Antique Persian Rugs / Antique Persian Carpets are works of art that imbue their surroundings with warmth and beauty while linking us to the ancient past. Antique Persian rugs are appreciated globally for their fine weaving, beautiful colors and supreme tradition. When viewing a Persian carpet, one perceives a cultural journey over 2,500 years old. Historically, nomads, clerics and kings alike utilized Persian Carpets / Iranian Rugs as furniture and decoration; today Persian rugs and carpets are appreciated as artworks and investments by an ever-expanding number of collectors and scholars. Persian rugs and carpets inherent beauty, unique compositions and rarity make them extremely desirable.

What Is The Difference Between Persian Rugs and Oriental Rugs ?

Oriental Carpet is an all encompassing term. It almost always refers to rugs or carpets that are handmade, either knotted with pile or woven without pile. These carpets were woven by master weavers who lived in a large geographical area extending from Cyprus and Iran in the west, to Turkey, China and Vietnam in the East to the Caucasus in the north and India in the south.

Each region has its own culture, religious orientation and style. Oriental Carpets are categorized by their locale; Persian rugs, Central Asian rugs, Turkestanian, Chinese, Tibetan, Indian, Anatolian, Kurdish and Caucasian.

What are Persian Rugs / Iranian Rugs?

A Persian carpet or Persian rug is a rug that was hand knotted in modern day Iran. The traditional Persian carpet is tied with a single looping knot (Persian or Senneh knot). The vertical strand of thread in a Persian carpet has one loop. This use of a single knot is essential in establishing the identity of the place where the rug was made and the artisans who made it. The source of the design of the rug can be misleading, some rugs may be referred to as ‘Persian design’ if they are woven in another country in a traditional Persian style. An example of this naming would be Indo-Persian rugs: those woven in India with Persian designs. It’s a surprising fact that despite the tribal wars, migrations and commercial influence and rebellions the methods of rug construction used by different cultures has changed very little over time. The weave patterns of Persian rugs are recognizable to the trained eye and have existed for many generations. When comparing carpets the way to identify the knot used is to splay open the pile by bending the rug against itself and looking at the base of the knot.

Historically, the largest carpet producing centers that flourished in Persia are in Tabriz (1500-1550), Herat (1525-1650), Kashan (1525-1650) and Kerman (1600-1650). Many of the older carpets from Tabriz have a central medallion, quartered corner medallions appearing over a field of scrolling vine ornaments, accented with single animals or birds, animal combat scenes and mounted hunters. Carpet grounds were red, blue and sometimes white but colors tended to be muted, partly because the sheep in the Northwest have coarse wool but mainly because of the salt quality of the water used in the dyeing process. As many authorities believe, the best known of the Tabriz works are the twin Ardabil carpets in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Los Angeles Country Museum.

Herat carpets are characterized by a wine red field, scrolling vine ornaments and palmettes with dark or light green or deep blue borders. Noted for their large ornaments arranged round the middle of the field, the Herati pattern and Herati border with its linked palmettes, clear outlines and accurate symmetry indicate the work of skilled craftsman. Kashan is known for its silk carpet production (pile as well as ground weave), but it’s most famous for the three silk hunting carpets with it’s classic pattern of medallions, corner pieces and a leafy field through which huntsmen on horseback pursue lions, leopards, wolves and other animals. (Currently in the collections of the Vienna Museum of Applied Arts, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Stockholm Museum). Both silk and wool carpets are classically designed with medallion patterns with floral field decoration; and repeated flowervase or wreath patterns. Since the second half of the 19th century an importer of merino wool conceived the notion of relaunching the industry . The greatest ustadan, or weaver, Mohtashem is responsible for these finely woven carpets made in both wool and silk. Mohtashem Kashan’s are characteristically known for their purple or less often ruby red silk bindings used for the selvedges. These are the most highly regarded of all the Kashan weavings.

Kerman carpets have a unique structure called the ‘vase technique’, garden carpets (ornamented with formal gardens and water channel) and ogival lattice carpets are examples of this technique. Designs of fantastic complexity were executed. The most popular design in recent years employs a medallion of roses and a dense floral border that often flows over straight lines into the field, which is a rich single color, most commonly red. Kerman carpets are noted for their lightness of their shades.

