The Eastern Rug Gallery was established in Auckland in 1986 by founder Neejat Kavvas. It is now one of the Ross Holmes Group of companies having been acquired by Ross Holmes Group Limited in February 2006.

Managing Director Ross Holmes had been a client of the Eastern Rug Gallery for many years. By reopening the Eastern Rug Gallery in bigger and better premises at 1a Ride Way Albany, North Shore City, Auckland Ross ensured that he and other New Zealanders could continue to acquire the top quality rugs which made the Eastern Rug Gallery New Zealand s leading eastern rug gallery.

Our team is heading by General Manager Andy Vann. Rug expert Ken Lilburn, (who has been with the Eastern Rug Gallery since 1986) continues to provide expert advice to our clients, as well as New Zealand's best rug repair and rug washing service.

All of the Eastern Rug Gallery's rugs are personally selected by our consultant Nejat Kavvas who is a leading eastern rug expert. Nejat was born into a Turkish family with a heritage of trading in fine Oriental rugs and carpets. He was a co-founder of Bazaar 54, one of the largest international chains of rug galleries with headquarters in the ancient trading centre of Istanbul, and speaks most of the Middle Eastern languages.

Nejat Kavvas

"Through my wife I was introduced to this beautiful country, and fell in love with it. When I opened the Eastern Rug Gallery in Auckland I was determined that it would offer the same selection, high quality and competitive prices that are avaliable in the best galleries of Istanbul and Tehran.

"Each year I return to the villages and bazaars of the Middle East to select the best handwoven originals. The richness of colour and diversity of design to be found in Oriental rugs has charmed the world for centuries. No other item of furnishing has the easy ability to transform a room, complementing and enhancing the existing design elements rather than conflicting with them.

"Antique rugs command high prices on world markets and are treasured by museums, yet the patterns and colours, the skills and craftsmanship which you buy today for such modest prices are thousands of years old. Whether you are seeking a collector's piece or an item for decor your investment represents lasting good value for my discerning clients."