Antique Isfahan Ahmad Rug, Unique
Located in Evanston, IL
One of the oldest antique Isfahan Ahmad rug with unique blue green color. Made of wool and very
Antique Late 19th Century Persian Serapi Persian Rugs
Wool
Antique Isfahan Ahmad Rug, Unique
Located in Evanston, IL
One of the oldest antique Isfahan Ahmad rug with unique blue green color. Made of wool and very
Wool
Outstanding Antique Isfahan Ahmad Rug
Located in Evanston, IL
The Iranian city of Isfahan has long been one of the centres for production of the famous Persian
Wool
Antique Isfahan Ahmad Rug, Very unusual
Located in Evanston, IL
The Iranian city of Isfahan has long been one of the centres for production of the famous Persian
Wool
Antique Persian Isfahan Ahmad Pair Rug - Size: 6'9x4'9
Located in Los Angeles, CA
exquisite works of art. Antique Isfahan Ahmad Pair Rug in Wool and Cotton 6'9x4'9 Key Details
Wool, Cotton
Antique Persian Isfahan (Ahmad) Area Rug 4'3" x 6'10"
Located in New York, NY
The Iranian city of Isfahan has long been one of the center's for production of the famous Persian
Wool, Cotton
Antique Persian Isfahan Rug - Size: 6'10x4'10
Located in Los Angeles, CA
exquisite works of art. Antique Isfahan Rug in Wool and Cotton woven by Ahmad (6'10x4'10) Key Details
Wool, Cotton
Antique Persian Dabbir Kashan Carpet
Located in Evanston, IL
Very fine Persian Dabir Kashan in perfect condition, circa 1920. Unusual purple red background color. High density knotting woven from kork wool, creating an intricate design. From t...
Wool
1960's Seirafian Ivory Persian Isfahan Carpet with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
78780 Signed Vintage Ivory Persian Isfahan Rug, 06'09 x 10'06. In the heart of Persian artistry lies this exquisite hand-knotted wool and silk vintage Isfahan rug, a testament to the...
Wool
Antique Persian Isfahan Rug, Very Fine
Located in Evanston, IL
The Iranian city of Isfahan has long been one of the centres for production of the famous Persian carpet, 3'7" x 5'4". Isfahani carpets are known for their high quality. The most fam...
Wool
Antique Persian Mohtasham Kashan Rug
Located in New York, NY
This antique, finely woven, central Persian city scatter rug shows a scalloped, lightly abrashed navy palmette medallion centering a rose Sub-medallion, all on a cream field with en ...
Wool
Antique Persian Manchester Kashan, Signed
Located in Evanston, IL
Ask for dealer shipping. A Kashan rug made in Persia in the city of Kashan in Isfahan Province North Central Iran. There was production of Persian carpet at Royal workshops in the 1...
Wool
Antique Persian Isfahan One of Pair Rug 4'5" x 6’8"
Located in New York, NY
Antique Persian Isfahan One of Pair Rug 4'5" x 6’8". The picturesque, old Persian capital, which since the early 20th century has woven fine or extremely fine scatters to large carpe...
Wool, Cotton
Make a bold statement in a living room or bedroom by incorporating vintage Persian rugs in your home decor.
A Persian carpet lends an aura of prestige to any room, even today. The fascination with Persian rugs dates at least as far back as the 4th century B.C., when historian Xenophon referred to the “soft rugs on which the Persians sit.” For centuries, Iran (modern-day Persia) has been known for the craftsmanship, intricate patterns and artistry of its carpets, which have found their way into households and museums around the world.
Although they have many imitators, real Persian rugs are made only in Iran and are easily recognized by their vibrant colors and elegant patterns.
Traditional, or antique, Persian rugs are what most people identify as “authentic.” Hand-made, they are very durable and, if properly cared for, can be passed down from generation to generation. Modern Persians, on the other hand, are often machine-made. Today’s carpets, Iranian or otherwise, can’t possibly match the level of craftsmanship that prevailed centuries ago, so historical Persian carpets will always be admired and highly valued.
Although the machine-aided production process is much faster and cheaper, the resulting rugs typically do not have the same quality or lifespan as handwoven ones, so traditional options are considered better investments.
To distinguish between the two, look for imperfections. Because traditional Persian rugs are handwoven, you will likely see small flaws on the front and back. With a machine-made imitation, on the other hand, you will probably not find stitching glitches, and the back will have a mesh or plastic covering.
Antique rugs are handmade from the finest materials, including wool, silk or cotton — never synthetic fibers. The fibers used in antique rugs are colored using natural dyes derived from insects and plants and woven into bold designs that reflect Iran’s culture and history. Since Persian tribes traditionally raised and herded sheep, wool was the most common material. The fiber has many advantages: It is fire-resistant and dries much more quickly than cotton. Also, because of its natural elasticity, it is more durable than cotton or silk. Regarded as works of art, Persian rugs can take months or years to complete.
The different types of Persian rugs are named for the cities, villages and regions where they’re made. Kashan rugs, for example, woven in the north-central Iranian city of Kashan, are considered among the finest city rugs, distinguished by curvilinear motifs like palmettos, leaves and arabesques. Nains have high knot counts, an indication of high quality, and generally employ pink, blue and ivory hues, while Tabriz rugs — created by weavers in the northwestern Iranian city of Tabrīz (or Tabriz) — mostly have floral and garden patterns.
When shopping for vintage Persian rugs, you'll want to consider color, size and more — for a history of these rugs and tips on how to style yours, visit our guide to these woven creations today.
Find Tabriz rugs, handmade silk Persian rugs, Persian tribal rugs and other antique and vintage rugs from the world's best furniture dealers on 1stDibs.
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