19th Century Antique Sarab Runner
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
Sarab runners are precious artifacts that reflect the distinctive weaving traditions of the Sarab region in northwestern Iran. With their fine craftsmanship and powerful symbolic mot...
Wool
20th Century Vintage Oushak Runner
Located in Paradise Valley, AZ
This exquisite Vintage Oushak rug is a true work of art skillfully handwoven by experienced artisans using traditional methods. Adorned with intricate patterns and a color scheme cra...
Wool
20th Century Vintage Oushak Runner
Located in Paradise Valley, AZ
This exquisite Vintage Oushak rug is a true work of art skillfully handwoven by experienced artisans using traditional methods. Adorned with intricate patterns and a color scheme cra...
Wool
Early 20th Century Kurdish Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Kurdish runner with multiple geometric floral medallions surrounded by wonderful wide complementary floral borders.
Wool
Early 20th Century Azari Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful early 20th century Persian Azari runner with multiple multicolored hexagonal medallions on an indigo background flanked with triangle-form fields of stylized flowers and ...
Wool
Late 19th Century Floral Design Runner
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 and ...
Wool
Late 19th Century Floral Design Runner
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 and ...
Wool
Vintage Gabbeh Runner in Polychromatic Chevron Patterns by Rug & Kilim
Located in Long Island City, NY
This vintage 3x6 Gabbeh Persian runner is from the latest entries in Rug & Kilim’s rare tribal curations.
Wool
Early 20th Century Kurdish Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful early 20th century Persian Kurdish runner with a sweet all-over crimson and indigo floral pattern on a dark indigo background.
Wool
Amazing 19th Century Afshar Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An amazing late 19th century Persian Afshar runner with a central field containing and all-over multi-colored paisley pattern woven in crimson, green, pink, gold, and indigo colored ...
$12,500
Vintage Senneh Kilim Runner
Located in Dublin, NH
The geometric border of stars on yellow/gold makes a fascinating counterpoint to the field design of repeating curvilinear flowers.
20th Century Vintage Oushak Runner
Located in Paradise Valley, AZ
This exquisite Vintage Oushak rug is a true work of art skillfully handwoven by experienced artisans using traditional methods. Adorned with intricate patterns and a color scheme cra...
Wool
20th Century Vintage Oushak Runner
Located in Paradise Valley, AZ
This exquisite Vintage Oushak rug is a true work of art skillfully handwoven by experienced artisans using traditional methods. Adorned with intricate patterns and a color scheme cra...
Wool
20th Century Vintage Oushak Runner
Located in Paradise Valley, AZ
This exquisite Vintage Oushak rug is a true work of art skillfully handwoven by experienced artisans using traditional methods. Adorned with intricate patterns and a color scheme cra...
Wool
20th Century Vintage Oushak Runner
Located in Paradise Valley, AZ
This exquisite Vintage Oushak rug is a true work of art skillfully handwoven by experienced artisans using traditional methods. Adorned with intricate patterns and a color scheme cra...
Wool
20th Century Vintage Oushak Runner
Located in Paradise Valley, AZ
This exquisite Vintage Oushak rug is a true work of art skillfully handwoven by experienced artisans using traditional methods. Adorned with intricate patterns and a color scheme cra...
Wool
20th Century Vintage Oushak Runner
Located in Paradise Valley, AZ
This exquisite Vintage Oushak rug is a true work of art skillfully handwoven by experienced artisans using traditional methods. Adorned with intricate patterns and a color scheme cra...
Wool
20th Century Vintage Oushak Runner
Located in Paradise Valley, AZ
This exquisite Vintage Oushak rug is a true work of art skillfully handwoven by experienced artisans using traditional methods. Adorned with intricate patterns and a color scheme cra...
Wool
20th Century Vintage Oushak Runner
Located in Paradise Valley, AZ
This exquisite Vintage Oushak rug is a true work of art skillfully handwoven by experienced artisans using traditional methods. Adorned with intricate patterns and a color scheme cra...
Wool
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with all-over floral pattern woven in natural, undyed, wool, surrounded by multiple complementary borders.
Wool
Early 20th Century Saveh Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Saveh runner with multicolored diamond pattern, surrounded by multiple contrasting borders.
Wool
Early 20th Century Shahsevan Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Shahsevan kilim runner with ten multicolored diamond medallions on a natural wool background, surrounded by a wonderful red and indigo zig-zag border.
Wool
Antique Bakhtiar Runner 4.00m x 1.07m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A beautiful antique Bakhtiar runner, woven circa 1900. This runner features a 3 medallion, Gol Farang (literally meaning ‘French flower’) design on a deep indigo field. Wonderful sec...
