There are three different types of Persian rugs:
- Nomadic/Tribal
- Village
- Traditional
This is what distinguishes the types of Persian rugs available today. On the one hand, they’re all from Ancient Persia (modern-day Iran), which makes the bulk of them quite coveted, yet there were three separate “types” of fabrication. There are three lines of tradition running concurrently, which means there is a colour, pattern, style and type for practically everyone.
Every handmade rug is a piece of art and reflects the skill of the artist. Master knotter Akbar Mahdie’s carpets have a knot density of 1.2 to 1.8 million knots per m2. Obtaining such a density necessitates a tremendous amount of labour, patience and talent, all of which are in short supply. Furthermore, only the best wool and pure vegetable colours are used, and the material is chosen according to precise criteria. Mahdi’s autographed carpets are made in his studio, where he and his three sons create the highest-quality Isfahan rugs in the world. This city, which is famed for its excellent Persian rugs and is located in northern Iran, has a population of roughly 1.6 million people.
Tabriz silk rugs from master knotter Shirfar. Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan are all close to Tabriz, a major trading hub until a few decades ago. This city produces the most magnificent Persian silk rugs. The blue mosque, the statue of the great poet Khaqani, and the colourful mountains in front of the city are all highlights of the city and surrounding area. A central medallion is usually encircled by floral embellishments and patterns from Persian gardens in most Tabriz rugs. Because the city has a rich history of poets and artists, carpets may include an excerpt of a poem instead of a signature.
The Iranian city of Qom is located around 150 kilometres south of Tehran, on the banks of the same-named river, which has a dried-up riverbed. This town, however, does not have a long-standing carpet-knotting heritage. In the 1930s, the first knotters arrived in the city from Kashan and established themselves. After a few years of incorporating themes and qualities from various carpet locations into the Qom carpets, they have developed their distinct style. Silk carpets from Qom are currently recognised worldwide as among the best and highest quality oriental rugs available.
Many master knotters, for example, don’t manufacture anything less than 1,000,000 knots per m2 and create the finest works of art from pure natural silk and plant colours. Although such premium carpets are incredibly pricey, the natural silk and dense knotting allow the carpet to be set out with ease at home. In addition to silk rugs, professional knotters in Qom manufacture exceedingly high-quality wool rugs. These are frequently embellished with silk. Some of the carpets are also knotted using rare cork wool. Jamshidi, Erami, Kazemi, Mohammadi and Djeddi are some of Qom’s most prominent masters.
Birds, flowers, other garden motifs and intricate mosaic patterns are featured in their works, which are all signed by the master knotter. Nain is a desert city in Iran, located in the country’s centre. The carpets knotted here have distinct qualities that set them apart from rugs from other parts of the world. They all have a central medallion surrounded by flowery decorations, almost without exception. The old town of Kashan is located south of Tehran, on the edge of the enormous Dasht-e-Kawir desert.
This city had a golden age of rug commerce and weaving as early as the 16th century. It is also stated that this was the first time natural silk was used in manufacture, and merchants later transferred the knowledge to Qom. Kashan carpets, formerly regarded as the most delicate Persian rugs, have lost some of their lustre and beauty over time. Unique pieces by well-known masters, such as those by Mohtesham, are exceptionally valuable collectors’ goods. His rugs are now on display in museums and private collections across the world.
Here you can find samples of rare Persian carpets with exceptionally fine knotting and a density of almost 1,000,000 knots per square metre, which are manufactured by skilled knotters. For a single very experienced and skilled knotter, such carpets can take over a year to make. As a result, they have a high rarity value.
Old Persian and oriental rugs that had been in use for at least 20 to 50 years were then extensively refurbished to get a modern vintage look. They do not attempt to restore antique or semi-antique Persian carpets to their original state but rather design a new style. Oriental old carpets, for example, have been revamped and are nearly entirely discoloured. This reduces the pile to a bare minimum. After that, the carpets are dyed in modern new colours and patterns. As a result, an old hand-knotted oriental rug with a rich history has been transformed into a completely new carpet in the current vintage design.