Meet the “rug expert”; Mark Gonsenhauser

We are a second generation rug and carpet business that was first established in Cape Town South Africa in 1936. Mark Gonsenhauser continued his family’s tradition in the United States with his first “Rug & Carpet Superstore” in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1984. Our chain of stores upholds his ideal of offering exceptional quality area rugs and carpets at wholesale prices.

Mark has traveled and worked all over the world to learn the art of making rugs and carpets. His journeys have taken him to Persia, Nepal, Tibet, India, Switzerland, Germany and the United States, to name a few. He lived and worked in the bazaars’ of Iran where he visited all of the rug making villages to obtain a hands-on knowledge of the Oriental rug business. Mark traveled to various cities in Europe where he worked for antique rug dealers to further his knowledge in this facet of the trade.

Here, in the United States, Mark has worked with some of the top designers, decorators and architects to gain a full knowledge of the custom rug business.

Mark has taught numerous Oriental rug courses as part of the continuing education program at Old Dominion University.

Mark is a guest curator at the world renowned Chrysler Museum of Art where he staged a very important exhibition of 17^th and 18^th century antique Persian prayer rugs.

Mark is certified as an appraiser by the Oriental Rug Retailers Association. With his experience he can identify a rug’s age, quality, type and country of origin.

Mark Gonsenhauser is truly an Oriental rug expert in every sense of the word. He has working knowledge of the rug trade both nationally and internationally. He travels to the Middle East to buy rugs every 6 months, thereby having an up-to-date knowledge of the wholesale prices of rugs all over the world.

We presently carry a full selection of oriental and antique rugs, as well as decorative and contemporary area rugs and carpets at wholesale prices. Be sure to visit our eBay store to find an exceptional price for your rug purchase today!

Please contact us if you are looking for a particular rug style, size or color combination. We will be happy to help you! 

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