Informative, non-commercial resources of interest to area rugs collectors

Marla Mallett Textiles and Tribal Oriental Rugs
This site by the author of Woven Structures: A Guide to Oriental Rug and Textile Analysis features 3100 photos that illustrate a variety of textile art topics concerning antique tribal oriental rugs, kilims, tapestries and ethnic textiles from around the world.

Oriental Rug and Textile Books
Dennis B. Marquand Oriental Rug and Textile Books' website is focused solely on books you can buy on oriental rugs, carpets and other ethnographic and historical textiles. It includes full collections of publications such as Hali: Hali - The International Magazine of Antique Carpet and Textile Art and Oriental Rug Review Magazine."

International Conference on Oriental Carpets
This conference began in 1976 and features exhibitions. Probably the most notable are "The Eastern Carpet in the Western World" & "Carpet Magic" (London 1983), "Orient Stars" (Hamburg 1993), and "Studies in Colour and Geometry: Turkish Pile Carpets from the Christopher Alexander Collection" & "Anatolian Kilims: The McCoy Jones Collection" (San Francisco, 1990). As well as exhibitions from museum collections worldwide, ICOC exhibitions have always featured the collections of "local" collectors, such as "Oriental Rugs from Atlantic Collections" (Philadelphia 1996). In addition, since 1986, the conference has hosted an ever more successful Dealers' Fair. An international conference exists on many levels. As a forum for academic papers, it also serves as a godfather to research. The conference also provides a good meeting place to discuss fashions in rugs and theories. Perfect for newcomers because of the easily understandable forums.

Afghan War Rugs
People desire the ownership of an Oriental rug or carpet. Epitomizing the idea of luxury and wealth or bestowing status upon the individual the Oriental rug has found a certain place in the culture of Europe and America. Seen today as an important sector in the Fine Arts market, quality old and antique rugs and carpets command high prices, equal to those demanded by the best of English furniture, clocks and silver. It is not unusual to see a rug sold at auction for over £10,000 and indeed much more. Site includes the history behind Afghan rugs, a section on collecting, a gallery of Afghan rugs, and more.

Collectors Cafe
This site contains information for collectors, including everything from baseball cards to musical items. By searching for the tug section, you'll be brought to a section for rug collectors. Site discusses types of rugs to collect, and a brief history about rugs. Site includes classifieds, a chat room, an article library and more resources for rug collectors.

Visit the site for more resources: RugCollecting.com

Here are examples of reviews of resources on the craft of area rugs.

For Area Rugs Collectors & Aficionados