Bibliography

While our antique rug type guides and articles provide a solid foundation of knowledge for the collector, the world of antique Oriental carpets is a vast one, with a long and storied past. We have taken the liberty of assembling a bibliography…

The Origin of Rugs

by Jan David Winitz President and Founder of Claremont Rug Company Part One Detail from Caucasian Seichur Kuba rug, circa 1875. Looking at the bold geometric or floral patterns of a fine Oriental carpet has a distinct effect on me. Particularly…

Antique Rug Type Guide

Explore the major types of antique Persian carpets and Tribal rugs through commentary & pictures.

Knowing Your Art Deeply And The Fruits That It Yields

by Jan David Winitz President and Founder, Claremont Rug Company Part 1 To know art deeply is a great adventure that yields extraordinary rewards. It allows us to value life more fully. Art reminds us that we each have an inner life that…
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The Joy of Collecting Antique Art Rugs

Recognizing that their rugs are true works of art that can never be reproduced, many clients are assembling family collections of carpets of substantial rarity and uniqueness, such as those featured in this collection. There has always…

The Heart and Mind of the Collector

We humans have an innate impulse to surround ourselves with things that nourish our emotions, stimulate our imagination, add significance to our rituals, remind us of people or eras from the past, lend order to our worldview, and simply add…

The Symbolism of Animals & Birds in Antique Tribal Rugs

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder Claremont Rug Company Saddled horses, chickens, and human figures cavort on the field of this extremely rare mid-19th-century Bakshaish. Study the golden medallion to reveal two ethereal…

The Life-Affirming Symbology in Antique Caucasian Rugs

Published in Carpet Collector Magazine, Germany by Jan David Winitz, founder and president of Claremont Rug Company Part OneThe life-affirming "Running Water" design often appears between the outer border and the field tone of earlier Caucasian…

Striking Caucasian Afshan Kuba Rug Enhances Mid-Century Living Room of Tel Aviv Home

Art for the floor lives right at home with art on the wall, greatly enhancing the presence of each piece. Many of our clients who gravitate toward using art-level antique rugs throughout their homes are often collectors of other creative mediums…

In-home Shopping

Shop for rare antique carpets whether you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, across the U.S. or virtually anywhere in the world. Visualizing how your potential carpet choices will look in your home has never been easier with our numerous…

2020 Year-End Overview Jan David & Christine Hunt Winitz

THANKFULLY, AN EXTREMELY ALIVE YEAR FOR ART-LEVEL ANTIQUE ORIENTAL RUGS Dear Friends, As we enter 2021, we are proud of the level of engagement we are maintaining with our clients despite the obstacles presented by Covid-19. By any…

Client Homes v2

Our Whole Home Collections Lakeside Manor Home Exquisitely detailed craftmanship & a majestic view of this grand mountain lodge complement the antique…

2021 50 Best of their Type

Presenting — Our 11th Annual Major Carpet Retrospective 50 Best-of-Their-Type Rugs Sold in 2021 Presenting — Our 11th Annual Major Carpet Retrospective 50 Best-of-Their-Type Rugs Sold in 2021 Persian…

Bakshaish Rugs: The Magic of Bakshaish Artistry

Imagination, Spontaneity, and Balance PART ONE By Jan David WinitzPresident & Founder, Claremont Rug Company Among the most brilliant early Bakshaish works I have ever encountered, unbelievably spontaneous,…

Bakshaish Rugs: The Brilliance of Bakshaish

The Brilliance of Bakshaish (Bakhshayesh) By: B. Alexandra Szerlip “It could be argued that of all the categories of antique Oriental rugs, Persian Bakshaish (Bakhshayesh) weavings have the most exuberant and idiosyncratic world view,”…
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The Allure of Antique Persian Camelhair Carpets

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder Claremont Rug Company  PART 1 of 2 Two antique Camelhair rugs (Serab in foreground, Malayer in main space) glow in sunny home. Camel head relief detail from…

Ferahan: The Style That Took Persian Carpets Global

Ferahan– The Style That Took Persian Carpets Global By: Hunter Christensen In 1873, the city on the Danube hosted an elaborate world’s fair —The Vienna Exhibition promoting “Culture and Education.” Russia, Japan, and the Ottoman…

