This article is part of Jozan Magazine’s ongoing series of personal portraits from the oriental rug world, highlighting the experiences and perspectives of dealers, researchers, and experts.

Robert Mosby is the founder of Antique Oriental Rugs, based in Florida, and has been active in the trade for over five decades. From a chance discovery in an Ohio antique shop to becoming one of the first rug dealers on eBay, Mosby’s story is a mix of intuition, mentorship, and market foresight. His passion for collecting has shaped one of the world’s largest inventories of antique Art Deco Chinese rugs.

My life in the rug business started in 1970 in Cincinnati, Ohio. I was browsing an antique store and bought two rugs for $150—not knowing what they were. A few weeks later, I passed a respected antique rug shop downtown. I walked in, showed them my rugs, and the owner offered me $1,600 on the spot.

That man was Richard Markarian, one of the most famous antique rug dealers in the U.S.—maybe in the world. I accepted the offer, and that moment changed my life. I eventually went to work for him, and on my third day, I sold two rugs to a college professor for $20,000. Markarian called me into his office and told me I’d just made the store’s biggest sale that month.

I spent five years under his mentorship. He taught me everything—identification, construction, repair, and the history behind every rug. When I eventually left to start my own business, he helped fund it. I owe him everything: my first sale, my love of collecting, and a career that’s now lasted 55 years.

In 1997, a friend told me he’d sold a rug I wanted for $8,000—on something called eBay. I had never heard of it. My wife Holly and I didn’t know the first thing about websites or even computers, but she learned quickly. We became one of the first antique rug dealers on eBay.

E-commerce changed everything. Suddenly, the world was our marketplace. I could buy more, hold more, and—most importantly—collect more.

I became especially drawn to antique Caucasian, Turkish, and Chinese rugs. I carved out a niche in Art Deco and Peking rugs, which weren’t very popular at the time. While 9×12 Decos were selling for $500, I was quietly building a massive inventory. One dealer in Macau gave me the idea that I could build a strong domestic market. It worked.

Today, I have one of the world’s largest collections of antique Art Deco Chinese rugs. https://antiqueorientalrugs.com/product-category/chinese-rugs/art-deco-chinese-rugs/

Our business grew. Holly and I traveled the world—through Oriental bazaars and back-room deals—always on the hunt. At some point, Holly told me, “You’re buying more than you’re selling.”

By 2020, our inventory had grown to over 1,100 rugs.

What can I say? I love rugs. I’ve loved them since the first one I ever saw. Of course, I’ve broken the golden rule Mr. Markarian taught me: Don’t fall in love with the inventory!

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Interview conducted by Ivan Sønderholm for Jozan Magazine. Edited with permission from Robert Mosby.