Persian Rugs: The Complete Guide to History, Types, Authentication and Buying
There is no textile tradition in human history more celebrated, more studied, or more widely collected than the Persian rug. For two and a half millennia, weavers in the territory that is now Iran and the broader Persian cultural sphere have produced hand-knotted carpets of extraordinary beauty - objects that have served as currency, as diplomatic gifts between emperors, as religious donations to the greatest mosques of the Islamic world, and as the defining decorative element of interior spaces from the palaces of the Safavid dynasty to living rooms across the contemporary world.
Persian rugs are not a single thing. They encompass hundreds of distinct weaving traditions spanning dozens of cities and regions, each with its own design vocabulary, construction standards, material preferences, and cultural history. A Kashan silk medallion carpet and a Qashqai tribal rug are both genuinely Persian rugs - and they are about as similar to each other as a Baroque oil painting is to a folk watercolor. Both are valid, both are beautiful, and understanding what distinguishes them is the foundation of buying well.
This guide covers everything. By the end you will understand the full sweep of Persian rug history, know the major city and tribal weaving traditions and what distinguishes each, be able to authenticate a genuine hand-knotted Persian rug and distinguish it from the machine-made and hand-tufted imitations that dominate the market, understand how Persian rugs are valued and what determines their price, and know exactly what to look for when buying.
2,500 Years of Persian Rug History
The oldest surviving pile carpet in the world is Persian. The Pazyryk carpet, discovered in 1949 in a frozen Scythian burial mound in the Altai Mountains of Siberia and now housed in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, dates to approximately 500 BCE and demonstrates a level of technical sophistication - 360,000 symmetrical knots per square meter, a warp density and pile structure comparable to quality contemporary production - that can only have been achieved by a tradition already centuries in development. The Pazyryk carpet did not emerge from nowhere. It is the surviving evidence of a weaving tradition that was already ancient when it was made.
The first major flowering of Persian carpet production as a court art form came under the Safavid dynasty, which ruled Persia from 1501 to 1736. Shah Abbas I, who ruled from 1588 to 1629 and moved the imperial capital to Isfahan, established royal carpet workshops in Kashan, Isfahan, and other major weaving centers that produced the greatest carpets in history. The pair of Ardabil carpets - one now in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and one in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art - were made in Kashan in 1539 and 1540, likely for the shrine of Shaykh Safi al-Din in Ardabil. The London Ardabil measures over 34 feet in length, contains more than 300 knots per square inch across its entire surface, and is widely regarded as the finest carpet ever made.
The Safavid period produced the design vocabulary that defines what most people think of as a Persian rug today - the central medallion composition, the arabesque vine and palmette field design, the elaborate formal border system. These formats were developed in the imperial workshops by designers working from painted cartoons and translated into knotted pile by teams of weavers working in coordinated sections. The scale, technical precision, and artistic sophistication of Safavid court carpet production remained unmatched in the centuries that followed.
After the collapse of the Safavid dynasty in the early 18th century, Persian carpet production entered a period of decline. The revival came in the late 19th century, driven by Western commercial demand. European and American buyers - newly wealthy middle classes furnishing homes with oriental luxuries - created a mass market for Persian rugs that transformed production from a court and ceremonial art into a commercial industry. Companies like Ziegler and Co., operating through their Tabriz connections, organized production on a new commercial scale. The result was the enormous variety of Persian commercial production that forms the backbone of the antique rug market today.
How Persian Rugs Are Made
Every genuine Persian rug is hand-knotted - a process of such labor intensity that it remains the primary determinant of the rug's value, durability, and character.
The foundation of a hand-knotted rug consists of vertical warp threads stretched between the beams of a loom, crossed by horizontal weft threads woven between rows of knots. The pile is created by tying individual knots around pairs of warp threads - the weaver takes a length of yarn, loops it around two adjacent warp threads, cuts it, and moves to the next pair. Across an entire rug, this process is repeated millions of times. A single weaver working on a quality 8x10 rug ties three to four million individual knots to complete the piece, a process that takes months at standard quality and over a year for the finest high-density production.
