Persian Rugs

Kashan

South of Tehran, this area produces high quality rugs. Designs of Kashan rugs are outstanding, they are made of of fine wool and main design is a medallion with cartouches in the corners and edges, but there are many variations. Some have vases and some are allover design without a medallion.

Kerman

Kerman rugs are famous for their soft texture and variety of designs. These features have created great demand for them on the world markets, specially in the United States. Kermans are woven in various sizes and colors suiting the taste of all the market.

Sarouk

A large village in the neighborhood of Sultanabad and Arak. Sarouks are very fine rugs, closely cut and usually with good quality wool. There are several designs and weave in the Sarouk family which include Sarouk, Mahal, and Lilihan that is not as busy as Jozan. Sarouk rugs are woven in scatter to palace sizes including runners.

Tabriz  

Capital of Azarbaijan province and northwest of Persia with more than one hundred centers is another important rug weaving center, making finely knotted rugs of strong, lustrous wool. The design is usually a medallion surrounded by flowers and tendrils with soft colors.  Another famous design from Tabriz is Mahi (fish) design and Tabriz Tabatabaie (Hunting) design. The best Tabirz is considered by some experts  to be the highest quality rug woven in Persia even today.

Isfahan

A beautiful city just about 400 kilometer south of Tehran. It was the capital of Persia during the golden years of Safavia dynasty in the 16th and 17th centuries and gave rise to the famous Persian saying "Isfahan is the equal of half of the world". Museums all over the world hold glorious examples of Isfahan rugs inspired by such great rulers as Shah Abbas. Today the city is still the source of some fine rugs using the old designs as their source of inspiration. Sometimes animals are featured. Some with silk foundation and kurk wool pile with silk inlay are extremely finely woven.

Nain

Nain rugs are famous for their fine quality and design. Their designs are produced by expert artists of Isfahan. The color combinations of Nain rugs are of special harmony and contours; their flowers and leaves are woven with silk which serves as an ornament for them and makes them appear as projected.

Mashad

In the province of Khorassan in the northeast of Persia, this holy city and its environs is the large center for rug distribution. Khorassan use the Herati pattern and are dyed a soft purple red with colors merging into one another. Mashad usually features a star shaped medallion with flowers, tendrils and various borders. Common colors are red, blue and green. Many of these rugs are exported.

Qum

Holy city south of Tehran, Qum rugs are very high quality and very finely woven. They closely resemble Isfahan and Nains. Striking blue, green and red shades and golden colors are used on an ivory background with various designs, like tree of life, vases and flowers and sometimes animals. Garden or panel designs are also woven in Qum with high quality silk pile and foundation.

Bidjar

Small town in the northwest, it is the source of the heaviest and most durable rug in the country. An iron comb is used firmly to make an exceedingly close warp, making it a very strong rug. Medallion designs and small scattered flowers are most common, with finely drawn borders.

Heriz

Southwest of Tabriz, this town and its neighbor Ghoravan are important centers producing rugs which are quite different from others in Persia, in their color, shape and knots. Knots are not fine, but the good quality of wool makes it a very long lasting. Bright red, blue, ivory, mustard yellow and green with geometric design plus stylized flowers are common features in these rugs.