Persian Rugs
21st Century and Contemporary Persian Oushak Persian Rugs
Wool
Early 20th Century Persian Malayer Persian Rugs
Wool
1930s East Turkestani Khotan Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1940s Persian Tabriz Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s European Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1890s European Antique Persian Rugs
Wool
1980s Persian Tabriz Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1980s Persian Tabriz Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1980s Persian Tabriz Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1980s Persian Tabriz Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
Early 20th Century Persian Tabriz Persian Rugs
Wool, Cotton
1940s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
Early 1900s Persian Antique Persian Rugs
Wool, Cotton
1890s Persian Antique Persian Rugs
Wool, Cotton
1650s Persian Antique Persian Rugs
Wool, Cotton
1910s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool, Cotton
1890s Persian Sarouk Farahan Antique Persian Rugs
Wool
1960s Persian Tabriz Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1930s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
19th Century Persian Bakshaish Antique Persian Rugs
Wool
1940s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
20th Century Persian Kirman Persian Rugs
Wool
19th Century Persian Heriz Serapi Antique Persian Rugs
Wool
19th Century Persian Sultanabad Antique Persian Rugs
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Tabriz Persian Rugs
Wool
1940s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Chinese Art Deco Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1930s Indian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Turkish Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1940s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
Mid-20th Century Persian Tribal Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Chinese Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1910s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1940s Chinese Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1950s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
Early 1900s Turkish Antique Persian Rugs
Wool
1980s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
Early 2000s Pakistani Other Persian Rugs
Wool
Early 19th Century Persian Antique Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool, Cotton
1890s Persian Antique Persian Rugs
Wool, Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary Persian Oushak Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
Late 20th Century Tribal Persian Rugs
Wool
Early 1900s Persian Antique Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Chinese Art Deco Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1920s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool
1960s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool, Cotton
1890s Indian Antique Persian Rugs
Wool
1930s Persian Vintage Persian Rugs
Wool, Cotton
2010s Pakistani Other Persian Rugs
Wool
Antique and Vintage Persian Rugs for Sale on 1stDibs: Persian Tribal Rugs, Handmade Silk Persian Rugs and More
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.