What Is The Difference Between A ” Rug “ and A ” Carpet ” ?

The terms ” carpets ” and ” rugs ” are somewhat interchangeable, both are referring to floor coverings. The “official” difference is size. Carpets is the term used when talking about larger rugs and cover most or even the entire room. Anything over 6′ x9′ is considered a carpet, anything less is considered a rug.

Hand Knotted Carpets vs. Tufted or Machine Made Rugs

As the term implies machine made rugs are not woven by hand but are made by machine, loomed on a computer generated apparatus. There are no knots rather threads are looped or glued onto a plastic solid backing which cools and hardens. They typically employ cheaper inorganic materials, acrylics or chemical materials are not easily cleanable and do not breath. Because they are loomed in one continuous reel they can’t sustain damage or be repaired by hand. They lack the intricate designs that can only be achieved by hand knotting and they do not improve with age, are not collectible and do not retain their value. Hand knotted rugs are made by hand on a loom, each knot is knotted and tied. Pile materials are wool and silk, foundation of warp and weft is cotton, wool or silk. These natural materials are easily cleanable. There is no glue or backing. Wool breaths and the natural dyes soften and develop a patina that ages gracefully . These highly collectible rugs improve with age and last for decades. Tufted rugs are made by hand with the assistance of a tufting gun. The process is faster than tying knots by hand, the bottom of the rug is flat and no knots are visible. Glue is used to hold the tufts in place. A combination of inorganic and organic dyes are used, and the pile material is often poly, synthetic or can at times be organic wool. The rug’s pattern is printed on a cloth material used as the foundation which makes it easy to reproduce by machine and therefore not unique.

Note: If a rug is machine made (including hand tufted), it is not a Persian rug.

Antique Persian Carpets / Antique Persian Rugs / Antique Iranian Rugs as Artworks

Antique Persian carpets and antique Persian Rugs are regarded as one of the highest levels of artistic sophistication accomplished by humankind; as such designers, artists and collectors covet these masterpieces. Today Persian carpets, both modern and antique, have found an ever expanding home within the art world. As Jason Nazmiyal, says: “…rugs seem to me to focus most effectively on the convergence of color, texture and design in perfect balance and harmony.”

How Are Names Ascribed to Antique Persian Rugs & Antique Persian Carpets?

With the introduction of varying cultures’ commodities and art (in all its varying forms) at the market place, came the inevitable copying and constant modifications of design and motifs. A rug’s design, in and of its self, does not necessarily identify where it was made, or the people who authored it. Antique Persian Carpets & Rugs receive their names from either:

• The tribes or people that wove them
  (Ex: Kurdish rugs were woven by Kurdish people and since they were mostly nomadic, they are not assigned a specific city or region.)
• The region (city, district, town, villages) in which they were crafted.
  (Ex: Tabriz rugs were woven in the city of Tabriz.)

Note: There are exceptions to this general rule, as is the case with Serapi Rugs. In the case of Serapi carpets, the term Serapi refers to the older and “better” rugs that were made in the city of Heriz.

Design of Antique Persian Rugs And Antique Persian Carpets

While design styles vary from region to region, motifs found in Antique Persian Carpets widely include stylized intricate floral patterns, as well as larger geometric motifs. The more finely woven and intricate “city made” rugs (As a general rule, the finer pieces were woven in actual factories located in cities or industrial areas) will usually incorporate medallions and finely executed floral motif. The more geometric “village” industry rugs (woven mostly in peoples’ homes) will usually comprise more primitive, bold and geometric designs.

Note: Since it is forbidden by Muslim doctrine, it is rare to find antique Persian carpets depicting human or animal forms – when found, those pieces were mostly likely made specifically for European or Western markets by special order.

Antique Carpet Design as a Family Business

Design styles were passed down through long lineages of craftsman within a tribe or group. Family members wove alongside one another, weaving first for the household and secondly for the market. For the common designer, individual identity was not important, what was important was to accurately execute the traditional style; thereby ascribing the signature patterns and motifs of the”tribe” to each carpet.

