Do you own a magic carpet? Peter Francis, leading South Wales Fine Art and Antiques Valuers and Auctioneers and winner of the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers award for Best Fine Art and Auction House of the Year 2015, have added an Oriental rug, carpet and textile valuer to their panel of experts.

David Gardner, who has over 35 years experience of buying and selling antique, old and new rugs and textiles from weaving areas around the world, has joined the team in Carmarthen in order to help develop this area of their sales and valuation service.

Nigel Hodson, principal and managing director, explained: “The field of oriental rugs and textiles is a complex and diverse one in which David has acquired an in-depth knowledge over the years. He has been advising us in an ad hoc way for some time now, and we felt that it would help our service to customers if we were to make the arrangement on a more formal and professional basis.”

David’s role will be to advise the auctioneers’ clients on the identification and likely sale or insurance value of their items, to source items for sale, and to catalogue the rug, carpet and textile sections of the fortnightly furnishings, interiors and collector’s sales and of the quarterly fine art and antiques sales.

David’s advice is always to seek a professional opinion before getting rid of any old heirloom carpets and textiles.

“A large threadbare and holed Turkish carpet sold through these auction rooms not long back for £7,000,” he said, “and even small tribal pieces from the 19th Century can fetch surprising sums. There is a strong market for the right pieces amongst collectors globally, particularly on the continent and in America and these buyers are actively watching our sales and bidding on the Internet with a view to adding to their collections.”

You are invited to bring in your rugs and textiles to the saleroom or to a local valuation day or initially send in photographs of your items, and you might discover that you have been standing on a ‘magic carpet’ all this time!