Mohtasham Kashan Rugs: Masterful & Meticulous

By: B. Alexandra Szerlip  The reception room of an philanthropist, an impassioned second generation antique rug collector, hosts a stunning, particularly bold room-size Mohtasham Kashan as the centerpiece when the space was not in use. The…

Prayer Rugs

Antique prayer rugs occupy a unique position in the rug-weaving continuum. They were borne out of a specific purpose for the Islamic faith, and in the coming centuries attracted connoisseurs and collectors for their aesthetic allure. Not limited…

Qashqai Weavers, Spirited Nomads

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder Claremont Rug Company  Part 1 of 2 Parts | Read Part 2 Here Left: Qashqai "Cane Rug" – 5’ 3” x 9’ 4", 3rd quarter, 19th century. Right: Qashqai weaver…

Qashqai Rugs (Part 2)

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder Claremont Rug Company  Part 2 of 2 Parts  |  Read Part 1 Here Left: Qashqai woman deftly spinning lanolin-oily wool in preparation for her next carpet. …

Serab Rugs

A small village nestled in the Sabalan mountain range in northwestern Iran, Serab is home to a host of skilled tribal weavers who crafted artful, geometric rugs. While their remote location made it difficult to participate in the larger global…

Tabriz Rugs

The major city of Tabriz, located near the Turkish border, is the center of classically designed antique carpets in Northwest Persia. At the foot of the beautiful Elbruz Mountains, Tabriz has a noteworthy history, both as the Persian market…

Turkish Rugs

The eastern and central regions of the Turkish Anatolian peninsula were host to a wide variety of tribal carpet traditions.  Throughout the 19th-century and beginning of the 20th-century, peoples of Turkish, Armenian and Kurdish origin were…

Gold Coasts Collection History

Background To The Collection Background ToThe Collection The Gold Coasts Collection is the product of two generations of…

Our Oriental Rug Market Pyramid

I have spent nearly four decades working with collectors and connoisseurs to help them build what have become extremely valuable private collections of rare antique rugs. Many of my clients also collect other forms of art and antiques,…

Reproduction Rugs

Level 6 | Reproductions Typically 1970 to present — The newest contributions to the hand-woven market are adaptations of traditional Persian designs created in a broad range of qualities. These are by far the most widely available Oriental…

Decorative Rugs

Level 5 | Decorative Primarily 1920 to 1970— When the decorative rug market exploded, most of the resultant weavings fell into this category. The level of materials, craftsmanship and innovative artistry decreased notably, with often…

High-Decorative Rugs

Level 4 | High-Decorative Primarily 1875 to 1910 — With international demand increasing rapidly, the number of working looms, more rugs were woven for export, and designs became less complex and color palettes changed to satisfy Western…

Connoisseur-Caliber Rugs

Level 3 | Connoisseur-Caliber Primarily from circa 1850 to late 19th century — This category encompasses outstanding rugs from all of the major Persian and tribal groups. The period starting around 1875 is often termed “The Revival…

High-Collectible Rugs

Level 2 | High-Collectible Primarily from early 19th century to circa 1875 — Artistic achievement and great originality flourished this period. These best-of-the-best caliber rugs exhibit fluid, subtly varied designs a highly exotic use…

Museum-Quality Rugs

Level 1 | Museum-Quality Primarily 13th to 18th centuries — The Persian Safavid dynasty that ruled from 1501–1736 (“The Golden Age of Persian Weaving”) sponsored workshops that produced many of the finest carpets the world has ever…

Search

Search our entire website for articles, guides, videos, and other informational resources about purchasing and collecting antique rugs. Looking for a particular style, era, or origin? You can search for available rugs below.

