Coveted Carpets

Carpets don’t just provide comfort and cosiness in the home; they can add a refreshing and colourful touch to any interior. We asked three carpet enthusiasts about their purchases – and some tips for buying the right ones.

Professor David Stringer and Dr Irene Lim, Singaporean

We first met Mr Abid Mir in London in the early 1970s, when Lotto Carpets was in Bond Street. I renewed acquaintance again when I relocated to Singapore in 2001 and found he was here. Unfortunately, he passed away, but his son Imran Mir now looks after the business in the same meticulous way as his father. They are two of the most knowledgeable carpet dealers I’ve come across in the last 50 years that I have been collecting. They are scrupulously honest and will tell you the real facts about their carpets and hence are totally trustworthy – that’s why I can thoroughly recommend Lotto Carpets. Novice buyers can be so totally easily taken in by others;  I would also strongly advise not to buy at auction unless you know a lot about the subject. 

If you buy an older piece from a reputable store like Lotto Carpets, it’s a real investment which you cannot lose on, and, more importantly, you can enjoy for many years. We have about 40 carpets, all from the 16th to late 19th century.