Kerman rugs

Where they come from

Kerman is both a city and a province in south central Iran. It has been a major center of fine carpet weaving since at least the 15th century, and the name is also used for rugs in the Kerman style made elsewhere.

The region’s wool was famous in its own right. Historians credit it, along with skilled city workshops, for the quality of Kerman rugs.

A long history

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Kerman workshops made the so-called vase carpets. Their fields are covered with flowers, large palmettes and small vases, and they are built with three wefts between each row of knots.

In the 19th century, Kerman weavers borrowed floral patterns from the region’s fine shawls. In the 20th century, many Kermans were made for buyers in Europe and America, often in soft ivory, rose, blue-grey and amber.

How to recognize one

Most Kerman rugs are drawn in curves, not angles. Look for flowers, vines, trees and garden scenes, a central medallion on an open field, or an allover pattern of blossoms.

The palette is unusually wide. It runs from ivory, pink and pale blue to deep red, navy and saffron, often with many shades in one rug.

Ravar Kermans

Ravar, a town north of Kerman, is known for finely woven rugs with medallion designs. Dealers often call them Lavar Kermans. Many carry a woven signature of the weaver or the workshop.

How they are made

Kerman rugs are hand-knotted with the asymmetrical knot, also called the Persian knot, on a cotton foundation. The pile is wool, and some fine pieces use silk.

Machine-made rugs copy Kerman designs widely. The back of the rug tells you more than the front, so check it before you trust the name on a label.

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