A Guide to Decorating with Antique Oriental Carpets (Part 2)

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder Claremont Rug Company Part 2 of 2 Parts  |  Read Part 1 Here  Spacious desert home with antique Bakshaish Camelhair carpet and Mid-Century Modern furnishings. Antique…

A Guide to Decorating with Antique Oriental Carpets (Part 1)

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder Claremont Rug Company Part 1 of 2 Parts  |  Read Part 2 Here  A seldom-seen, flaxen-toned antique Persian Sultanabad creates a very welcoming environment…

Hands at the Loom (Part 2)

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder Claremont Rug Company Part 2 of 2 Parts  |  Read Part 1 Click Here  The descendant of a millennia-old tribal people of great historical import and a…
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Majestic Carpets

Increasingly collectible, antique Oriental rugs can transform an interior and transport you to a bygone era or a far-flung region of the world.
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Building a Collection of Antique Art Rugs

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder Claremont Rug Company Carpet collectors vary in terms of living with vis a vis storing their rugs and most do some of both. Here an exemplary 130-year-old Persian Tabriz enriches…

The Four Traditions of Antique Rug Weaving: (1) TRIBAL

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder of Claremont Rug Company Part One of Four Parts(Read Part Two: Village; Part Three: Town; Part Four: City) Qashqai tribal woman on migration surrounded by her family’s flocks. Above…
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The Four Traditions of Antique Rug Weaving: (2) VILLAGE

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder of Claremont Rug Company Part Two of Four Parts (Read Part One: Tribal; Part Three: Town; Part Four: City) Oramon village in Eastern Kurdistan was built in tiers of stone and wood…

The Four Traditions of Antique Rug Weaving: (3) TOWN

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder of Claremont Rug Company Part Three of Four Parts(Read Part One: Tribal; Part Two: Village; Part Four: City) The richly striated red field of this classic 19th century medallion…

The Four Traditions of Antique Rug Weaving: (4) CITY

By Jan David Winitz, President & founder of Claremont Rug Company Part Four of Four Parts(Read Part One: Tribal; Part Two: Village; Part Three: Town) Laver Kirman, 11’ 7” x 17’ 10”, circa 1850—Its exquisite…

How to Look at an Antique Rug (Part 2)

PART TWO OF TWO PARTS By Jan David Winitz,President & founder of Claremont Rug Company A circa 1850 High-Collectible Ferahan Sarouk awash with softly glowing colors achieves a masterful balance between the central medallion…

Free Shipping on Approval

At this time, we are offering free shipping on approval for most rugs. This allows you to view the carpets that interest you in situ before finalizing your purchase, with us absorbing the cost both ways. Contact us at 1-800-441-1332 or info@claremontrug.com…

Intricately crafted 19th-century allover pattern carpets provide luxurious enrichment to grand signature spaces

Enhanced by the inherent balance and refined understatement of an allover Veramin carpet centerpiece, this expansive great hall of a European-inspired residence becomes the scene for fascinated aesthetic immersion. The rhythmic repetition of…

Suite of Four Exquisite Antique Persian Rugs Work in Concert To Create Symphonic Effect In Grand European-Inspired Interior

This image is from a whole home project in a massive lakeside family compound in the High Sierras. Rather than pursuing a single palace-size Persian carpet, the homeowners decided to employ a harmonious series of room size and oversize antique…

Art-Level Antique Rugs & How To Recognize Them

by Jan David Winitz President and Founder, Claremont Rug Company   Part 1 A wide range of Oriental carpets can bring us pleasure and pride of ownership as they grace our homes. Yet, only very few are also strong long-term investments…

Thank You for Viewing the Lakeside Manor Whole Home Collection

Thank you for viewing the Lakeside Manor Whole Home Collection.   Click Here to Advance to the Curated Contemporary Whole Home Collection   Click Here to Advance to the Southern Traditional Penthouse Whole Home Collection   Click…

Wonderfully Compatible Art-level Antique Persian Rugs Naturally Unify This Majestic Room and Complete the Sense of Grandeur

FEATURED IN OUR NEW BROCHURE,Vol. 29, No. 1. This image is from a whole home project in a massive lakeside family compound in the High Sierras. Here, four carpets have been successfully combined to augment the interplay of the different designs…

The Elegantly Proportioned Artistry And Warm Camelhair Tones of Antique Persian Serab Carpets Add a Joyful Central Focus to This Grand Foyer

This image is from a whole home project in a massive lakeside family compound in the High Sierras. Very few carpets are equal to the grandeur of the most opulent and ambitious Beaux Arts-inspired interiors.  This very rare room-size antique…

Rare 19th-Century Persian Serab Camelhair Carpet Perfectly Matches The Preexisting Carpeting and Decor of This Grand Entry

