Showing 1–24 of 570 results
Showing 1–24 of 570 results
Entering the world of genuine Persian rugs is a unique journey. Exploring this world reveals hidden histories and ancient traditions. Some patterns were familial patterns for thousands of years. Many designs will across different cultures and people. In the rug world, the mundane becomes the mysterious. Patterns such as flowers and geometric figures have deep symbolism. Many of these shapes carry deep meaning.
The term “Persian Rugs” refers to those area rugs woven in modern day Iran. For a Persian rug to be antique, it would need to be at least 80 years old.
Persian and Iranian rugs they are one and the same.
What is the difference between a Persian rug and an Oriental rug?
The term “Oriental” refers to the rug’s weaving location. In this case it means Asia. Rugs woven in the modern day country of Iran, are Oriental. That said, not all Oriental rugs are Persian.
In rugs, the term “Oriental” refers to the weaving location of a rug. In this case it means Asia.
So all the rugs woven in what is Iran today, are “Oriental rugs”.
That said, not all Oriental rugs are of Persian origin. That is because many come from other countries.
It’s important to note that the reasons for choosing area rugs from Persia can vary. Personal preferences and cultural appreciation have an influence.
Many People buy and appreciate Persian rugs for a range of reasons.
The reasons for buying Persian rugs can vary among people. Some buyers may be drawn to the cultural and historical aspects. Others may prioritize the aesthetics or investment value. Steady demand for good examples, ensures that many people will want them.
The area rugs from Persia are timeless and classic. This makes them less prone to going out of style. Especially when compared to some current trends.
Persian rugs not fads, but personal preferences do vary. Some people may prefer more modern or minimal styles. Such choices do influence the perception of what is popular.
The rugs from Iran do work in diverse interior design styles. People appreciate their beauty, quality and cultural significance.
Persian carpets are iconic for several reasons. They have rich histories, cultural significance and intricate designs.
In summary, these examples are iconic for many reasons. They have historical significance, symbolism and timeless beauty. These factors make the rugs more than just floor coverings. They are works of art. As such, they resonate with wide range of people.
According to ancient beliefs, certain elements offer protective qualities. These include geometric figures, animals and other symbols. These are meant to protect the rug’s owner from evil and misfortune. The tribal designs in Persian rugs are examples of art imitating life.
There are countless Persian designs maintained by weavers throughout Persia. When designs and techniques combine, the options are limitless. Antique Oriental rugs from Persia, are astonishing in range of look and feel. From nomadic to imperial weaving traditions – these rugs have it all.
Global trade of rugs from Persia dates back thousands of years. It resulted in fascinating interchange of designs between East and West. Antique Persian rugs are one-of-a-kind and contain their own story. Each Persian rug boasts intricate histories of all rugs woven before and since.
Persian rugs leave an unbeatable visual impact in home design. These rugs and carpets have a timeless, classical elegance. That’s why the feel right at home in most Western interiors. For centuries, these hand woven rugs have been the “gold standard” in rug design. The colors, motifs and tasteful patterns feel relaxed and balanced.
People love the designs in antique rugs made in Iran. They feature flawless proportions, effortless fluidity and timeless style. Designs and proportion are perfect without seeming stiff, rigid or uninspired. People prize antique and vintage Persian carpets today. They are durable and showcase sumptuous textures and strong colors. The perfect proportion designs are the secret behind their ageless elegance.
The construction of Persian rugs varies based origin. Each city, region or village has a unique approach. Single looping knots, “Senneh knots”, seen in traditional examples. The vertical strand of thread in a Persian carpet has one loop.
The single knot is essential in establishing the rug origin. It may help in identifying the artisans who made it. To identify the rug knot used, splay open the pile. Just bend the rug against itself and looking at the base of the knot.
In the Middle East, Persian rugs are the most varied and extensive. 9th century pile carpet fragments discovered at Fostat near Cairo. People imported them from what is the country of Iran today. In Iran carpet making began during the Mongol or Ilkhanid period – 1300. It continued during the Timurid period through the 15th century.
Major production took place in Tabriz, Kerman, and Isfahan. But we have no historical evidence of carpet making in Isfahan. At least during the early years of rug production.
The “golden area” of Persian carpet weaving began after 1500. That is when the foundation of the Safavid dynasty by Shah Ismail began. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Persia produced many great masterpiece carpets. Some are in existence today.
During these periods, people exported these carpets around the globe. This includes countries from Japan to Western Europe. Carpet loot, from Ottoman Turks, after the 1683 Battle of Vienna, was Persian. This is despite the Turks being big carpet producers.
The carpet production in Persia peaked during the late 19th century. These carpets had become synonymous with “Oriental rugs”. Persian rug weavers regained their predecessors’ competence at this time.
