David J Wilkins Oriental Rugs

Business Details

Premier Oriental & Persian Rug Specialists in London

Established over four decades ago, David J Wilkins Oriental Rugs has grown from a passionate venture into one of the UK's foremost specialists in handcrafted rugs and carpets. Founded by David Wilkins with the support of his late wife Alice, the business began as a journey through London's wholesale rug import market, cultivating deep expertise in authentic oriental and Persian textiles. In 1991, David's son Alexander joined the enterprise, ensuring continuity as a family-run operation. Our collection spans antique, vintage, and contemporary pieces sourced from traditional weavers across Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, India, China, and beyond, all adhering to ethical practices and time-honoured techniques.

With warehouses in London's Staples Corner (NW2) and Manor House (N4), we offer bespoke services including home visits and private viewings, supported by comprehensive knowledge of rug origins, craftsmanship, and valuation. Our commitment to quality is matched by personalised attention, ensuring clients find pieces that harmonise with both their spaces and budgets while preserving the legacy of handwoven artistry in an era of mass production.

Services

Oriental Rugs Persian Carpets Antique Rugs Vintage Rugs Bespoke Service Home Visits Rug Authentication Ethical Sourcing Large Carpets Rug Valuation

Highlights and features

Family-run business with 40+ years' specialist experience in handwoven rugs
Direct access to London's largest wholesale rug warehouse selection
Comprehensive knowledge of rug origins, valuation, and authentication
Bespoke service with free private parking and home visit options
Ethically sourced antique, vintage, and contemporary pieces available

What people say

Exceptional craftsmanship Expert authentication Wide selection Ethical sourcing Personalised service

Website

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Services

Oriental Rugs

We offer an extensive collection of authentic oriental rugs crafted using traditional hand-knotting techniques. These pieces originate from weaving regions across Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, and India, featuring both geometric nomadic designs and intricate town patterns. Each rug undergoes rigorous quality checks to ensure durability and adherence to heritage craftsmanship standards while maintaining competitive pricing for both new and vintage items.

Persian Carpets

Our Persian carpet selection represents the pinnacle of rug-making tradition from Iran's renowned weaving centres. Available in both modern and antique classifications, these carpets showcase sophisticated designs from cities like Isfahan and Tabriz. We provide expert authentication services to verify age, origin, and weaving techniques while offering comprehensive guidance on colourfastness, material quality, and appropriate underlay requirements for different spaces.

Antique Rugs

Specialising in rugs over 100 years old, our antique collection features rare pieces with historical provenance. We employ traditional evaluation methods to assess age indicators such as knot wear patterns and natural dye gradation. Clients receive detailed documentation about each rug's origin, weaving techniques, and historical context, supported by our team's decades of accumulated expertise in identifying authentic antique textiles.

Bespoke Service

We provide tailored rug acquisition services including private viewings and home visits to assist clients with space-specific selections. Our consultants offer expert advice on size proportions, colour coordination, and rug placement techniques. The service extends to sourcing unusual sizes and facilitating in-situ inspections at our warehouse complex containing thousands of available pieces across multiple quality tiers.

Rug Authentication

Our authentication service combines practical experience with technical knowledge of rug construction characteristics. We assess factors including knot density, dye composition, and design evolution patterns to determine age and origin. Clients receive clear explanations of distinguishing features that verify authenticity, supported by our ability to cross-reference pieces against our extensive inventory of documented rugs from various weaving traditions.

People

David Wilkins

Founder

With over four decades in the rug trade, David established this business through direct engagement with London's wholesale import market. His expertise encompasses rug authentication, weaving techniques, and market valuation, cultivated through extensive field research in producing countries.

Alexander Wilkins

Director

Joining the business in 1991, Alexander continues the family tradition with specialist knowledge of Persian and oriental rug production. He travels regularly to weaving regions, maintaining direct contacts with artisans while providing expert guidance to clients on rug selection and care.

Questions

What types of rugs do you offer?

We specialise in hand-knotted oriental and Persian rugs from Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, India, and China, including antique, vintage, and contemporary pieces across all size categories.

How can I verify a rug's authenticity?

Our team uses traditional evaluation methods examining knot patterns, dye composition, and design characteristics. We provide detailed explanations of age indicators and origin verification during private consultations.

Do you offer home visits?

Yes, we provide home visits to help clients select appropriate rugs for their spaces, including size recommendations and underlay advice with no additional charges.

Are large carpets available?

We are one of the few dealers able to source exceptionally large Persian carpets, with regular stock of oversized pieces and access to specialist weavers for custom requirements.

How are prices determined?

Pricing reflects factors including age, origin, knot density, and material quality. Our transparent pricing structure covers new production rugs, with antique pieces individually assessed based on rarity and condition.

What payment options exist?

We accept major credit cards and bank transfers. All prices include VAT, with flexible payment arrangements available for high-value antique rug purchases upon request.