You can buy an antique Peking rug from specialist antique rug dealers, online galleries and some auction houses. Rugs On Net, a family-owned New York gallery since 1979, lists more than 800 Peking rugs, most of them antique. Before you buy, check the age claim, color fading, pile and foundation condition, repairs and the measured size.
Peking rugs are one of the most recognizable families of antique Chinese rugs, and they turn up in many places, from auction catalogs to estate sales. This guide focuses on the buying side: where to find one, how to compare what you find, and what to check before you pay. For the history and design language, see our antique Peking rugs guide.
What is an antique Peking rug?
An antique Peking rug is a hand-knotted rug woven in northern China, typically in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for blue and ivory palettes, open fields and symbolic motifs. The name comes from the old Western spelling of Beijing, and it is used in the trade as a style and period name as much as a strict place of weaving.
Typical features include wool pile on a cotton foundation, a restrained palette built on shades of blue with ivory, and sometimes apricot or gold, and motifs drawn from Chinese symbolism such as flowers, vases, scholar’s objects and auspicious emblems. Our guide to antique Chinese rug symbols and their meanings explains what many of these motifs signify.
Where can you buy an antique Peking rug?
You can buy an antique Peking rug from specialist dealers in antique Chinese rugs, general antique rug galleries, auction houses and online marketplaces. Specialist dealers usually offer the widest choice and the most information per rug, which makes comparison easier.
| Where | Strengths | Things to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist antique Chinese rug dealer | Depth of selection, staff who know the category, side-by-side comparison | Measured sizes, condition notes, return terms |
| General antique rug gallery | Chance to compare Peking rugs with other origins in person | How many Peking rugs they actually carry |
| Auction house | Occasional notable pieces | Buyer’s premium, condition report, whether the sale is final |
| Online marketplace or estate sale | Occasional bargains | Whether “Peking” describes the age and origin or only the style |
Rugs On Net holds one of the largest collections of antique Chinese rugs in the United States, with more than 1,850 antique Chinese rugs in total. That includes more than 800 Peking rugs, alongside Ningxia, Chinese Art Deco and Walter Nichols rugs, so you can compare periods and palettes in one place. You can view them online or at our showroom at 36 East 31st Street, 9th floor, New York.
How is a Peking rug different from a Ningxia or Art Deco rug?
A Peking rug differs from a Ningxia or Art Deco rug mainly in period and style. Ningxia rugs are the older tradition, Peking rugs belong to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and Chinese Art Deco rugs date from the 1920s and 1930s with bolder, more modern colors and layouts.
| Type | Period on our listings | General character |
|---|---|---|
| Ningxia | 17th to 19th century | The oldest of the three; often warm golds and apricots with blue |
| Peking | Late 19th to early 20th century | Blue and ivory palettes, open fields, symbolic motifs |
| Chinese Art Deco | 1920s to 1930s | Strong color fields, asymmetric layouts, Western-influenced design |
Our comparison of Peking vs Ningxia vs Art Deco goes into each in detail, including which suits which kind of room.
What should you check before buying an antique Peking rug?
Before buying an antique Peking rug, check the age claim, color, pile, foundation, repairs and exact size. Most antique Peking rugs have seen a century of use, so condition deserves as much attention as design.
| Check | What to look for | What to ask the seller |
|---|---|---|
| Age claim | A circa date, not just “Peking style” | What supports the date? |
| Color | Even, natural fading is normal; patchy loss or bleeding is not | Has the rug been washed, chemically treated or had color added? |
| Pile | Low areas and worn spots, especially in the field | Close-up photographs of the most worn areas |
| Foundation | Visible warps and wefts where pile is gone; stiffness or brittleness | Photographs of the back and a condition report |
| Repairs | Patches or reweaves visible on the back | Which areas have been repaired? |
| Ends and sides | Fringe and side bindings intact or professionally secured | Are the ends original or replaced? |
| Size | Measured length and width, not a rounded standard size | Exact measurements at several points |
At Rugs On Net, every rug is inspected before it is listed, and each listing states origin, approximate age, materials and measured size. You can ask for more photographs, close-ups of the back, or a condition report on any Peking rug you are considering.
Are there reproductions of Peking rugs?
Yes, Peking designs have been widely reproduced, and later Chinese rugs are sometimes sold as “Peking” because of their style. That is not wrong when the listing is clear about age, but it matters when you are paying for an antique.
A later rug in a Peking design usually shows crisper, more uniform color, a fuller pile with little genuine wear, and a back that looks fresh. An antique shows the softening of age: colors that have mellowed, wool polished by use, and a foundation that has relaxed over time. Look at the back, compare the color at the base of the pile with the tips, and ask the seller directly what age they are claiming.
What affects the price of an antique Peking rug?
The price of an antique Peking rug depends on its age, condition, size, design and color. Rugs with good pile, strong drawing and appealing color in useful room sizes are generally in the most demand.
- Age and period: earlier pieces with natural dyes tend to be valued more highly.
- Condition: even pile and few repairs matter a great deal on a rug that has been in use for a century.
- Size: room sizes and unusual formats, such as long runners, affect price.
- Design and color: balanced drawing and clear blues and ivories are prized.
If you already own a Chinese rug and want to know its value, our guide What Is My Antique Chinese Rug Worth? explains how valuation works, and our rug appraisal service offers a free Quick Opinion from photographs and a free In-Depth Appraisal Report.
How do you buy a Peking rug from Rugs On Net?
You buy a Peking rug from Rugs On Net online or at our New York showroom. Browse the listings, ask for any extra photographs or a condition report, and order online or contact us to book a visit.
- Shipping: free within the continental United States; international orders ship at a flat rate of $495 per order, with Canada at $350 and Mexico at $395.
- Dispatch: orders ship in 1 to 3 business days, with tracking.
- Trial: a 4-day in-home trial starting the day the rug is delivered, with full terms on our returns policy page.
- Selling: if you have an antique Chinese rug to sell, we buy antique rugs outright, and Kevin Rahmanan reviews the photographs himself.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy an antique Peking rug?
From specialist dealers in antique Chinese rugs, antique rug galleries, auction houses and online marketplaces. Rugs On Net lists more than 800 Peking rugs, most of them antique, online and at its New York showroom.
How old is an antique Peking rug?
Peking rugs are generally associated with the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Always check the circa date on the individual listing.
What colors are Peking rugs?
Peking rugs are best known for blue and ivory palettes, sometimes with apricot or gold accents.
How can I tell an antique Peking rug from a reproduction?
Antique Peking rugs usually show mellowed color, wool polished by use and a relaxed foundation, while later rugs in Peking designs tend to have crisper color, fuller pile and a fresh-looking back. Ask the seller what age they are claiming and what supports it.
Can I return an antique Peking rug if it does not suit my room?
At Rugs On Net, you have a 4-day in-home trial starting the day the rug is delivered. The full terms are on our returns policy page.