This is true for older weaving centers like Tabriz and Kerman. It is true in newer centers like Sultanabad or Kashan. Since then, Persian carpets boasted dizzying arrays of styles. From fine urban productions to bold village and nomadic pieces.
Following the Silk Road, the rugs from Persia made their way west to Europe. In Spain, Islamic insurgence, brought the rug weaving traditions. In most part from Northern Africa, and Morocco, to Southern Europe. Italy’s upper class loved these rugs. Especially those from the Caucasus and Transylvania.
In the Caucasus, in the bottleneck of rug weaving traditions. This intensified by displaced ethnic groups. The groups include Romania, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. They shared cross-cultural designs that made their way to Eastern Europe. Carpets and weaving thrived in Europe, Scandinavia and Great Britain. They traded them longstanding Viking trade routes, through the harsh Arctic Sea.
The most famous Persian carpets came from Tabriz. They are referred to as the twin Ardabil carpets. They are in the Victoria & Albert Museum and Los Angeles Country Museum.
A 19th century merino wool importer revived the rug industry. It was the great master weaver Mohtashem. He is responsible for the fine woven carpets made in both wool and / or silk..
There are three main styles of Persian rugs:
Persian carpet weaving, in modern day Iran has a long history. Iran creates beautiful and sumptuous handmade carpets. Carpet weaving in Persian is part of the culture. Ancient Iranian rug weavers elevated weaving into an art form. They used a wonderful mix of colors and patterns.
Persian carpet weaving takes place made all over Iran today. Old rug weaving centers were Tabriz, Heriz, Kerman, Sarouk and Sultanabad.
Tabriz is a city with a long and colorful history. It was once the capital of a series of khanate rulers. This includes the famed Safavid Empire. Today it is the capital of East Azerbaijan Province of Iran. It is significant to carpet and rug lovers. This is because it is one of the oldest rug weaving centers. The golden age of weaving in Tabriz is between the 12th and 16th century. The city remains an important center for rug weaving today.
Click here to view Nazmiyal’s Collection of antique Tabriz Carpets
Heriz is a city in the East Azerbaijan Province of Iran. It is near the city of Tabriz. This small city made tough and durable wool rugs of the finest quality. The wool’s toughness is due to the copper on the slope of Mount Sabalan. Traces of copper in the drinking water makes the local sheep’s wool tougher. More than wool found in other areas. Their toughness and range of sizes make them great for decorating.
View our antique Persian Heriz Serapi and Bakshaish Carpets
Kerman was once the capital of Iran. Today it is the capital of the Kerman Province of Iran. It is the largest and the most important city in southeastern Iran. It is home to many historic mosques and Zoroastrian fire temples. For years, the city has been a center for high quality carpets. Among antique carpets, Kerman carpets are considered to be among the finest. Collectors love them for their beautiful designs. They feature broad color pallets and use natural fibers and dyes.
Click here to view Nazmiyal’s Collection of antique Kerman Carpets
Sarouk is a town located in Markazi Province in northwestern Iran. The town and the nearby city of Arak, are famous for their carpets. Many boast tough and durable high quality wool.
Sarouk rugs are among the finest in the world. Americans in the 20th century loved the floral design of these rugs. Today, the finest Sarouk rugs come from a small town called Ghiassabad.
Click here to view Nazmiyal’s Collection of Antique Sarouk Carpets
You can choose rugs with formal designs of the carpet weaving centers. You can go for more rustic tribal rugs. It depends on the look and feel that you want for the room. Browse our site and see our selection. We have both city and village produced rugs for your next design inspiration.
Persian rugs are among the most diverse and beautiful of all the Oriental rugs. They boast a rich story of the cultural and historical significance. These iconic rugs is one of the most interesting in art history. There is a Persian carpet out there for anyone who seeks one. That quest is sure to be an exciting and edifying experience.
An interesting fact is the story of the 16th century Shah Humayun. During his 10-year exile, he happened upon two artists. Once he regained power and returned to India, he wove rugs on painters style.
These rugs are around today. The unique beauty and history are what makes the rugs so valuable.
The number of antique Persian rugs will only decrease over time. This is one of the reasons why they are of such great value. Today there are a lot of rugs available on the market. But the trade considers most to be not “good examples”.
The best examples of carpets woven in Persia are the most “valuable”. Today there is escalating interest in these works of art. That’s why the best examples are selling for record-breaking amounts. This culminated in most expensive one selling for $34,000,000.
(You can read more about this rug here: most expensive rug sold at auction).
During the 20th century Western influence expanded in the Middle East. Many cultures began to lose their self defining attributes. This was the result of weaving rugs based on outside market demands.
Traditional crafts faded with time and original motifs lost. The old carpets versus newer ones are so different. The quality diminished on all levels over time.
