People love them because they don't require special attention, and they last. That's the secret, says Bergi Andonian, vice-president of Renaissance Carpets in New York and an internationally recognized expert on Orientals. It is an appreciation of tradition, history and place. Some appreciate them as art, others purchase only for investment. Restorations would cut the price in half.
Reproductions sell for considerably less, most of the time.
Edmund Hagopian says today's new homeowners aren't interested in a fussy, finely detailed Oriental rug in subtle hues. It's a reflection of our casual lifestyle. People come home, kick off their shoes and want to get comfortable. Because the trade ban with Iran was lifted last year, handmade Persian rugs now are flooding the market. Right after we were married, my husband and I went out and bought it.