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Persian rugs

Famous for their outstanding quality, fine craftsmanship and the limitless variety of their patterns and designs, traditional Persian rugs bring comfort, a timeless style and a touch of glamour to any home. They have been hand-knotted for centuries using the finest craftsmanship, knot by knot, from pure wool, organic natural dyes and luxurious silk. This is why genuine Persian rugs are so popular as elegant home accessories and are highly sought after by rug enthusiasts worldwide. They provide spaces with warmth and coziness, and they add a certain something to every decor and living style.

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Persian Carpet – Features, Origin and Buying Tips

The Persian carpet is one of the most well-known types of carpets. It is considered one of the most prestigious classics among handmade Oriental carpets and has stood for sophisticated knotting art, high-quality materials, and an extraordinary design variety for centuries. Those who choose a Persian carpet are typically looking for a carpet that not only matches their individual style, furnishings, and intended use but also brings character, culture, and a high level of craftsmanship.

Selecting the right Persian carpet can initially seem challenging due to the numerous regional differences, but with a bit of guidance, it can be narrowed down effectively. In addition to the origin, size, ornamentation, colour effect, material, and workmanship also play an important role. This combination of artisanal quality, regional uniqueness, and decorative impact is what makes the Persian carpet one of the most sought-after carpet categories to this day.

What is a Persian carpet?

A Persian rug refers to hand-knotted carpets from the region of historical Persia, essentially present-day Iran. The Persian rug is considered the epitome of outstanding knotting artistry. And for good reason: of all the carpet-producing regions in the East, particularly in Persia, carpet art has been promoted, refined, and regionally differentiated over centuries.

Characteristic of the Persian rug are intricate patterns, fine details, and a great stylistic variety. Some pieces feature a central medallion, while others have a continuous pattern field. Some appear dense, fine, and elegant, while others are more powerful, simple, or rustic. It is precisely this variety of design forms that is a key reason why the Persian rug can be integrated into very different styles of living.

When one speaks of a genuine Persian rug, it does not refer to an industrially manufactured mass product, but rather to a carpet that is created through elaborate handwork and whose execution is strongly influenced by regional origin, workshop tradition, material quality, and knotting technique. Therefore, the term "Persian rug" is not an indication of a single style, but rather of a whole world of different carpet provenance, each with its own character.

How can you tell a genuine Persian carpet?

A genuine Persian carpet can be recognised by several features. The most important criterion is hand-knotting. The pattern is visible and traceable on the back of the carpet, although it is usually somewhat less sharp than on the front. Unlike machine-made carpets, the structure does not appear completely technical or sterile, but rather shows a vibrant, artisanal precision.

Typical of a genuine Persian carpet are also small irregularities. Minimal deviations in line work, contours, or symmetry are not flaws, but rather expressions of true craftsmanship. It is these fine differences that demonstrate that the carpet was not reproduced by a machine, but was crafted knot by knot by experienced weavers.

The fringes also provide an important clue. In a genuine Persian carpet, they are part of the carpet's fundamental construction and not sewn on afterwards. Additionally, natural materials such as virgin wool, cotton, or silk are used. Many pieces also display slight colour gradients, known as abrash. These occur during traditional dyeing in individual batches and emphasise the individual, artisanal character of the carpet.

Therefore, anyone looking to purchase a genuine Persian carpet should always consider the combination of the back, material, workmanship, fringes, colour pattern, and overall impression. No single feature alone determines authenticity, but collectively they make it very clear whether it is a hand-knotted Persian carpet.

What types of Persian carpets are there?

Within Persia, local styles have developed that differ significantly in colour, pattern, material, and knotting technique. Although they are all grouped under the term "Persian carpet," they actually represent a multitude of very individual and distinct types and variants. The key distinguishing features are the region of origin and the typical design associated with each.

The names of the provenances usually refer to a geographical region, a city, or a village from which the carpet originates. When speaking of a classic Persian carpet, it generally refers to the higher quality and finer carpets from Persia. As these are often carpet provenances named after significant cities, they are frequently referred to as city carpets. This includes particularly Nain, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Qom. Very good and fine carpets also include Mashhad, Kerman, Moud, Bidjar, Sarough, and Keshan.

In addition, there are of course carpets from Persia whose patterns are freer, whose texture is coarser, and whose aura is more primitive. These pieces tend to originate from rural or nomadic contexts and follow different design principles than the classic city carpets.

Famous Provenances of the Persian Carpet

There are well over a hundred Persian carpet origins. Among the most well-known are:

Isfahan

The former capital of Persia is renowned for its finest hand-knotted carpets featuring opulent patterns and a good dash of extravagance. Among experts, Isfahan carpets are regarded as the undisputed number one among Persian carpets. Silk and the finest cork wool are often used. The designs are artistically symmetrical, and the colour palette is balanced, often in blue, ivory, and red.

