Hagop Manoyan was born in Istanbul in 1964. As the grandson of a carpet dealer he had grown up within the business and was naturally drawn into it as a career. In 1980 he began work as a carpet restorer in his native city, studying under the renowned master, Migirdic Agasyan Zotikoglu. Migirdic had in fact developed a new and far more practical technique which repaired the rugs from the back rather than the front, and which yielded superior results. The workshop soon attracted an elite clientele, comprising high-ranking Turkish politicians, diplomats, collectors, and rug dealers from all over the world. Often clients would drop in just to admire the quality and beauty of the restoration work. Hagop moved to London in 1989, where he worked as a master restorer for four years while also training others in the new and superior techniques he had acquired back home. He worked two more years in London before moving on to New York in 1994.
While acquiring and honing his skills as a restorer, Hagop had also built up his experience in the buying and selling of antique rugs and carpets. He had already become involved acquiring and selling fine antique rugs in his native Istanbul, and during his sojourn in London, Hagop continued buying and selling these fine rugs as well as working to restore them. He began traveling all over the United Kingdom and Europe in search of the finest pieces. After moving to New York, Hagop continued with his devotion to acquisition and sales, establishing a wide network of international connections with dealers and clients around the globe - across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Hagop has always striven to provide his clients with the best in quality at the most reasonable prices. As a master restorer, he can ensure that his rugs are mostly in original condition, with the exception of highly rare and early museum quality pieces, where damage is more acceptable and restoration minimal.
Hagop deals in antique carpets and textiles of all kinds, but he specializes above all in Caucasian, Anatolian, Persian, Turkmen, and Belutch rugs, and those of Europe as well. He also offers tribal trappings and bags, along with kilims, soumaks, and other flatweaves. Together with the invaluable assistance of his wife Kozet, who is very helpful in every aspect of the business, Hagop remains one of the most active dealers of collectible rugs, participating in antique and trade shows all over the United States and Europe. His office-gallery is located in mid-town Manhattan, where he would be happy to meet with you, share his knowledge, and answer any questions you may have.