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 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
Early 20th Century Qazvi Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with a beautiful all-over tree-of-life pattern, woven with a subtle diamond pattern.
Wool
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with an all-over floral motif, surrounded by multiple complementary floral borders.
Wool
Bold Vintage Konya Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
A fantastic bold vintage Turkish Konya Kilim runner with an alternating orange, crimson and black striped pattern.
Wool
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with an all-over tree-of-life pattern surrounded by multiple contrasting geometric borders.
Wool
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with a beautifully woven tree-of-life pattern, surrounded by multiple complementary geometric borders.
Wool
Early 20th Century Shahsavan Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Shahsavan Kilim runner with an incredible motif of geometric forms on multicolored stripes running the length of the runner.
Wool
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with a multicolored all-over tree-of-life pattern surrounded by multiple contrasting floral borders.
Wool
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with a wonderful all-over multicolored floral pattern surrounded by a complementary geometric border.
Wool
New Contemporary Colorful Oushak Runner
Located in Dallas, TX
80859 New colorful Oushak runner, 03'01 x 10'03. Polished and playful with a hint of nomadic charm, this hand-knotted wool colorful Oushak runner is a captivating vision of woven bea...
Wool
Antique Floral Design Runner - Late 19th century
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
This elegant late 19th century Hamadan runner was woven in the Hamadan region of western Persia and reflects the distinctive character of traditional Persian village weaving.
Wool
Vintage Pakistani Tabriz-Style Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
A beautiful vintage Pakistani runner woven with a Tabriz pattern containing several large medallions woven with scrolling vines and flowers woven in muted colors including brick red,...
Wool
Early 20th Century Karabak Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
A gorgeous early 20th century Azerbaijani Karabak runner with a central field with a geometric trellis pattern woven in indigo against a rich crimson background. The border is extrao...
Wool
Wonderful Antique North Western Runner
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very beautiful and very old north western runner with beautiful botteh design and beautiful natural colors, with eggplant color which used in this kind of carpets until the middle of...
Wool
Wonderful Antique North Western Runner
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very beautiful and very old north western runner with beautiful botteh design and beautiful natural colors, with eggplant color which used in this kind of carpets until the middle of...
Wool
Early 20th Century Shahsavan Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Shahsavan Kilim runner with wonderful all-over multicolored diamond pattern with a complementary multicolored geometric border.
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
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with an all-over floral pattern on a brown ground, surrounded by a complementary geometric border.
Wool
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
A beautiful early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with a wonderful pattern of stylized trees-of-life, woven in multi-colored vegetables dyed wool, in a graduated rectangle d...
Wool
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with all-over floral pattern on a natural un-dyed wool background, surrounded by multiple contrasting floral borders.
Wool
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with a beautiful all-over multicolored stylized tree-of-life pattern on a black background.
Wool
Early 20th Century Shiraz Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Shiraz Kilim runner with all-over multi-colored diamond and geometric pattern surrounded by a complementary geometric border.
Wool
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with an all-over diamond floral pattern surrounded by multiple complementary geometric borders.
Wool
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with an all-over tree-of-life pattern surrounded by multiple complementary geometric borders.
Wool
Bobyrug’s Wonderful Antique Kurdish Runner
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very beautiful 19th century tribal runner with beautiful geometrical design and beautiful natural colors with blue, red, blue, yellow and green, entirely and finely hand knotted with...
Wool
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with ten diamond medallions on a natural wool background, surrounded by multiple contrasting geometric borders.
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
Early 20th Century Qazvi Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredible early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with a skillfully woven tree-of-life pattern with each tree having multicolored layers.
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
Early 20th Century Qazvin Kilim Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
A fantastic early 20th century Persian Qazvin Kilim runner with a beautiful all-over multicolored diamond pattern woven in orange, lavender, black, and white on a pale crimson backgr...
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
Bobyrug’s pretty Antique Kurdish Runner
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Discover the allure of this exquisite tribal Northwestern runner featuring a stunning geometric design and vibrant natural colors. Meticulously hand-knotted with wool velvet on a cot...
Wool, Cotton
Antique Heriz Runner 4.70m x 0.87m
Located in St. Albans, GB
A fabulous antique Heriz runner, hand woven circa 1910. The design features numerous geometrical medallions on a terracotta field and camel border. Lovely secondary colours of pink, ...
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 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
Turn-of-the-Century Yalameh Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
An amazing, circa 1900, early 20th century Persian Yalameh runner with nine geometric woven diamond medallions amidst a field of woven geometric flowers and goats on an indigo backgr...
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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