Nain

Nain Carpets originate from the town of the same name on the edge of the vast Dasht-e Kavir desert. They are among the finest varieties that a Persian carpet can produce. Characteristic features include a combination of wool and silk, light base colours such as cream or light blue, and a very dense pile with a high knot count. The patterns are usually floral, intricate, and very precisely crafted. In the 20th century, the weaver Mahmoud Reza Habibi significantly influenced the development of this provenance and contributed greatly to the current reputation of Nain carpets.

Tabriz

Tabriz is one of the oldest and most significant carpet cities in Persia. The carpets woven there are very versatile – both in design and quality. Characteristic of a Persian carpet from Tabriz are complex designs, large medallions, vines, palmettes, and occasionally figurative representations. The colours range from deep red and blue to beige, gold, and green. The knot density is also usually high.

Hand-knotted Ghom silk carpet with floral pattern

Ghom (Qom, Qum)

Ghom is known for its opulent silk carpets with a very high knot density and exceptional detail richness. As such, Ghom carpets are among the most luxurious and exclusive home accessories available. They feature very detailed, often symmetrical patterns with strong vibrancy – ranging from garden motifs to floral arabesques and religious or mythological scenes. The colour selection is usually broad and very carefully coordinated, allowing the changing effects of the silk structure to be showcased to their best advantage.

Keshan

Keshan rugs are classic representatives of Persian weaving art with a high recognition value. The typical design features a central medallion, a red or blue background, and rich floral borders. The wool is of high quality, and the knot density is medium to high. Keshans are considered robust, decorative, and at the same time, they are rugs that offer an excellent balance of impact, quality, and price.

Bidjar

The so-called "Iron Carpets" from Bidjar are characterised by exceptional strength and durability. This is due to the special knotting technique, where the pile is firmly compacted after each knot. The result is a dense, heavy carpet with clear geometric or floral patterns, often in vibrant colours. A Persian carpet from Bidjar is therefore particularly well-suited for heavily used living areas.

Moud, Sarough, Mashhad and others

In addition to the big names, there are many other significant origins:

- Moud carpets often feature small, closely patterned fields and a uniform colour scheme, frequently with silk inclusions.
- Sarough carpets are known for slightly abstract floral patterns set against a background in very vibrant reds or blues.
- Mashhad carpets are richly detailed with strong, often darker colours and typically feature a central medallion as well as floral structures.

This variety makes it clear: the term "Persian carpet" represents an entire world of regionally influenced knotting art. Each origin brings its own accents and opens up different possibilities for spatial impact, style, and interior design.

What makes the Persian carpet so special?

In addition to its functional and decorative properties, the Persian carpet embodies a centuries-old cultural technique in which craftsmanship, symbolism, material choice, and regional tradition interact in a unique way. Its distinctiveness arises from several aspects that clearly differentiate it from industrially produced carpets and many other hand-knotted carpets.

Knotting technique and knot density

A central quality feature of Persian rugs is the knot density. It influences durability, detail accuracy, and visual effect. The finer a rug is knotted, the more intricate patterns and ornaments can be depicted. At the same time, a denser and more uniform pile is created, which further enhances the detail effect of the design. Particularly fine city rugs from Nain, Isfahan, or Ghom achieve very high knot counts.

As rough guidelines for knot density in knots per m², the following apply:

Knot Density (per m²)	Description
40,000 – 80,000	Very coarsely knotted rugs
80,000 – 120,000	Coarsely knotted rugs
120,000 – 240,000	Well suited for robust rugs with simpler patterns and ornaments
240,000 – 360,000	Finer knotting that already allows for quite complex patterns
360,000 – 500,000	Fine knotting with intricate designs
500,000 – 1,000,000	Very fine knotting with extraordinarily detailed and complex designs
1,100,000+	Especially fine, very rare

Good and experienced knotters can create up to 10,000 knots per day. When this is translated into size and knot density, it quickly becomes clear how many working hours are invested in a high-quality Persian rug and how long the journey is from the first knot to the finished rug. We respectfully tip our hats to this magnificent craftsmanship.

Natural colours and abrash

Traditionally, the fibres are dyed with plant and mineral dyes, for example, madder root for red, indigo for blue, or walnut shell for brown. These natural colours have a harmonious, warm effect and develop a special depth over time. A typical feature of hand-dyed wool is the so-called abrash: subtle colour gradients or small colour variations within an area that occur when dyeing in batches. They give the carpet liveliness and emphasise its uniqueness.

Cultural and symbolic content

Many patterns in a Persian carpet follow a traditional vocabulary of symbols that has developed over centuries. The central medallion can represent the centre, order, or spiritual focus. Palmettes, vines, and stylised leaf forms refer to growth, vitality, and a connection to nature.

