Would You Pay £5,442,000 for a Rug? Yes!

On October 27, 2022, Christie’s auction house in London sold a rare Mughal imperial rug from around 1650 for over five million pounds. Why would someone pay such a hefty sum for a small antique rug? This unique rug, once part of Emperor Shah Jahan of India’s court, is a never-before-auctioned masterpiece. It’s one of […]

After all, what is the meaning of the term boteh?

Figalli Oriental Rugs consistently highlights the boteh design when it’s woven into any carpet in our collection. But what does this design signify? What’s its history? Why it enjoys global popularity? You’ll discover that the history of boteh is far more complex than its simple form implies. Figalli Oriental Rugs consistently highlights the boteh design […]

Why Antique Rugs Stand Out

Antique rugs, with their vibrant hues, superior quality, and intriguing history, are unparalleled to modern imitations. Here’s why: Unmatchable Colors Antique rugs, handwoven in Persia, Anatolia, India, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, are made from naturally dyed wool from sheep grazed in high mountains. Their colors outlast synthetic wool colors and offer a richness of […]

Rugs Made for Royalty: The Superlative of Textile Artistic Expression

In Asia, rugs are woven works of art produced at all levels of society. Women have been weaving for centuries in villages throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. Their artistic creations were traded or made for personal use. Rugs served a utilitarian function and a visual expression of the artist’s mind. However, rugs were […]

Why Choose Figalli Oriental Rugs

Figalli specializes in offering unique, rarely-found antique Persian, Caucasian, and Indian rugs, characterized by individuality and exceptional artistic quality. We provide extraordinary pieces that embody uniqueness and joy. If you value art, history, and refinement, Figalli is your destination. Our collection features rugs crafted with artistic excellence during the mid-19th to early 20th century, known […]

How is a carpet made?

Sheep’s wool, particularly from the shoulders and neck, known as cork wool, is the primary material in carpet making. Post-shearing, weavers select the wool, differentiating sheep’s hair from wool upon close examination. The thread is then segregated to achieve uniformity. The wool is river-washed, dried, and combed using a sharp instrument to detangle the fibers […]

The First Golden Age of Persian Carpets. The art of the Safavid Dynasty and its Legacy

The Safavid Empire (1501-1722), founded by Shah Esma’il I, swiftly conquered territories including Persia, Armenia, the Caucasus, Turkestan, and Afghanistan. The Safavids, deeply interested in arts, established schools in Tabriz and later in Isfahan under Shah Abbas. These schools taught ceramics, tile work, miniature painting, metal arts, silk brocade, velvet making, book arts, illuminations, manuscript […]

Rug Care Guide

Antique and delicate oriental rugs, like all art objects, require proper care. Preservation is more important than ever, but know that maintaining antique rugs is not difficult, and Figalli Oriental Rugs is with you every step of the way. Like any valuable art object, an antique rug needs periodic care to ensure its beauty and […]

Should I Restore My Antique Rug?

The decision to restore antique rugs often hinges more on their value than aesthetics. This complex question is influenced by several factors, primarily how restoration impacts a rug’s value – it can either enhance or diminish it. The initial step is to evaluate the cost of restoration. Modern rugs, lacking intrinsic value, are typically not […]

Kerman – A Persian Garden inside your home

Possessing an antique Persian rug is akin to housing a vibrant, picturesque garden indoors. Typically, a vase design rug showcases one or multiple vases brimming with flowers, dispersed across the carpet. These rugs, which can feature a single prominent vase or numerous smaller ones, are among the most visually stunning and exquisite antique Persian rugs […]