19th Century Pictorial Lavar Kirman Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A stunning late 19th century Persian Lavar Kirman pictorial rug depicting a seated Gonabadi Dervish
Antique Late 19th Century Persian Kirman Persian Rugs
Wool
19th Century Pictorial Lavar Kirman Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A stunning late 19th century Persian Lavar Kirman pictorial rug depicting a seated Gonabadi Dervish
Wool
Antique Persian Kirman 'Kerman' Pictorial Rug, Persian Tapestry Wall Hanging
Located in Dallas, TX
77161, antique Persian Kirman (Kerman) pictorial rug. Wall hanging Persian tapestry. This late 19th
Wool
Bobyrug’s Pretty Vintage Pictorial Kirman Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice mid century Kirman rug with beautiful design of antique pictorial Kirman rugs, entirely and
Wool, Cotton
Notable 19th Century Pictorial Kirman Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
An outstanding notable 19th century Persian Kirman rug with a beautifully rendered depiction of the
Wool
Early 20th Century Persian Pictorial Lavar Kirman Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful early 20th century Persian Pictorial Lavar Kirman rug depicting a portrait of a
Wool
Antique Persian Kirman Lavar Pictorial Rug, circa 1880
Located in Secaucus, NJ
Antique Persian Kirman Lavar Pictorial Rug, circa 1880. A wonderful finely woven Kirman Lavar
Wool
Antique Pictorial Kirman Rug, circa 1890 11'3 x 19'
Located in Secaucus, NJ
This is a truly unique and amazing piece, not only a superb rug but also a true work of art showing
Wool
Early 20th Century Persian Pictorial Lavar Kirman Depicting Princess Qajar
Located in Chicago, IL
Early 20th Century Persian Pictorial Lavar Kirman rug depicting Taj al-Saltaneh (1884 – January 25
Wool
Doris Leslie Blau Antique Rare Pictorial Biblical Rug
Located in New York, NY
Antique Rare Pictorial Biblical Rug Size: 6'1" × 12'2" (185 × 370 cm) Rich in heritage and artistry
Wool
Zabihi Collection Mid 19th Century Lavar Kerman Pictorial Rug
Located in New York, NY
Rare worn Mid 19th Century worn Persian Lavar Kerman with a pair of pictorial motif rugs that were
Wool
$236,600
W 155 in L 208 in
Hand-Knotted Antique Kerman Rug in Beige-Brown Pictorial Pattern by Rug & Kilim
Located in Long Island City, NY
Hand knotted in wool, a 13x17 antique Persian Kerman Lavar joining rug & Kilim’s coveted Antique
Wool
$6,999
W 25 in L 32 in
Antique Kerman Pictorial Rug Lion & King Darius Achaemenid Mythological Tapestry
Located in Dallas, TX
74271 Late 19th Century Antique Persian Kerman Pictorial Rug Mythological Tapestry Lion & King
Wool
Antique Persian Kerman Pictorial Rug. 2 ft 2 in x 2 ft 8 in
Located in New York, NY
Antique Persian Mashahir Kerman Pictorial Rug, Country of origin: Persia, Circa date: 1890. Size: 2
Wool
19th Century Lavar Rug Depicting Bahram Gur
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredibly important late 19th century Persian Pictorial Lavar Kirman rug depicting the 5th
Wool
Antique Persian Kirman Pictorial Rug, 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
Antique Persian Kirman Pictorial Rug, 19th Century Additional information: Dimensions: 4'4" W x
Wool
Antique Qashqai Pictorial
Located in San Francisco, CA
sophisticated Kirman pictorial rug. This would make a great wall hanging.
Unbelievable 19th Century Pictorial Kirman Lavar "Dance of the Nymphs" Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
An unbelievable late 19th century Persian pictorial Kirman Lavar rug depicting the "Dance of the
Wool
Vintage Persian Kerman Rug Pictorial
Located in Dallas, TX
75814 Vintage Persian Kerman Pictorial rug 02'00 x 02'04. With a timeless design and effortless
Wool
Late 19th Century Iranian Red & Cream Wool Pictorial Religious Rug, Signed
Located in New York, NY
A late 19th century Persian Lavar Kerman rug. commissioned by milani workshop in northwest Iran
Wool
Artistic Antique Small Scatter Size Persian Pictorial Kerman Rug 1'10" x 2'3"
Located in New York, NY
Magnificently Artistic Antique Small Scatter Size Persian Pictorial Kerman Rug, Country of Origin
Wool
Antique Persian Kirman Wool Area Rug Hand-Knotted with Pictorials Throughout XL
Located in West Hartford, CT
Beautiful extra large size antique pictorial Persian Kirman rug, country of origin / rug type
Wool
Antique Pictorial Kermanshah Rug
Located in Evanston, IL
Pictorial rugs are some of the most over-the-top examples of the artistry, talent and determination
Wool
Pictorial Antique Persian Kermanshah Rug
Located in Evanston, IL
Kermanshah or Laver Kerman southeast Persia important pictorial rug. Depict with Qajar kingdom
Wool
Antique Persian Lavar Kerman Pictorial Rug
Located in New York, NY
An antique Persian Lavar Kerman carpet from the first quarter of the 20th century with a pictorial
Wool
17th Century Flemish Aubusson Tapestry
Located in Houston, TX
The 17th Century Flemish Aubusson Tapestry portraying a woman traveling or walking with her child is a captivating depiction of everyday life from that era. Executed with remarkable ...
Wool, Silk
1920's Persian Kashan Pictorial Carpet, Poetry from Abbas Foroughi Bastami
Located in Dallas, TX
77017 Antique Persian Kashan Pictorial Rug, 02'11 x 03'11. Woven with spiritual longing and lyrical reverence, this antique Persian Kashan pictorial rug captures a moment of divine c...
Wool
$9,960Sale Price|20% Off
H 70.08 in W 48.04 in D 0.3 in
17th century Antique Flemish Tapestry Wool & Silk Verdure Art Nouveau 4x6ft
Located in New York, NY
This is a very fine high quality rare authentic Antique French Tapestry made with very fine wool & silk. This was woven in green silks and wool. It is depicting extensive verdure...
Wool, Silk
$2,128Sale Price|26% Off
W 52 in L 78 in
1960's Hamadan Dervish Pictorial Persian Rug with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
75975 Vintage Persian Hamadan Pictorial Rug 04’04 x 06’06. This exceptional hand-knotted wool vintage Persian pictorial rug is a mesmerizing narrative woven in the finest tradition o...
Wool
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
W 44 in L 62 in
Vintage Persian Shiraz Pictorial Rug, Wall Hanging, Persian Tapestry
Located in Dallas, TX
75045 Vintage Persian Shiraz Pictorial Rug, 03’08 x 05’02. Persian Shiraz pictorial rugs are a distinctive type of Persian rug crafted in the region surrounding the city of Shiraz in...
Wool
$15,750
W 52 in L 97 in
Antique Persian Kerman Pictorial Rug, Nader Shah Afshahr, Tapestry Wall Hanging
Located in Dallas, TX
73703 Antique Persian Kerman Pictorial rug, Nader Shah Afshahr, Tapestry Wall Hanging. This antique Kerman rug displays a pictorial scene of Nader Shah Afshar (ruled 1736-1747). He w...
Wool
Antique Kerman Pictorial Rug 7'5'' x 10'4''
Located in New York, NY
Antique Kerman Pictorial rug. Measures: 7'5'' x 10'4''. In the style of a French mythological tapestry, this finely woven SE Persian city carpet has a design known in several larger ...
Wool, Cotton
$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
W 24 in L 36 in
Late 19th Century Persian Mohtasham Kashan Carpet with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
77162 Antique Persian Mohtasham Kashan Pictorial Rug, 02'00 x 03'00. Signed by the esteemed master weaver, Mohtasham Kashan, behold this exquisite hand-knotted wool antique Kashan p...
Wool
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.