Professional rug valuation
An Informed Basis for Insurance Cover
Oriental Rug Services Ltd prepares specialist assessments led by H. Behnam. Each valuation considers the individual work, its origin, age, construction, materials, condition and relevant replacement context.
What an assessment considers
Origin and period. Regional attribution, weaving traditions and an informed estimate of age.
Materials and technique. Pile, foundation, knots, dyes, structure and relevant physical characteristics.
Condition and previous interventions. Wear, repairs and factors affecting the possibility of finding an equivalent piece.
Market and replacement evidence. Where evidence is available, comparable pieces, rarity and the practical challenge of sourcing a replacement.
Insurance value and resale value are different
A written insurance replacement valuation is a dated professional opinion of what a comparable item may cost to obtain. It is not a guarantee of an insurer’s settlement value, a resale estimate or an auction estimate. Market conditions, policy wording, excesses and other insurer requirements may affect the outcome.
Use with your insurer or broker
Insurers vary in how they require valuable items to be declared, documented or revalued. Ask your insurer or broker whether a particular report format, photographic record, named valuer or review interval is required before commissioning an assessment.
Identification, authentication and the purpose of a valuation
“How much is my Persian rug worth?” may mean several things. Identification considers what a piece is likely to be; authentication concerns the confidence and evidence behind an attribution. A market or auction estimate addresses a possible sale, while an insurance replacement valuation addresses the cost of obtaining a comparable piece. These are not interchangeable.
H. Behnam’s examination informs the assessment of origin, construction, materials, age and condition. Ask what can be established from the available evidence and whether further specialist investigation would be needed. A formal certificate or third-party accreditation should not be assumed from an initial opinion.
Inherited rugs and supporting records
Owners in Twickenham, Richmond and Mayfair can begin with photographs, dimensions, purchase papers and any known family history. Confirm the purpose of the assessment and your insurer’s requirements before commissioning a report.
Further reading: understanding a rug as an asset, questions about identification and a past purchase, and passing a rug down as an heirloom. If treatment is also needed, see our repair and restoration approach.