Persian rugs
Handmade rugs woven in Iran, from fine city workshops to bold village and tribal pieces.
Not sure about yours?Upload two photos and get a free report in about 15 seconds.Check my rugWhat makes a rug Persian
Strictly, a Persian rug is a rug woven by hand in Iran. In shops the word is often stretched to cover any rug with a Persian design, including rugs woven in India, Pakistan, China or by machine. A rug can have a Persian design without being a Persian rug.
When a seller calls a rug Persian, ask where it was woven. A good dealer will tell you the country and, for most Persian rugs, the town or region.
City, village and tribal rugs
City rugs come from workshops in towns such as Tabriz, Kashan, Isfahan, Nain and Qom. They are woven from drawn designs, often with a fine knot count, curving floral patterns and precise symmetry.
Village rugs, such as Heriz and many Hamadan-area pieces, are woven from memory or simpler plans. Their drawing is bolder and more angular, and the wool is usually thicker.
Tribal rugs were woven by nomadic and settled groups such as the Qashqai and Bakhtiari. They tend to be smaller, with geometric designs, lively color and a little irregularity that collectors value.
How they are woven
Most Persian rugs are hand-knotted. Each knot is tied around warp threads, and rows of knots are packed down with weft threads between them. Many city workshops use the asymmetrical knot, which is also called the Persian knot. Weavers in northwest Iran, including Tabriz and Heriz, mostly use the symmetrical knot, which is also called the Turkish knot.
Iran also produces flatweaves. Kilims and soumaks have no pile and are often woven by the same tribal groups that make pile rugs.
A short history
Persian weaving reached a high point under the Safavid shahs in the 16th and 17th centuries, when court workshops wove carpets that now hang in museums. The Ardabil Carpet in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum is dated 1539 to 1540.
A strong export trade grew in the late 19th century, as Western buyers furnished large homes with Persian carpets. Many antique Persian rugs on the market today date from that period or the early 20th century.
Buying a Persian rug in the U.S.
United States sanctions have barred imports of rugs from Iran for much of the past forty years, and the current ban has been in place since 2018. Persian rugs that were already in the country can still be bought and sold, which is why most Persian rugs sold in the U.S. are vintage or antique pieces.
Before you buy, turn the rug over. The design should show clearly on the back, and the knots should look slightly uneven, as they do on any hand-knotted rug. Check for even wear, moth damage and repairs, and ask about the rug’s age and where it was woven.
Quick answers
Are all Oriental rugs Persian?
No. Oriental rug is a broad trade term for handmade rugs from a wide region that includes Iran, Turkey, the Caucasus, Central Asia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and China. Persian rugs are the ones woven in Iran.
How can I tell which city a Persian rug comes from?
Look at the design, the colors, the knot and the foundation together. A Heriz has bold, angular medallions, a Nain often has ivory and blue with silk outlines, and a Kashan usually has a red field and a navy border. A specialist can confirm it by looking at the back.
Are Persian rugs worth more than other handmade rugs?
Not always. Value depends on age, condition, the quality of the wool and dyes, the fineness of the weave and the design. A fine rug from Turkey, the Caucasus or Afghanistan can be worth more than an ordinary Persian rug.
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