Dyes Of Antique Rugs & Antique Carpets

The Dyes used when weaving antique Persian rugs were generally natural; which served to create lustrous, animated works and as a result portrayed a great depth of field. The recipes used to dye the fibers (which were commonly comprised of berries, insects, minerals and seeds) were as unique to its tribe as the weaving techniques they employed and as such the recipes were guarded as precious tribal secrets. The first chemical dyes were introduced to the rug manufactory markets during the mid 1800′s, so it is not uncommon to see such dyes in late 19th century pieces.

Yarns used when weaing Rugs & Carpets

Beginning with the carpets of nomadic people, which were comprised solely of wool, Persian rug materials later expanded to include cotton and silk as well. It is not unusual to see a rug made of more than one material. For example, many rugs were comprised of cotton foundations and wool pile.

Wool used for Persian Carpets Silk Cocoons used for Persian Carpets

Yarn plays an important role in the value of the rug or carpet, but not as important as the knots themselves. Whether silk on silk or wool on cotton, it is the quality of the weave that truly makes a difference. When the yarn of a carpet is finely woven together in a manner that creates an orchestrated symphony of color and design, that piece will be of the greatest value.

Note: Persian carpet weavers either used 2-Ply or single strand yarn.

The Weave of Rugs or Carpet’s

Weave is the major factor in structure and the basis for comparison amongst rug types.

Note: In 1913 Walter A. Hawley was the first Western author to describe the characteristics of structure to be seen in various rugs.

Pile Carpets & Rugs

Most immediately, pile rugs are a decorative alternative to hides and sheepskin; developed out of necessity by nomadic tribes. Pile is the yarn that is knotted onto the structural foundation (warp and weft), which gives the rug both its texture and design.

Note: The oldest known pile carpet (The Pazyryk Carpet) dates back to 600 BC, though the craft is thought to have existed even earlier.

A Carpet’s Foundation i.e. The Warp and Weft

The warp is composed of the tightly stretched vertical threads of the foundation (running throughout the entire carpet from end to end), while the weft stretches from side to side throughout the entire carpet and lies between the warp threads. In the trade, the warp is sometimes also called the ‘filler’ as it is used to fill in the weft, creating designs.

Thinking About Weaving Persian Carpets or Persian Rugs ? How Long Will It Take?

Typically, a single carpet could take months and even years of complex, detailed diligence to create. Time taken depends on the size and quality of the carpet (the finer the carpet the longer it takes to create). Often times many people would work side by side on the same carpet.

Hand Knotting a Piled Carpet

• Antique Hand Knotted Rugs are the only Persian / Iranian rugs.
• Hand-knotted carpets are more valuable than their hand-hooked or machine-made inferiors, due to labor intensity and exceptional skill level needed to execute design and technique.
• Hand-knotted carpets are more tightly woven than their counterparts, which make them stronger and more durable.

What is Knot Density?

Knot density refers to how many knots are agglomerated per square inch.

Note: While some consumers value knot density, the astute collector knows that the number of knots per square inch does not necessarily translate to a piece of greater value.

If a Carpet is Handmade, does that mean that it is a Hand Knotted rug?

No. Not all handmade carpets are hand knotted. Handmade may also refer to rugs and carpets tufted with a hand held tufting machine. Hand tufted rugs are of a lesser quality than hand knotted rugs.

Was My Carpet Hand Knotted?

An easy way to check if a carpet or rug is hand knotted is to fold a portion of the rug and look for an actual knot that was tied around the foundation (no machine-woven rug has the capability to actually knot).

Knot Types of Rugs & Carpets

Knot types used in Persian rugs include:

The Persian or Senneh Knot (asymmetrical) The Turkish or Ghiordes Knot (symmetrical) The Jufti Knot (tied around four warps)

The two most commonly used knots in Persian weaving are the Turkish (used in the Caucasus, some Turkish and Kurdish areas of Iran, Turkey and East Turkmenistan) and Persian knots (Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, China and India).

The Persian knot is commonly when weaving finer rugs, because it is generally more smaller than its counterparts. Wrapping around one warp, then passing behind the neighboring warp so that it divides the two ends of yarn, makes the knot.

The Turkish knot is made by passing between two neighboring warps, looping under one, wrapped around both, then pulled through the center – both ends will come out between the two warps. (Diagram of Turkish knot.)