In the art world, few things offer as much as these rugs. The older examples offer so much cultural and historical context. Aesthetics and culture of an entire people is in the older rugs from Persia. Rug-making was a serious art form of the people of Persia.
The Persian people took much pride in the textile art they created. In their antique carpets that we find the finest, most important examples. To know these iconic pieces is to know a people and a culture. This is rare in the art world. They are one of the most artistic accomplished by humankind. As such, designers, artists and rug collectors covet these masterpieces. As such, designers, artists and rug collectors covet these masterpieces.
Today both the modern and antique pieces, found a home within the art world.
Jason Nazmiyal, says:
“These rugs seem to me, to focus most effectively on the convergence of color, texture and design in perfect balance and harmony.”
These magnificent rugs are beautiful and enduring artistic creations. Their beauty and complexity is timeless, inspiring and exciting. People feel a connection to the weavers when they see the meticulous works. Like the intimate feel when one sees the brush strokes in a painter’s finest work.
These rugs are great treasures of humanity. To know them as such is to know the limitless nature of fine art.
These rugs are, for the most part, unsigned. Including those woven by the great master weavers. A master weaver’s signature can help determine the true origin. It can assist with what style the carpet exhibits, and who the weaver was.
Urban cities have been weaving as a commercial industry. Any maker adjusts based on the market demands of the time. At the helms of such production companies were the master rug-weavers.
These people were the ones who chose the colors and organized the weavers. They designed with a personal identity. This is contrast to weaving with a group identity or collective approach. The vernacular craft gave way to conscious visual art form in such cases. Today these masterworks are in museum collections. Like The Met Museum and others. They are in the inventories of fine antique carpet galleries as well.
These rugs are not only beautiful works of textile art. The more rare pieces are quite collectible as well. People collect them today as investments. They were even referred to as ‘Iranian stocks and shares’.
Iranian businessmen keep their precious pieces in vaults. The rarest ones have the investment potential of a master painting.
That said, they are far less expensive and can serve a more practical use. Today, they remain a viable commodity.
*Note: Unless damaged, the best examples will hold their value. It makes them valuable investments. Prices will reflect and fluctuate with market demands.
In most cases, the names come from the origin or weaver.
A rug’s design does not identify the origin. Nor does it tell us who the people who authored it were.
In general, Antique rugs from Persia receive their names from either:
There are exceptions to this general rule. One example are the case with Persian Serapi Rugs. The term “Serapi” refers to the older and “better” rugs made in Heriz.
The rug color dyes used were natural dyes for the most part. This served to create lustrous, animated works with great depth of field. The recipes used for the dyes included berries, insects, minerals and seeds. The combinations were unique to each tribe, city and/or region. Weaving techniques and dye recipes were precious tribal secrets.
The first chemical dye came to the rug market in the mid 1800s. It is common to see such dyes in late 19th century rugs.
Design styles are historical to the craftsmen within a tribe or group. Family members wove alongside one another. Weaving first for the household then for the market. For the common designer, personal identity was not important. What was important, was to execute the traditional style. Those are the signature patterns and motifs of the “tribe” to each carpet.
A single carpet could take months and even years to create. The actual time depends on the size and quality of the carpet. The finer the carpet the longer it takes to make. That is because the weaver need to tie more KPSI (knots per square inch). This is why many people would work side by side on the same carpet.
Knot types used in Persia include:
The two most used knots in Persian weaving are the Turkish and Persian knots.
Turkish knots are in the Caucasus, Kurdistan, Turkey and East Turkmenistan. The Persian knots are in Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, China and India.
The older Persian carpets will feature abstract renderings. The shapes are geometric and / or floral. Many Persians are Muslim. Islam does not allow the rendering living beings.
What seems like random shapes and abstract designs, are, for the most part, anything but! These rug patterns and designs are familial. On generation passes down the traditions and patterns to the next. Some motifs have profound meanings (such as lucky charms, wishes and messages).
Naturally, we believe that Nazmiyal is the best dealer for Persian rugs. That said, we urge you to do your due diligence. The more rug galleries people visit, the more educated they become. We believe that an educated consumer is the best buyer.
Rug weaving, as an art, began in Persian (Iran), date back about 2,500 years. They were initially woven by nomadic tribes. The nomads made them for protection from the cold and wet environment. Later, they began to develop into traditional patterns. That is when they became both functional and works of art.
In 539 BC, Cyrus the Great fell in love with Babylon’s Oriental rugs.
The oldest carpet in the world, dates to 5th century BC. The piece surfaced during a dig in the Pazyryk valley.
The beauty of Persian carpets will enhance any interior design. The beautiful colors and patterns are rich in traditions. The origins of these traditions are unknown.
