Henry's Auktionshaus AG in Mutterstadt Germany will hold a special sale of over 316 collectible antique carpet and rugs on 11th June 2016. The highlight of the auction is lot 7116, the Anton Danker Ladik coupled-column prayer rug from the 17th century. Also of note is lot 7125, a unique Knoya Karapinar Kilim with a so-called stepped mihrab pattern, The piece dates from the 18th century. A number of 19th century rugs and carpets like lot 7277. a Persian Bakhshaish carpet, and some fine quality town carpets from Persia will be offered. In addition, the selection includes an important collection of Transylvanian rugs and an important collection of early Anatolian Kilims, silk rugs, tribal pieces, Luri gabbehs, Pictorial rugs, tapestries, Turkmen rugs, suzanis and much more. Closer to home London's Oriental Rug Centre continues to import an impressive selection of Moroccan rugs and carpets, which tend to cater for the contemporary market, along with the huge selection of traditional Persian and Afghan pieces. David J.Wilkins oriental rugs experts would also like to remind there customers that they are now open on Saturday's at London's Staples Corner NW2. www.orientalrugexperts.com  

Bruun Rasmussen's upcoming international sale includes 53 Oriental rugs, carpets and tapestries. The sale starts on the 1st of June and the preview will be open to the public 26th-30th May 2016. Most of the Oriental carpets and rugs  in this auction are from Persia with some rugs and carpets from Turkmenistan and the Caucuses. By every measure this year's DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR trade fair, which was held in Shanghai China and ran from 22nd-24th March 2016, was a resounding success. DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR is already regarded as the leading international flooring show in the Asia-Pacific region, and in 2016 it attracted more exhibitors and visitors than ever before. Some 1,303 companies from 39 nations, showcased the latest products to an audience of 50,389, including many handmade rugs and carpets. www.orientalrugexperts.com

The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum Lisbon is hosting an exhibition of Fine Kum Kapi carpets. The museum is drawing on little known items from its collection to display a handful of very fine Istanbul workshop rugs. Calouste Gulbenkian traveled widely and amasses over 6,400 objects of art, among them textiles. The exhibition connects two artists from different times and places who share a common past that ties in with the life story of Gulbenkian himself. Three of the carpets in the exhibition are by Hagop Kapoudjian (1870-1946), one of the most famous Kum Kapi master weavers. The Kum Kapi rug exhibition runs until September 18th 2016. www.orientalrugexperts.com

How do you know that Kashmir silk rug is genuine or if you're getting a good deal on that amazing carpet at the Turkish Bazaar ? Well the rule of thumb is simple, research, research, research. There's no doubt window shopping and spontaneous spending is fun, but if you're looking to make a major purchase, you'll want to do your homework to make sure you're getting a good deal and the real deal. David Wilkins is one of London's leading Oriental rug experts, and says we are now entering the silly season, when holiday makers return from sunny climes with their proud purchases, including Oriental rugs and carpets suddenly discover they could of purchased their rug much cheaper in London, and for some unfortunate people their precious rug is not even handmade making it virtually worthless. As we mentioned before there is no substitute to research when making a large purchase, such as a Persian carpet or Oriental rug. So who do you go to, well David J.Wilkins Oriental rug experts London has been in the business for over 35 years and the company is now run by his son Alexander. Their will show you around London's Importing Oriental rug warehouses making sure you get the right rug for the right price and with the added assurance that they only deal in genuine handmade Oriental rugs and carpets. The warehouses are open Monday to Saturday with free onsite parking. www.orientalrugexperts.com Tel:0207 722 7608    

The Austria Auction Company will hold their next special carpet auction on the 30th April 2016 at the Palais Breuner Vienna. The auction preview will be open to the public 27th April -29th April, and on the day of the auction 30th April 11am-3pm. This antique oriental rugs auction includes 216 lots, and among them tribal bags, Kilims, ancient textile fragments and antique oriental rugs from Persia, Anatolia, Caucasus, Baluchistan, Kurdistan, China and Turkmenistan. www.orientalrugexperts.com

