Peter Pap has been dealing in antique oriental rugs for over 30 years.

Peter’s first job after high school was as a stock boy at a Boston rug store, where he immediately recognized the unique and beautiful nature of the antique rugs traded in by clients, as opposed to the modern production rugs sold by his employer. Although antique rugs were largely unpopular at the time, Peter was drawn to their timeless beauty and was confident that there was a larger market for them.

A year and half later, he set out on his own. Luckily for Peter, a remarkable number of antique rugs were coming onto the market from old homes and estates throughout New England. Over the next ten years, Peter sold primarily to Europeans, who at that time still had a greater appreciation for antique rugs than Americans. Gradually, Peter began exhibiting in antiques shows throughout the US, helping to build a greater domestic awareness and appreciation of antique oriental rugs as art.

Peter now has galleries in Dublin, New Hampshire, and San Francisco, and an office in New York City. He has lectured throughout the country at various antique shows, rug societies, and museums. He has been featured in articles in the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, GQ, Elle Décor, and House Beautiful, and has been a regular appraiser on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow and The Martha Stewart Living Radio Show.