19th Century Persian Tabriz Prayer Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
Mid-late 19th century Persian Tabriz prayer rug. This Tabriz features a singular prayer niche marked out by the central tree on the ivory field.
Wool
Antique Silk Tabriz Prayer Rug, Northwest Persia
Located in New York, NY
Antique silk Tabriz Prayer rug, Northwest Persia. A high quality pictorial and Directional design. This rug is a unique interpretation of the traditional symmetrical columnar niche f...
Silk
Square Tribal Turkoman Prayer Rug, circa 1960
Located in Northridge, CA
Small square Turkoman rrayer rug in a tribal design, circa 1960 Measures: 3' 1" x 3' 1" Hand-knotted wool pile on a cotton foundation. Field: Ivory Border: Cherry-red A...
Wool
Unusual Persian Bakhtiari Prayer Rug with Bird Design, circa 1940
Located in Northridge, CA
Unusual Persian Bakhtiari Prayer rug with Bird Design circa 1940 Measures: 5' 5" x 8' 11" Hand-knotted wool pile, cotton foundation Field: Rust Border Color: Tan Accent Color: Na...
Wool
Antique Islamic Prayer Rug 'Sajjadah', Kashan, Persia, Early 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
Antique Islamic Prayer rug (Sajjadah), Kashan, Persia, early 20th century. A fine natural dyed shiny wool in a dense Persian knot in short pile on an all wool foundation. An intrica...
Wool
Antique Prayer Rug
Located in New York, NY
A highly collectible prayer rug featuring a stylized "tree-of-life" on a field of un-dyed camel hair.
Wool
Shirvan Prayer Rug
Located in Dublin, NH
This finely woven prayer rug from the southern Caucasus contains a veritable garden of flowering plants almost seemingly individually planted within the over all trellis extending bo...
Silk Fereghan Prayer Rug
Located in Dublin, NH
The intricate drawing and fine detailing afforded the weaver by the use of silk pile is on full display in this antique prayer rug from central Persia. Shimmering blues as well as co...
Vintage Persian Qum Vase Prayer Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
Showcasing a directional prayer rug layout with a mihrab niche, this vintage Persian prayer rug is poised to impress.
Other
Antique Persian Silk Prayer Kerman Rug
By Kerman
Located in New York, NY
Antique Persian Kerman Rug, Persia, c. 1900 - This comely antique rug of Kerman origin is characterized by a lovely, especially elaborate prayer design. Resplendent with beautifully ...
Silk
Early 20th Century Persian Prayer Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Talish prayer rug with vibrant indigo background surrounded by multiple contrasting borders. 2'6" x 4'2" Reza's Rug Gallery #: 3713 Keywords: Ru...
Wool
Antique Tabriz Persian Prayer Design Rug
Located in New York, NY
Created in Tabriz, this beautifully drawn Tree of Life rug depicts an exceptional composition with ornate floral motifs that are rendered in a chic selection of soft powder blues and...
Wool
Persian Baluch Hand Knotted Oriental Prayer Rug
Located in Big Flats, NY
Hand knotted Persian Baluch prayer rug features stylized figures on ivory ground, reds, blues and ivory, circa 1930. Measures: 50" x 36".
Wool
Wonderful Late 19th Century Turkmen Prayer Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A 19th century Persian Turkmen prayer rug with a beautiful elaborate geometric pattern in alternating colors of crimson, indigo, coral, and cream, surrounded by a multiple elaborate ...
Wool
Haji Jalili Antique Silk Persian Tabriz Prayer Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
Haji Jalili was a well-known master craftsman from Marand, a small town northwest of Tabriz, Iran. This antique silk Tabriz prayer rug features two stylized columns and delicate chan...
Silk
Early 20th Century Persian Qum Silk Prayer Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
Woven in the 1930s in the historic city of Qum, this early 20th-century Persian prayer rug is a stunning example of the region’s renowned silk weaving tradition. Hand-knotted from lu...
Silk
Sold
W 29.93 in L 107.88 in
Silk Ghom Persian Rug Silk Persian Ghom Rug Prayer Rug Runner Meditation Rug
Located in New York, NY
Immaculate rare signed Persian silk Ghom Gum rug fine runner carpet pure silk red Size 2'6" x 9' Serial ID # 90392k Design Natural pure organic silk Metric size ...
Silk
Tribal Style Vintage Persian Gashgai Prayer Rug, Kashgai Qashqai Pictorial Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
76967 Tribal Style Vintage Persian Gashgai Prayer Rug, Kashgai Qashqai Pictorial Rug. Full of character of stately presence, this hand-knotted wool vintage Persian Gashgai rug with m...
Wool
Early 20th Century Tree-of-life Kashan Prayer Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful and whimsical early 20th century Persian Kashan rug depicting an all-over tree-of-life pattern with several beautifully rendered birds perches amidst leafy branches, and ...
Wool
Vintage Persian Baluch Tribal Oriental Prayer Rug, Stylized Mosque Design
Located in Big Flats, NY
A vintage Persian Baluch tribal prayer rug offers stylized mosque and feather decoration on red ground, circa 1940. Measures: 62" L x 33" W.
Wool
19th Century Persian Hadji Jali Li Tabriz Poshtee Prayer Rug
Located in New York, NY
Authentic Collector Caliber 19th century one of a kind Persian Tabriz rug. Since the mid-19th century, Tabriz has lead a resurgence in Persian carpet-weaving both for domestic use...
Wool
Antique Hand-Knotted Persian Baluch Prayer Rug, 1900
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique hand-knotted Persian Baluch oriental prayer rug features traditional repeating geometric design, dominating colors include reds, blues, tans and ivory, 1900 Measures: 61" ...
Wool
Persian Kashan Wool Mosque Prayer Rug, Signed in Farsi, circa 1930
Located in Big Flats, NY
Persian hand-knotted wool Kashan prayer rug features central mosque design, singed in Farsi, primarily orange, green and blues, circa 1930. Measures: 68" x 53.5".
Wool
Victorian Style Hand Knotted Persian Prayer Wool Rug Depicting Two Parakeets
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a lovely hand woven prayer rug depiction two parakeets on a branch. It is Persian and vivid colors of wool. I believe it to be a mid-century piece but am not positive of the ...
Wool
Pictorial Persian Isfahan Prayer Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Fine quality early 20th century Persian Isfahan carpet with an enchanting prayer niche motif on an ocean blue field.
Wool
Distressed Antique Persian Kashan Mille-Fleurs Prayer Rug with Art Nouveau Style
Located in Dallas, TX
77461, distressed antique Persian Kashan Mille-fleurs prayer rug with Art Nouveau style 04'06 x 06'04. Reminisce of 19th century French designs and decorative elegance, this hand kno...
Wool
Vintage Persian Tree of Life Qum Silk Prayer Rug with French Rococo Style
Located in Dallas, TX
77199 vintage Persian tree of life qum silk prayer rug with French Rococo style. A vision of paradise, this hand knotted silk vintage Persian silk Qum prayer rug displays a tradition...
Wool
Antique Kirman Tree of Life or Garden Persian Oriental Prayer Rug, circa 1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique finely woven Kirman Persian oriental prayer rug features traditional garden or tree of life design in pinks and blues on ivory ground, circa 1910.
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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