Two knot types are used in Persian rugs. The asymmetric or Senneh knot - confusingly named after the Kurdish city of Sanandaj - is tied so that one end of the yarn loop passes under one warp thread and emerges on either side, allowing greater design flexibility and finer detail. It is used across most of Persia and is the dominant knot type in the major city traditions. The symmetric or Ghiordes knot - named after the Turkish town of Gördes - wraps evenly around two warp threads and produces a firmer, more durable pile. It is used in some Turkish traditions and in certain Kurdish and tribal Persian productions.
Knot density - measured in knots per square inch or KPSI - is the primary technical quality indicator. Fine city rugs from Kashan and Qom range from 200 to 900 KPSI. Standard commercial production falls in the 100 to 200 KPSI range. Coarser tribal and village rugs may have 40 to 100 KPSI, which is not a deficiency but a reflection of a different aesthetic tradition that values bold geometric design over fine curvilinear detail.
Materials vary by tradition and quality tier. Wool from Iranian highland sheep - particularly the fine Khorasan wool associated with Tabriz and the soft wool of the Yazd region - forms the pile of most Persian rugs. Silk pile is used in the finest Qom and Kashan production, achieving KPSI counts that wool cannot reach and producing the characteristic lustrous sheen of the finest Persian rugs. Cotton is the standard foundation material in most city production. Tribal rugs traditionally use all-wool construction with wool warp and weft.
Natural dyes - madder root for reds and pinks, indigo for blues, weld for yellows, oak gall for blacks - were the exclusive dyeing materials until synthetic aniline and chrome dyes became available in the late 19th century. Natural dyes produce colors of extraordinary depth and complexity that age beautifully, mellowing and enriching over decades. The finest antique Persian rugs owe much of their color character to natural dyes. Synthetic dyes dominate contemporary production but quality has improved considerably and the best contemporary dye work produces colors of lasting quality.
The Major Persian City Weaving Traditions
Kashan
Kashan occupies the summit of the Persian rug world. The city in central Iran has been producing hand-knotted carpets of exceptional quality for over five centuries, and the name Kashan is synonymous worldwide with the finest formal Persian rug tradition.
The classic Kashan format is a central medallion composition with an elaborately detailed field of arabesque vines and palmettes, contained within a formal multi-border system. The designs are executed at knot densities ranging from 120 to 400 KPSI in wool and 500 KPSI or more in the finest silk production. The color palette runs to rich madder reds, deep indigo blues, and ivory, applied with a formality and symmetrical precision that distinguishes Kashan from every other Persian tradition.
The most celebrated Kashan production is associated with the workshop of Hajji Mollah Hassan Mohtashem, working in the late 19th century. Mohtashem Kashan rugs - the finest commercially produced Persian rugs ever made - are now important collector objects commanding significant prices. For the complete guide see our post on Kashan rugs. Browse our Kashan rugs collection.
Tabriz
Tabriz is the oldest and most commercially significant weaving city in the Persian rug world. The city in northwestern Iran has been producing rugs for export since the 15th century and its merchants created the commercial infrastructure that transformed Persian rug production into a global industry.
The defining feature of Tabriz production is its breadth. Where Kashan concentrates on a specific formal medallion aesthetic, Tabriz produces a wider range of designs than any other Persian city - classic medallion compositions, hunting scene carpets depicting mounted figures pursuing game, pictorial rugs with figurative subjects, garden carpet formats, and the mahi or fish all-over pattern. The Raj quality system - measuring knots per 7 centimeters of width - provides a standardized quality indicator unique to Tabriz. For the complete guide see our post on Tabriz rugs.
Isfahan
Isfahan was the imperial capital of Safavid Persia under Shah Abbas I and the site of the greatest flowering of Persian decorative arts in history. The carpet tradition that emerged from the Safavid court workshops set the standard for the formal Persian rug aesthetic that has endured for four centuries.
Isfahan rugs are characterized by extraordinary precision in their arabesque vine and palmette designs, a formal symmetry of exceptional elegance, and the use of the finest kurk wool - a particularly soft and lustrous grade of wool from the underbelly of the sheep - that gives Isfahan pile its characteristic silky quality. Isfahan production declined after the fall of the Safavid dynasty and revived in the 20th century. Contemporary Isfahan rugs maintain the classical design tradition at knot densities typically ranging from 200 to 400 KPSI.
Qom (Qum)
Qom is a relative newcomer to Persian rug production - serious weaving there began only in the early 20th century - but it has established itself as the center of the finest contemporary Persian silk rug production. Qom silk rugs achieve KPSI counts of 500 to 900 or more, producing surfaces of almost photographic resolution where the characteristic silk sheen creates colors that shift and deepen with the viewing angle.