Note: Double Knotted: The second knot sits in front of the first knot. With the double knot technique, the second knot is not visible from the back.

Antique Persian Carpets / Antique Iranian Rugs

• Antique rugs and carpets are those made at least 80 years ago.
• The number of Antique Persian Carpets and Rugs will only decrease over time – one of the reasons why they are of such great value.

As Western influence expanded across the Middle East throughout the 20th century, primary cultures began to loose their autonomy. People’s abilities to sustain traditional crafting techniques faded and original motifs were slowly lost. The divide between antique carpets and all those that follow shows, over time, that the quality of these pieces diminished on all levels.

What is the Age of my Persian Rugs / Iranian Rugs?

• Age is the easiest to quantify of all the contributing value factors.
• When referring to carpets, the term antique refers to a piece that is at least eighty years old.

Authenticity

Authenticity also plays a crucial role in the appraisal of an antique carpet. The more the history and art of a particular culture is represented in the design, and the more aesthetically pleasing the carpet is as a whole, the more valuable the carpet.

Note:For example, the 16th-century Shah named Humayan found two painters after being exiled to Persia for 10 years. When he returned to India and regained power, he directed weavers to translate the painters’ style into rugs. These rugs can still be found today. Their unique beauty and inherent history is a paradigm example of what makes antique Oriental rugs so valuable.

What do people mean when reffering to a rug’s provenance?

Simply put, provenance is where an object comes from. When referring to the provenance of rugs and carpets, one is generally referring to the people who made the rug, the region it is from and who has previously owned the piece.

What gives an antique carpet its value is the degree to which it reflects the culture of the era in which it was created.

Antique Persian Carpets as a whole vs. an individual Persian Rug

A master weaver’s signature and method can help in determining where the carpet was made, what style the carpet exhibits, and who the weaver was.

Urban cities have traditionally facilitated Persian rug weaving as a commercial industry. A certain manufactories production was greatly influenced by the market demands of the time. At the helms of such manufactories were master rug-weavers who chose colors and organized the weavers. These master-weavers designed with a personal identity that superseded group identity and in such instances, vernacular craft gave way to conscious visual art form. Today these masterworks can be found in museum collections such as those of The Metropolitan Museum and in the inventories of fine antique carpet galleries.

Antique Persian Rugs as Investments

In addition to being beautiful works of art, Persian carpets have been collected throughout history (and continuing into modern day) as investments. Historically, Persian carpets have been referred to as ‘ Iranian stocks and shares:’ Iranian market places are full of underground vaults where businessmen keep the precious pieces as such. Persian carpets of museum quality will provide an investment similar to that of a master painting, but are relatively less expensive and of a more practical use. Today Persian carpets still remain a viable commodity.

Note: Relative to market demand, unless damaged, antique Persian rugs do not depreciate in value; therefore making valuable investments. Prices will reflect market demand.

Buying Persian Rugs / Iranian Rugs

Condition

Normal wear and tear is a consequence of age. A carpet’s wear adds to the patina of time and charm; therefore, the collector should look at some wear fondly. An ideal carpet condition is one in which the entire pile is present, including the fringe, side cords, and selvedges. A typical situation is one in which the rug pile is worn evenly, and reduced in height.

What is Abrash?

• Abrash refers to the change in color of a rug due to the use of different dye lots of wool.
• The Abrash follows the weft of yarn from left to right.
• Rug connoisseurs favorably regard abrash as a mark of authenticity of a hand woven rug.
• Today it is not uncommon to find manufacturers of machine-made rugs copying this effect in an effort to make their rugs appear hand knotted.

Repaired Persian Carpets

Usually, repaired carpets are not as valuable as carpets in their original condition; however, some repairs are unavoidable, a simple repair or extensive restoration may serve to increase the value and maintain the use of an antique carpet. To determine the value of an antique carpet, it is important to know how many repairs have been made. Some research should be done, as not all repairs are readily apparent. As with any work of art or object of practical function, a bad repair will decrease the value of a carpet, so it is important, when collecting antique carpets to evaluate the condition of each piece.

Note: As opposed to machine woven carpets, hand knotted carpets can be repaired!

The following are some additional articles about antique Persian rugs and antique Persian carpets: