Antique Qum Rug 2.00m X 1.36m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A fabulous antique Qum rug, handwoven circa 1910 with an all-over boteh design on an ivory field and pale indigo border. Finely woven with lovely wool quality and stunning colours ma...
Wool
Unusual NW Hallway Runner, Antique Collectible
Located in WYNNUM, QLD
This NW , or northwest piece is so named as a distinct variety of carpets and a general style, from NW Persia, north of Tabriz, the work of various small village and tribal groups ac...
Wool
Antique Floral Design Carpet - Late 19th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
This rare late 19th century floral design carpet highlights a powerful and rhythmic composition featuring a magnificent large central medallion layout enriched with intricate geometr...
Wool
Antique Floral Design Runner - Late 19th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
this rare late 19th century floral design runner highlights a powerful and rhythmic composition featuring an endless, rhythmic field pattern of densely packed traditional floral moti...
Wool
Striking square Afshar Antique Rug, Elegant
Located in WYNNUM, QLD
Exceptional elegance in a genuine tribal rug. Unusually fine, tight weave and soft lamb's wool: wonderful feel. Investment collectible esp. at 50% reduction. Would fit in virtually ...
Wool
Antique Floral Design Runner - Late 19th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
this rare late 19th century runner highlights a powerful and rhythmic composition featuring an endless, rhythmic field pattern of densely packed traditional motifs. This structural b...
Wool
Antique Senneh Rug 1.82m x 1.38m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A lovely antique Senneh rug, woven circa 1900. This rug features a Gol Farang (literally meaning ‘French flower’) design on a deep indigo field. Finely woven with great quality wool ...
Wool
Late 19th Century Antique Wool Rug
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
The rug’s central lozenge-shaped medallion is surrounded by a harmonious arrangement of stylized floral and geometric motifs, each woven with precision and balance. The deep madder r...
Wool
Antique Neyriz Rug 2.02m X 1.54m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A beautiful antique tribal Neyriz rug, woven circa 1910. This rug features a Tree of Life design interspersed with stylised birds and animals on an ivory field and indigo border. Fab...
Wool
Antique Hamadan Runner 4.05m x 1.05m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A wonderful antique Hamadan runner, woven circa 1910. This runner features an all over design of stylised flowers on a rich indigo field and red border. Lovely wool quality and fabul...
Wool
Antique Qashqai Kilim 2.02m x 1.37m
Located in St. Albans, GB
An exceptional antique Qashqai kilim, woven by the eponymous nomadic tribe circa 1890. This kilim features a geometrical 3 medallion design on a terracotta field. An unusually small ...
Wool
Antique Qum Rug 2.10m x 1.36m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A highly decorative antique Qum rug, woven circa 1910. This rug features an elegant, all over Garrous design on an ivory field. Finely woven with lovely wool quality and great second...
Wool
Antique 19th Century Floral Design Runner
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
The long central field is dominated by a rhythmic succession of interconnected hexagonal medallions, each featuring a distinct internal floral motif. The rich terracotta and madder r...
Wool
Antique Malayer Rug 2.06m x 1.40m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A fabulous antique Malayer rug, woven circa 1900. This rug features an intricate floral medallion on a rich, abrasched indigo field and attractive ivory border. Finely woven with lov...
Wool
Antique Late 19th Century Wool Bagface
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
The color palette is masterfully balanced featuring a primary navy ground that serves as a dramatic canvas for high-contrast shifts of madder red, forest green, and luminous ivory. T...
Wool
Antique Karadja Rug 1.97m x 1.45m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A beautiful antique Karadja rug, woven circa 1910. This rug features a geometrical 3 medallion design on a terracotta field and deep indigo border. Fabulous secondary colours, especi...
Wool
Antique Heriz Carpet 3.43m x 2.56m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A fabulous antique Heriz carpet, woven circa 1900. This carpet features a large geometrical medallion on a terracotta field and deep indigo border. Fabulous secondary colours of blue...
Wool
Zabihi Collection Jewel Toned Antique Bidjar Rug
Located in New York, NY
an authentic early 20th Century jewel toned red and blue traditional Bidjar Rug Details rug no. j3899 size 9' 1" x 12' 2" (277 x 371 cm)
Wool
Antique Bakhtiar Rug 1.92m X 1.35m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A beautiful antique Bakhtiar rug, handwoven circa 1910 with a circular medallion on an ivory field of stylised flowers. Lovely wool quality and fabulous secondary colours! Size: 1.92...
Wool
Antique Floral Design Carpet - Late 19th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
Rather than being dominated by a single central medallion, the composition is organized around a series of large, interlocking lozenge-shaped forms that create a strong architectural...
Wool
Antique Floral Design Runner - Early 20th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
The design is centered around a deep charcoal-black field, creating a dramatic ground against which the richly colored floral motifs are particularly vivid. The field features a con...
Wool
Antique Malayer Rug 1.78m x 1.19m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A beautiful antique Malayer rug, woven circa 1900. The design features a large tomato red medallion on an indigo field and lighter blue border. It may have lost its outer border some...
Wool
Antique Ferahan Rug 1.96m x 1.36m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A lovely antique Ferahan rug, woven circa 1910. This rug features an all over geometrical design of stylised flowers and vines on a terracotta field and indigo border. Finely woven w...
Wool
Nice antique tribal Kurdish rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very beautiful antique Kurdish rug with nice geometrical and tribal design and nice natural colours with a navy blue field, red orange, pink, green, yellow, blue and white, entirely ...
Wool
Antique 19th Century Baluch Rug
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A beautiful handwoven red, blue, tan, and off-white Baluch rug. Sometimes spelled as "Balouch" or "Baluchi", Baluch rugs are a type of handwoven tribal rug that originates from the ...
Wool
Antique Geometric Design Bag - Late 19th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
this rare late 19th century geometric design bag highlights a powerful and rhythmic composition featuring a magnificent pairing of stylized animal figures and tribal medallions ancho...
Wool
Antique Floral Design Carpet - Late 19th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
This rare late 19th century antique carpet highlights a powerful and rhythmic composition featuring a magnificent centrally positioned layered medallion anchoring an incredibly compl...
Wool
Zabihi Collection Square Antique Heriz Rug
Located in New York, NY
A Square Antique Persian Heriz rug from the 2nd quarter of the 20th century.
Wool
Antique Heriz Runner 4.35m x 1.04m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A lovely antique Heriz runner, handwoven circa 1900 with a geometrical design on a dark indigo field and ivory border. Full of rustic charm and great secondary colours. Note the inte...
Wool
Antique Ferahan Rug 2.03m X 1.32m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A beautiful antique Ferahan rug, handwoven circa 1900 with an allover Herati design on a midnight blue field and lighter indigo border. Finely woven with lovely wool quality and grea...
Wool
Antique Afshar Rug 1.70m x 1.42m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A fabulous antique Afshar rug, handwoven circa 1900 with an unusual all-over design of linked flowers and leaves on a mid blue field and great secondary colours. Finely woven for a t...
Wool
Antique Sarab Runner 3.18m X 1.10m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A beautiful antique Sarab runner, handwoven circa 1910 with a 3 medallion geometrical design on a deep indigo field and fabulous secondary colours. A lovely wide runner ideal for an ...
Wool
$7,408Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Distressed Kurdish Rug Runner
Located in Katonah, NY
:: Diamond shaped center medallion with interior botehs and pinwheel floral top views adorned at either end by oversized finials with simplistic uniquely drawn floral designs. Main b...
Wool
Antique Floral Design Runner - Late 19th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
This rare late 19th century Antique floral design runner highlights a powerful and rhythmic composition featuring a magnificent centrally positioned series of repeating geometricized...
Wool
Antique Malayer Runner 2.86m X 1.38m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A lovely antique Malayer wide runner, handwoven circa 1900 with an allover floral design on an ivory field and fabulous secondary colours. Note the charming small birds throughout th...
Wool
Late 19th Century Antique Floral Design Runner
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
This structural balance between the prominent red field complete with its structured rows of repeating elements, surrounding wide indigo-blue floral borders, and impressive monumenta...
Wool
Late 19th Century Antique Floral Design Carpet
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
The color palette is masterfully balanced featuring a primary luminous ivory-blue canvas contrasted by wide, rich red and dusty blue framing borders that allow vibrant touches of sof...
Wool
Antique Floral Design Textile - Mid 19th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
this rare mid 19th century Antique floral design textile highlights a powerful and rhythmic composition featuring an incredibly intricate, all-over pattern layout framed by elegant c...
Wool
Antique Khamseh Rug 1.78m X 1.45m
Located in St. Albans, GB
An outstanding antique Khamseh rug, handwoven circa 1890 with a 3 medallion design of stylised flowers and the famous Khamseh chickens on an indigo field. Fabulous wool, great dyes a...
Wool
Antique Mashad Rug 1.34m X 0.79m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A lovely antique Mashad rug, handwoven circa 1920 with an elegantly drawn floral design on an ivory field and interesting gold border. Very finely woven with lovely wool quality and ...