Garden carpets – such as those from Kerman – are often strictly structured and depict idealised landscapes with paths, flower beds, and waterways. In figurative carpets, animals, buildings, or scenes from literature and mythology appear. These motifs were often not made for everyday use, but as representative objects or wall decorations. Calligraphic elements, representations of the heavens, or allusions to historical events are also present – depending on the region, period of creation, and workshop tradition.

High-quality materials

The materials used play a significant role. A Persian carpet is typically made from natural sheep's wool, which is high-quality new wool. This wool combines two excellent properties: it is soft yet durable. Some examples are made from the finer and even softer underwool of the sheep.

Particularly exquisite rugs contain a proportion of silk or are made entirely from silk. Silk gives the rug shine, delicacy, and a particularly vibrant colour effect. Cotton is usually used for the warp and weft as it provides stability and creates a robust foundational structure. The combination of warp, weft, and the knotted pile forms the basic structure of a hand-knotted Persian rug.

In regions such as Ghom, Isfahan, or Tabriz, silk is often a central quality feature. Nomadic pieces like Gabbeh, on the other hand, are often made from thick, greasy wool that is durable and naturally possesses good dirt-repellent properties.

Finding the right Persian carpet

When selecting the right Persian rug for your home, several criteria come into play. In addition to origin, material, and knotting quality, size, format, pattern structure, colour scheme, and style direction also influence how well a rug fits into the decor and the effect it has in the room.

Buying a Persian rug – what to pay attention to

Anyone looking to buy a Persian carpet should not only pay attention to its decorative effect but also to the quality of craftsmanship and its suitability for the intended use. A fine silk carpet has different requirements compared to a robust wool carpet for a heavily used living area. Similarly, provenance plays a role, as it can indicate typical characteristics in patterns, materials, density, and colouration.

Therefore, it is helpful to clarify some basic points before making a purchase: Should the carpet primarily have a representative appearance or will it be subject to heavy everyday use? Is a calmer, harmonious design desired, or a striking eye-catcher? What size fits the furnishings? And which colours support the desired effect in the room? The clearer these questions are answered, the more targeted the selection of the suitable Persian carpet can be.

Designs and patterns

Persian carpets follow traditional design concepts that vary regionally. In Isfahan, Tabriz, Keshan, or Nain, the central medallion is a common motif. It is usually set in a finely structured field, surrounded by floral arabesques, vines, palmettes, and multi-part borders.

Carpets from Bidjar, Moud, or Sarough also use complex patterns, but often with denser ornamentation, diamond shapes, or varying repeat structures. Some pieces feature floral all-over decorations without a dominant axis arrangement. Kashmar carpets sometimes incorporate narrative elements or pictorial fields with architectural and landscape motifs.

Colours and contrasts

A classic Persian rug displays a wide colour palette. Typical are vibrant tones such as crimson red, dark blue, ivory, emerald green, and black. Many rugs utilise strong contrasts to visually distinguish the pattern from the background.

Particularly fascinating are the colour plays in silk rugs. Due to the reflective surface of silk, the colours of the rug change depending on the angle of view and light incidence, creating a lively, shimmering effect.

Nain rugs often rely on a strict and harmonious colour palette characterised by soft tones and light base colours. Rugs from Kerman or Sarough tend to feature warmer, graduated colour tones with larger solid areas. Tabriz rugs often showcase more pastel shades of red and pink, while in Moud or Mashhad, blue and beige tones are particularly prevalent.

Formates and sizes

A Persian rug is made in very different sizes and formats. The rectangular format is the most common. In addition, there are also square and round variants. The size of the rug should always be based on the use of the room: a rug that is too small quickly appears lost, while one that is too large can visually compress the space.

Small formats and runners in 90 × 60 cm, 120 × 80 cm or 150 × 100 cm are well suited for entrance areas, next to the bed or under smaller pieces of furniture.
Runners with a width of 70–100 cm and a length of 200–600 cm are particularly suitable for hallways, corridors or as a connecting element between two living areas.
Medium sizes such as 240 × 170 cm or 300 × 200 cm fit well under sofa groups or dining tables and structure larger living spaces.
Large formats from 350 × 250 cm are suitable for spacious rooms, open living concepts or as a central design element.
Square rugs in 150 × 150 cm, 200 × 200 cm, 250 × 250 cm or 300 × 300 cm work particularly well in rooms with symmetrical furnishings.
Round rugs with diameters between 150 and 300 cm fit well under round tables, in bay windows or in free seating groups.

Persian carpet as a living object and value bearer

Grundsätzlich gilt: Ein Perserteppich ist zunächst einmal eine hochwertige Wohntextilie für den täglichen Gebrauch. Wer einen Perserteppich kauft, sollte dies daher in erster Linie für den Gebrauch tun. Ein schöner, hochwertiger Teppich bringt viele Jahre Freude. Behaglichkeit, Wärme, Schönheit und die persönliche Wertschätzung dieses kulturreichen Handwerks machen seinen eigentlichen Wert aus.

