Inaugural Antique Rug Trunk Show and Lecture at the Meeting House

The Tiverton Four Corners Arts Center will present, Understanding Antique Rugs: Exploring the History and Learning the Finer Points of Color and Design in Rugs Woven Before 1900, an illustrated lecture by internationally respected rug scholar, collector, author, and educator Peter Pap, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Guests will enjoy a preview of the trunk show before it opens to the public on August 5. The lecture will be followed by the Arts Center's inaugural Antique Rug Trunk Show, presented in partnership with Peter Pap Rugs, from Wednesday, August 5, through Friday, August 7. As with fine art, collectors are invited to take rugs home on approval to experience them in their own interiors before making a final decision. Pap will also offer private in-home consultations and appraisals by appointment. Together, the events offer collectors, designers, and enthusiasts a rare opportunity to explore museum-quality antique rugs while gaining insight into one of the world's oldest and most sophisticated art forms.

The inaugural Antique Rug Trunk Show and Benefit Sale, marks the first program of its kind presented by the Tiverton Four Corners Arts Center. Ten percent of proceeds from rug sales will benefit the Arts Center, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting its mission while introducing audiences to one of the world's oldest and most sophisticated artistic traditions.

Peter Pap is a leading authority on historic carpets and textiles, Pap has spent more than five decades studying, collecting, exhibiting, and writing about antique rugs. Drawing on a lifetime of scholarship and connoisseurship, his lecture explores the artistic, cultural, and historical significance of these remarkable works while revealing how color, design, and craftsmanship distinguish the finest examples.Founded more than fifty years ago, Peter Pap Rugs specializes in exceptional antique rugs and historic textiles from the great weaving traditions of Europe, the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and beyond. Based in Dublin, New Hampshire, with a presence in San Francisco, the gallery is recognized for its scholarly approach, museum-quality inventory, and commitment to educating collectors, designers, and institutions. Peter Pap is an internationally recognized lecturer and published author whose essays have appeared in leading publications, including The Magazine ANTIQUES. He served for sixteen seasons as a guest appraiser on PBS's Antiques Roadshow and has exhibited for twenty-seven consecutive years at The Winter Show in New York, in addition to exhibiting at the Delaware Antiques Show, two of the nation's premier antique fairs.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2026
Illustrated Lecture: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Opening Reception: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

INAUGURAL ANTIQUE RUG TRUNK SHOW
Wednesday, August 5 – Friday, August 7
Open daily
9:00–11:00 a.m.
4:00–7:00 p.m.

The Meeting House at the Four Corners Arts Center
Tiverton, RI 02878

For reservations to the lecture or to inquire about a consultation, please contact: inquiries@peterpap.com