For the most part, the artists and creators of these master artworks are unknown. The hands that tied every knot have faded into obscurity. We can pin the rug to a certain region or tribe. But lost are the names and faces linked with these works. Yet, there are a few masters whose names we do know. These carpets hold a special place as world treasures.
They produced true masterpieces. Many found their way into exquisite collections and museums around the world. A rug by one of these masters is a rare and prized piece. They stand out in their quality and design in a way that is mesmerizing.
Persia has been famed as a major center of carpet weaving for centuries. The origins of the woven carpet remain a subject of debate. All the evidence points to Persia as the cradle of ancient rug production. From the earliest times.
Persia has been a fountain of oriental art and culture through the centuries. By Islamic times, Persia established the artistic standards. Including architecture design, miniature painting and textiles. The rest of the Middle East copied their works.
The Safavid period began around the year 1500. This is when we have a substantial body of surviving carpets. It is clear that Persia constituted the heartland of Islamic rug production. They inspired weavers in neighboring regions. These include Turkey and India from the 16th century on.
Persia has continued to maintain this central role right down to the present time. No other rug producing region offers the range, quality, design and skill. The refined weaving techniques distinguish them as the finest work of their kind.
People associate Persian rugs with magic carpet rides. Thanks to the likes of Disney blockbuster hits such as Aladdin. But you don’t have to search far and wide to find one of these magical treasures. Most of the rugs won’t make you an aviation specialist. But they are remarkable finds. They will bring your home true richness of historical quality.
Nazmiyal has been a global leader in the antique carpet trade. The rugs offered are hand-picked. We ensure the utmost quality. Our pieces are rich with history and tradition.
The Persian rug is a rare find. It is a gem in the home decor world. These rugs, are a journey into the majestic world of ancient cultures. Ones that are over 2,500 years old.
These pieces are essential statement decor items. They are perfect for true mavens and connoisseurs. These treasures from the Orient are full of geometric shapes and floral designs. The captivating color palettes will enhance your home.
These antique finds will create a Middle Eastern getaway. One that your guests will be jealous of.
If you’re in the market for a rug, Nazmiyal is the best place to start. We have a vast collection of diverse examples. You will find antique Oriental rugs in different sizes and styles.
You can shop our collection of the rugs and carpets online. We make it easy to find your centerpiece or additions to a collection.
Our website features an extensive inventory of Persian carpets. It contains useful information about the rugs. It is a great resource for people who are new to this market. We want our customers to feel like they are making informed decisions.
Please call our experts at 212-545-8029. They’ll guide you through our vast inventory and help you find your perfect piece. You can contact us with your request by filling out the online form. You can do this on the Contact Us page. We respond emails with the information needed ASAP.
a month ago
Twenty or so years ago my father gave me a beautiful antique Persian rug - after so many years (and kids and pets) it needed some TLC, so I brought it to Nazmiyal. I just picked it up today and - wow! They got the stains out entirely and the entire rug is brighter; they also made some repairs - it's back in my living room and looks fantastic, and the bill was lower than I'd expected. Overall it was a great experience - the people are wonderful, the work was perfect, and I saw so many beautiful rugs at their store that I found myself wishing for a larger apartment. Next time I need any work done on a rug, or find an open bit of floor I know where I'll be heading.
4 years ago
It is always a delight going to the Nazmiyal showroom. This Qashqai is one of several purchases made over the years, and mom is truly enjoying it. Jason and the staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. They listen to the customeru2019s needs. When I go to the showroom, it is like visiting my family because we have the same appreciation for the textile arts.nnOriental carpets are a rare discipline to be educated in, because you canu2019t go to a university to have certain types of training and experience, such as knowing the cultures and processes of carpet weaving. Jason has such a refined eye that he can distinguish a good rug from a great rug, and that knowledge is offered to the customer to elevate their point of view.nnComing here has been an initiation into a world of culture, art, and beauty which has sustained me, and for that I am grateful.
4 years ago
Loved my runner rug purchase from Nazmiyal. Love the ability to purchase, try and return if it didn't work out! I had it shipped to California and everything worked out beautifully!
a year ago
NAZMIYAL is the best source for antique and vintage rugs and carpets. Staff is extremely knowledgeable, Jason himself is an amazing dealer who handpicks each and every piece in his stunning collection and is happy to educate the consumer, not just make a sale. I always trust his experience and great eye for all my spaces!
4 years ago
I had an absolutely wonderful experience working with Nazmiyal. I was very impressed by their selection, the quality of their beautiful carpets, and their extremely reasonable prices. Really I cannot say enough about how helpful everyone at the gallery was - especially Omri, work with him if you can! - and how happy I am with my new antique rug. Five stars, highly, highly recommended!