Eine generelle Wertsteigerung lässt sich daraus jedoch nicht ableiten. Nur ein kleiner Anteil klassischer und antiker Teppiche ist auch aus sammlerischer Sicht interessant. Entscheidend sind dann Herkunft, Alter, Zustand, Seltenheit und Materialqualität. Gut erhaltene antike Stücke mit überzeugender Provenienz und sehr guter handwerklicher Ausführung können auf dem Markt beachtliche Preise erzielen, doch das ist nicht der Regelfall.

Wer einen hochwertigen Perserteppich erwirbt, sollte ihn deshalb vor allem nach gestalterischen, qualitativen und funktionalen Kriterien auswählen – nicht nach spekulativen Erwartungen.

Buy Persian carpets online at Nain Trading

Buying a genuine Persian rug online requires trust between the buyer and the seller. For us at Nain Trading, this means: personal and qualified advice, availability for questions, transparent information on origin, material and craftsmanship, as well as reliable processing.

Our online shop offers detailed product descriptions, high-resolution photos, and practical filtering options, so you can find exactly the Persian rug that suits your space, your style, and your intended use. Additionally, we provide personal consultation via phone or email, a secure ordering process, and an extended return policy of 31 days.

At Nain Trading, we have been connecting the world of hand-knotted Persian rugs with a contemporary shopping experience since 1998.

Frequently Asked Questions about Persian Carpets

What does a Persian carpet cost?

The price of a Persian rug depends on several factors, including size, origin, material, and knot density. Smaller rugs can sometimes be found for just a few hundred pounds, while particularly fine or large examples can reach prices of several tens of thousands of pounds. Provenance, age, and condition also influence the price.

How can you recognise the quality of a Persian rug?

The quality of a Persian rug can be identified by various characteristics. Important criteria include the knot density, the materials used, and the precision of the patterns. High-quality rugs are usually made from wool or silk and exhibit a consistent, careful knotting structure. The back of the rug can also provide clues about the quality of the knotting.

How do you properly care for a Persian carpet?

A Persian rug should be vacuumed regularly to remove dust and loose particles. It is advisable to avoid using rotating brushes to protect the pile. Stains should be treated as quickly and gently as possible. At longer intervals, a professional carpet wash or cleaning can be beneficial to thoroughly clean the fibres and maintain the colour effect in the long term.

How long does a Persian carpet last?

A high-quality hand-knotted Persian rug can last for several decades or even generations with proper care. The combination of durable natural materials and dense weaving ensures a long lifespan. Many Persian rugs are therefore used for extended periods and are often passed down within families.

Are Persian rugs still in fashion?

Yes. Persian carpets still appear modern today because their designs are adaptable, fascinating, and independent of trends. They fit well with both classic furnishings and modern living concepts. Particularly in contemporary interiors, Persian carpets are often used as a centerpiece, creating an exciting contrast with minimalist furniture and clear spatial structures. They are also considered contemporary because they are sustainably handcrafted from high-quality natural materials.

Can a Persian rug increase in value?

Some antique or particularly high-quality Persian rugs can increase in value over time, especially if they are rare, well-preserved, and have a known provenance. However, for most rugs, the utility value is paramount, as they are primarily used as durable home textiles.

Where can one buy a genuine Persian carpet?

Genuine Persian rugs are primarily available from specialised retailers of Oriental rugs. They typically offer hand-knotted rugs from various knotting regions such as Nain, Tabriz, Kashan, or Isfahan. When purchasing, one should pay attention to high-quality materials like wool or silk, a clean knotting structure, and a certificate of authenticity. Reputable dealers also provide advice on the origin, quality, and appropriate size of the rug.

How can you tell a genuine Persian carpet?

A genuine Persian carpet is traditionally hand-knotted and is usually made from high-quality natural materials such as wool or silk. Typical features include an irregular yet precise knotting structure on the back, as well as intricate patterns with clear details. The knot density, the colours used, and the origin – such as Nain, Tabriz, Kashan, or Isfahan – also provide clues to quality and authenticity.

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Persian Carpet – Features, Origin and Buying Tips

What is a Persian carpet?

How can you tell a genuine Persian carpet?

What types of Persian carpets are there?

Famous Provenances of the Persian Carpet

Isfahan

Nain

Tabriz

Ghom (Qom, Qum)

Keshan

Bidjar

Moud, Sarough, Mashhad and others

What makes the Persian carpet so special?

Knotting technique and knot density

Natural colours and abrash

Cultural and symbolic content

High-quality materials

Finding the right Persian carpet

Help & Contact