Qom production is exclusively or predominantly silk, and the city's weavers have developed a range of designs including fine medallion compositions, pictorial and garden carpet formats, and hunting scene rugs. The finest Qom rugs are among the most technically accomplished textiles being produced anywhere in the world today.
Kerman (Kirman)
Kerman province in southeastern Iran produces some of the most immediately accessible and universally appealing Persian rugs. The classic Kirman format features an ivory or cream ground with an all-over or medallion floral design in soft rose, pale blue, warm green, and gold - a naturalistic, garden-like quality that has made Kirman the most popular Persian rug type in Western markets since the late 19th century.
The American market connection is particularly strong in Kirman history. American buyers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries preferred the soft palette and open floral designs of Kirman over the richer, darker city traditions, and Kirman workshops responded with the aesthetic that still defines the tradition. For the complete guide see our post on Kirman rugs. Browse our Kirman rugs collection.
Heriz and Serapi
The Heriz region of northwestern Iran produces some of the most visually powerful and most practically durable Persian rugs. The defining characteristics are a large angular geometric medallion - boldly drawn in the village tradition rather than the curvilinear precision of the city workshops - a relatively open field of angular botanical elements, and a palette of warm terracotta and faded madder red with deep navy and ivory.
Serapi refers specifically to older high-quality pieces from the finest village producers of the Heriz district, generally pre-1920, whose natural dye colors have aged into the warm complex tones that make them among the most collected antique Persian rugs in the world. The highland wool of the Heriz region is among the finest produced in Iran, producing a pile of exceptional durability that has made Heriz and Serapi rugs legendary for their resistance to wear. For the complete guide see our post on Serapi rugs.
Nain
Nain is a small city in central Iran that developed a distinctive rug production in the early 20th century, distinguished by its extremely fine knot density, its characteristic ivory or cream ground, and its use of silk highlights in the pile to accent the main wool design elements.
Nain rugs feature formal arabesque and floral designs in the Persian classical tradition rendered at knot densities of 300 to 700 KPSI, giving the pile a characteristic fineness and softness. The color palette is light and delicate - ivory, pale blue, soft gold, and the understated natural tones of undyed wool - which makes Nain rugs among the most versatile Persian types for contemporary interior use.
Sultanabad and Mahal
Sultanabad - now called Arak - in western Iran was developed as a weaving center in the late 19th century partly through the commercial initiative of the Ziegler company, which sought to produce Persian rugs adapted to Western aesthetic preferences. The Ziegler design - oversized muted floral patterns on soft ivory and beige grounds - produced what are now among the most sought-after antique Persian rugs in the contemporary design market. Mahal rugs from the same region are the commercial tier of the same production, at lower knot densities and with somewhat simplified designs.
For the complete guide see our post on Ziegler and Chobi rugs.
Tribal and Village Persian Rugs
Alongside the great city traditions, Persian tribal and village rugs form a distinct and equally important category. These are rugs made outside the formal workshop system - by nomadic tribal peoples working on portable horizontal looms, or by village weavers working from memory and inherited design traditions rather than formal cartoons.
The major tribal traditions include:
Qashqai rugs - produced by the Qashqai tribal confederation of the Fars region in southern Iran. Bold geometric medallion compositions in rich jewel tones, executed in high-quality wool on a wool foundation with the symmetric knot. Genuine Qashqai tribal rugs are among the most admired pieces in the tribal rug world.
Bakhtiari rugs - from the Bakhtiari tribal region in western Iran. Garden compartment designs featuring trees, flowers, and birds in bold colors. Exceptionally durable due to the quality of the regional wool.
Baluchi rugs - from the Baluchi tribal people of eastern Iran and western Afghanistan. Dark jewel-tone palette of deep red, navy, and camel with complex geometric prayer rug and tribal formats.
Kurdish rugs - from the Kurdish tribal communities of northwestern Iran. Bold geometric designs in rich colors, typically using the symmetric knot and high-quality regional wool.
Luri rugs - from the Luri tribal people of the Zagros mountains. Bold, somewhat abstracted tribal designs in a palette dominated by deep reds and blues.
For tribal alternatives from Afghanistan and Pakistan explore our tribal rugs, Baluchi rugs, and Afghan rugs collections.