This image is from a whole home project in a massive lakeside family compound in the High Sierras. The right antique art carpet is surprisingly easy to integrate into a pre-existing decorative scheme. Here, the delicate latticework and soft…

Grand Oversize Antique Persian Tribal Rug Amplifies the Breathtaking Splendor of this Two-Story Billiard Room

This image is from a whole home project in a lakeside family compound in the High Sierras. A massive room, especially one that is elegantly wood-paneled from floor to ceiling, necessitates a rich palette of colors to match the sumptuousness…

A Convivial Atmosphere Created by the Colorful Persian Bakhtiari Carpet Fills This Game Room, Including Its Inimitably Crafted Bar

This image is from a whole home project in a massive lakeside family compound in the High Sierras. This stunning 19th-century Bakhtiari carpet’s rich saffron, cobalt blue, coral and green hues create an ambiance, supporting energetic, lively…

Antique Persian Bakhtiari Carpet and Heriz Rug Contribute a Bold, Masculine Quality to This Distinguished Game Room

This image is from a whole home project in a massive lakeside family compound in the High Sierras. A second style of geometric Persian rug from Heriz that enhances the sitting area pairs well with the bold and colorful antique Bakhtiari carpet…

Striking 19th-Century Bijar (Bidjar) Persian Rug With Majestic Center Medallion Provides the Ideal Decorative Solution For Expansive Passageway In Traditional Home

This image is from a whole home project in a massive lakeside family compound in the High Sierras. Only particular Oriental carpets have sufficient character to ground a voluminous space and unify the panoply of color, textural treatments, and…

Elegant Grandeur of Traditional Persian Bijar (Bidjar) Rug Ideally Complements Passageway in Mountain Estate

This image is from a whole home project in a massive lakeside family compound in the High Sierras. The exquisite coloration and graceful contours of a quintessential 19th-century Persian Bijar (Bidjar) carpet are immediately compatible within…

Bijar (Bidjar) Carpet Pair Fills A Formal Interior With Unexpected, Dynamic Energy

This image is from a whole home project in a massive lakeside family compound in the High Sierras. Persian carpets have long been associated with Old World formal interiors, where their luxurious elegance effortlessly complements and enhances…

The Subdued Artistry of Two Complementary Persian Tabriz Rugs Provides an Understated Accent to a Tranquil Bedroom Décor

This image is from a whole home project in a massive lakeside family compound in the High Sierras. The restful low contrast aesthetic of antique Persian Tabriz rugs woven in the style of the famed Hadji Jalili workshop make them the perfect…

The Expertly Crafted, Fascinating Design of This Outstanding 19th-Century Bijar (Bidjar) Resonates with the Beautifully Tooled Antique Desk

Clearly the work of master carpet crafts women at the height of their art, this 19th-century Oriental carpet accords well with the exquisite 18th-century ornamental desk and silver ink well in this regal home office. The incredibly nuanced…

Remarkable Century-old Tribal Rugs Bring Traditional Ambiance to this Stunning Master Bath

Part of a whole home project in a massive lakeside family compound in the High Sierras, our clients wished to extend the traditional ambiance they created throughout their home into the master bathroom, choosing three remarkable century-old…

Copy of Antique Rugs in the City Tradition

Of the four main categories of antique Persian rugs, city rugs are the most refined. These graceful antique rugs were woven in the workshops of master rug designers. The exquisite curvilinear and botanical designs of these antique carpets…

The Transformative Impact of Caucasian Kazak Rugs In Contemporary Home Office Bring Unique Energy, Color and Artistry

The spellbinding graphic artistry and the versality of sizes offered by Kazak rugs make them ideal choices for many spaces in contemporary or traditional décor, such as this sunlit home office. Imagine the satisfaction and intellectual engagement…

Outstanding Circa 1875 Caucasian Kazak In Cozy Fireside Setting Creates Immensely Enriched Space

Small room size antique Persian carpets have long been utilized to enhance the convivial ambiance of a fireside furniture grouping. Area size Caucasian tribal pieces are at least as transformative in this type of intimate setting, presenting…

Kazak Landing Page

Discover the Folkloric Whimsy & Artistic Depth of Caucasian Kazak Rugs With roots to the people who inhabited this majestic Caucasus Mountains since the dawn of history, the tribal weavers who occupied the region’s highest encampments…