With the lifting of sanction against Iran the next big adventure is the opening up of Iran's tourist industry. Many company's have already put together itinerary's to include some of the wonderful sights that Iran (Persia) has to offer. Persepolis the ancient capitol of the Persian empire and UNESCO world heritage site, will be number one on there list, all so the beautiful city of Isfahan another world heritage site. Masoud Soltanifar, director of Iran's cultural heritage, handicrafts and tourism organisation (ICHHTO), said he hopes to attract 20 million visitors a year by 2025, generating up to $30 billion in revenues. British Airways will resume direct flights to Tehran in July this year, which should encourage the tourism industry to take Iran (Persia) very seriously as a major new destination for the intrepid traveler. If your now thinking of nipping out to Iran to purchase that Persian carpet you've always wanted then think again prices are quite high for the tours and negotiating for that special Persian rug or carpet in the bazaars could prove very costly. Alex Wilkins of David J.Wilkins Oriental Rug Experts thinks that you would be better off purchasing your Persian carpet through a reputable dealer here in the UK, In London we have a huge selection of Persian rugs and carpets and with the added benefit of knowing the dealer and all the protection of UK consumer law. www.orientalrugexperts.com

Last month David J.Wilkins had the great pleasure of hosting Dan Kitwood a photo journalist for Getty Images London, who shot some wonderful photos of the Oriental Rug Centre at Staples Corner London. Getty Images had requested the shoot in response to many requests for photos of Persian rugs and carpets being imported into the UK since the lifting of the US embargo on Iranian products. No doubt you will see these great photos in articles all over the world, but take a peep on our Facebook page or Google + page for a preview. At the Oriental Rug Centre we are importing large amounts of new stock including Persian, Afghan, Indian, Pakistan, and Moroccan rugs and carpets, so why not call us and come and have a look around and remember we are now open on Saturday at the Oriental Rug Centre Staples Corner London. www.orientalrugexperts.com

London's Oriental Rug Centre is expecting its first shipment of Persian rugs and carpets from Iran, since the lifting of the US trade embargo. At David J.Wilkins Oriental Rug Experts, we are looking forward to viewing the new stock which includes Persian Gabbeh and many other assorted Persian rugs and carpets. These Persian rugs will be available for customers to view and purchase from the 1st April. Please call for an appointment Tel: 0207 722 7608, www.orientalrugexperts.com Berlin's Bode Museum is to host an important exhibition, The Madonna of the Wurth collection and masterworks of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. it is devoted to the work of Hans Holbein the younger (ca. 1497-1543), one of the great portrait painters of the Renaissance, whose name has become synonymous with certain early types of classical Anatolian carpets. The exhibition will run until 8th May 2016. Christie's are holding an online auction of rugs, featuring both colourful and monochromatic undyed 20th century weaving from Morocco, Turkey, the Caucasus and Ecuador. With arresting graphic designs, this collection of rugs and carpets exemplifies the range and varying weaving techniques of the Moroccan tribes in the Middle and high Atlas.

A huge new shipment of handmade Moroccan rugs and carpets has just arrived at London's Oriental Rug Centre. Our supplier at David J.Wilkins Oriental Rug Experts has been visiting Morocco several times in past year, travelling deep into the Atlas mountains and working with the Bedouin weavers to produce a far superior product than you would normally find from this area. Call us at www.orientalrugexperts.com to get a preview of this great selection of Moroccan rugs and carpets.

HALI Magazine will return to London's Art & Antique Fair at Olympia on 27th June-3rd July 2016, with a select group of dealers. Also in the news is Skinner's Spring Rug Auction on 13th March 2016 in Boston USA. It features a number of early pieces most of which come from private collections and estates. There are several early Chinese rugs, including a 16th century Ming dynasty carpet fragment estimated between $8,000-$10,000, and a silk pile and metal thread 'Imperial' carpet estimated between $20,000-$25,000. At London's Oriental Rug Centre a large shipment of modern Afghan Ikat rugs has arrived. These rugs look to be a modern contemporary design carpet, but are in fact a variation of the traditional Ikat designs using vegetable dyes and hand spun Ghazni wool. At David J.Wilkins Oriental rug experts we think these modern Ikat rugs and carpets are a great way to achieve that contemporary look with out paying the huge prices for western designed rugs. www.orientalrugexperts.com