Wool
Wonderful large antique Heriz rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Discover a magnificent antique Heriz rug, boasting exquisite geometric and decorative patterns in rich, natural hues. This masterpiece is meticulously hand-knotted with sumptuous woo...
Wool, Cotton
Bobyrug’s Antique tribal ghashghai rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice antique ghashghai rug entirely hand knotted with wool velvet on wool foundation. Immerse yourself in history and art with this exquisite early 20th century antique rug. Featurin...
Wool
Antique Malayer Runner 4.25m x 0.96m
Located in St. Albans, GB
An outstanding antique Malayer runner, handwoven circa 1900. The design features three large pistachio green Herati medallions on a deep indigo field of linked Botehs. Lovely wool qu...
Wool
Antique Floral Design Runner - Late 19th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
this rare early 20th century floral design runner highlights a powerful and rhythmic composition featuring a magnificent vertical sequence of monumental floral roundoids anchoring an...
Wool
Antique Mazlagan Rug 1.87m x 1.41m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A beautiful antique Mazalagan rug, handwoven circa 1900 with a hexagonal medallion of stylised flowers on a plain red field. Note the small animal motifs in the corner spandrels. Fin...
Wool
Antique Heriz Carpet 3.29m x 2.12m
Located in St. Albans, GB
An exceptional antique Heriz carpet, woven circa 1900. The design features a large geometrical medallion on a rare deep blue field surrounded by an unusual light camel border. Very a...
Wool
Antique Floral Design Rug - Late 19th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
this rare late 19th century Antique classical rug highlights a powerful and rhythmic composition featuring a magnificent, centrally positioned multi-tiered floral medallion anchoring...
Wool
Antique Floral Design Rug - Late 19th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
this rare late 19th century Antique regional workshop carpet highlights a powerful and rhythmic composition featuring a magnificent, centrally positioned multi-tiered floral and geom...
Wool
Antique Malayer Rug 1.97m X 1.32m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A lovely antique Malayer rug, handwoven circa 1900 with a linked Boteh medallion on an ivory field and attractive light blue border. Very finely woven with high quality wool and grea...
Wool
Floral Design Antique Rug - Early 20th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
The bold central motifs are masterfully balanced by a sophisticated and complex palette of organic vegetable dyes, featuring vibrant sky blue corner spandrels intricately filled with...
Wool
Antique Qashqai Kilim 2.30m x 1.59m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A beautiful antique Qashqai kilim, handwoven by the eponymous nomadic tribe circa 1920. This kilim features a traditional, allover geometrical design on a multicolour field surrounde...
Wool
Antique Gabbeh Rug 2.68m X 1.42m
Located in St. Albans, GB
An exceptional antique Gabbeh rug, handwoven by the nomadic Qashqai tribe circa 1900 with a geometrical design on a saffron yellow field and great secondary colours. Signed by the we...
Wool
$5,508Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Fine Malayer Square Rug
Located in Katonah, NY
Sprawling serrated leaves in multi-layered format interconnected by columned vines atop a covered field of blossoms and palmettes, all interconnected. Wide banded main border in a pa...
Wool, Cotton
Antique Malayer Rug 2.00m X 1.35m
Located in St. Albans, GB
An exceptional antique Malayer rug, handwoven circa 1900. This rug features a floral medallion on a navy blue Herati design field and particularly attractive mid blue border. This ru...
Wool
Antique Heriz Carpet 3.36m x 2.37m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A beautiful antique Heriz carpet, handwoven circa 1920 with a large geometrical medallion on a terracotta field and deep indigo border. Fabulous secondary colours, especially the lar...
Wool
Antique Tabriz Style Runner with Subtle Allover Design
Located in New York, NY
This exceptionally long antique Persian Tabriz runner is distinguished by its elegant proportions and understated, highly decorative presence.
Wool
Antique Floral Design Runner - Late 19th Century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
The complex design elements are masterfully balanced by a sophisticated and complex palette of organic vegetable dyes, featuring soft rose accents, deep sky blue highlights, and subt...
Wool
$3,300Sale Price|20% Off
Antique East Turkestan Khotan Rug
Located in New York, NY
An antique East Turkestan Khotan rug from the early 20th century.
Wool
Antique Qashqai Rug 2.62m X 1.57m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A fabulous antique Qashqai rug, handwoven by the eponymous nomadic tribe circa 1910. This rug features a 3 medallion design on a mid blue field and great secondary colours, particula...
Wool
Antique Heriz Carpet 2.96m x 2.15m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A beautiful antique Heriz carpet, woven circa 1920. The design features a large geometrical medallion on a rich terracotta field surrounded by a classic deep blue border. Very attrac...
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.
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