“Because of their tight weave, vintage Persian rugs especially take spills well ... in pile height,” Prince explains. “These flaws add character, just like signs of wear in other antique ...

In other words, it’s just right for discreetly carrying a couple of rolled up 19th-century Oriental rugs worth a small fortune. The 60-year-old Mr. Winitz sells antique Persian carpets ...

Like many of the thousands of visitors who packed into a Persian carpet exhibition in Tehran, Mohammad could not afford to buy the exquisite rugs — he simply wanted to touch the fine ...

Collectors in Asia and the Middle East are now investing in Persian rugs with the same enthusiasm they are showing for rare, valuable contemporary works.