How to Authenticate a Persian Rug
The market for Persian rugs has a significant authenticity problem. The combination of high prices for genuine hand-knotted pieces and the relative ease of producing machine-made imitations has created a large supply of misrepresented rugs - machine-made pieces sold as handmade, hand-tufted rugs sold as hand-knotted, and synthetic fiber rugs described as wool or silk. Knowing how to authenticate is essential before any significant purchase.
The back test - definitive and fast
Turn the rug over and examine the back. A genuine hand-knotted Persian rug shows individual knots in a dense pattern that closely mirrors the front design. The back looks almost as intentional and detailed as the front. In a fine Kashan at 300 KPSI the back is extraordinarily detailed - you can trace every element of the design on the reverse.
A hand-tufted rug shows a fabric or canvas backing glued to the underside, concealing the tufting canvas. There are no individual knots visible because there are none - the pile is punched through a backing rather than knotted. A machine-made rug shows a uniform mechanical backing with a distinctly industrial appearance - regular, perfectly even, with no variation.
If there is any backing material glued to the underside, the rug is hand-tufted or machine-made. No genuine hand-knotted Persian rug has glued backing.
The fringe test
On a genuine hand-knotted Persian rug the fringe is the exposed warp threads of the foundation - structural rather than decorative. The fringe emerges from within the weave structure and has no stitching or adhesive at the attachment line. On a machine-made or hand-tufted rug the fringe is sewn or glued on separately. Look carefully at where the fringe meets the body of the rug - a seam or adhesive line is a definitive sign of non-genuine construction.
The knot count
Count the knots in a one-inch square on the back of the rug to determine the KPSI. A fine Persian city rug should be above 100 KPSI and quality examples above 200 KPSI. Below 80 KPSI in a supposedly fine city rug is a warning sign. Tribal rugs legitimately have lower knot counts - 40 to 80 KPSI - which reflects their design vocabulary rather than a quality deficiency.
The fiber test
To distinguish genuine wool from synthetic pile, pull a few threads from an inconspicuous area and hold them to a flame. Natural wool burns slowly, smells like burning hair, produces a crushable dark ash, and self-extinguishes when the flame is removed. Synthetic fibers burn quickly, melt and bead, smell like burning plastic, and continue burning after the flame is removed.
To distinguish genuine silk from mercerized cotton or viscose imitations, apply the same burn test. Genuine silk burns like wool - slowly, smelling of protein, leaving a crushable dark ash. Cotton and viscose burn like paper and leave a different ash character.
The wool quality assessment
Quality Persian rug wool has a natural luster visible in ordinary light - not a mirror-like gloss but a warm, living sheen that shifts as the viewing angle changes. Feel the pile: quality wool feels firm, slightly warm, and resilient - it springs back when compressed. Synthetic fiber or low-grade wool feels slippery, cool, or flat. Kurk wool from Isfahan has a characteristic silky quality that is one of the most desirable material properties in the Persian rug world.
Color assessment
Natural dye colors in antique and quality vintage Persian rugs have a depth, warmth, and slight tonal variation - the result of hand-dyeing in small batches - that flat synthetic dyes cannot replicate. In good light, natural dye colors show different tones as the pile is viewed from different angles - a phenomenon called sheen or luster. Synthetic dye colors are more uniform and flat. The finest antique pieces also show abrash - subtle color variation within a single color area from batch-to-batch dye differences - which is desirable as a sign of authentic hand production.
For the complete authentication guide see our post on how to tell if a rug is handmade.
Persian Rugs as Investments
Persian rugs have a well-documented history as stores of value and as objects that appreciate over time, but the investment case requires careful qualification. Not all Persian rugs are equal investments, and understanding what determines investment quality is essential before approaching any purchase with value appreciation as a goal.
What makes a Persian rug valuable:
Construction quality is the primary determinant. A rug at 400 KPSI in fine kurk wool with natural dyes is a fundamentally different object from a 100 KPSI commercial piece in synthetic dyes, and the market reflects this. High knot density, quality materials, and natural or quality synthetic dyes are the construction foundations of investment quality.
Provenance and attribution add value beyond intrinsic construction quality. A Mohtashem Kashan with documented attribution commands a premium over an equally fine unattributed piece. An Isfahan from a known master weaver, a Qashqai piece with clear tribal attribution, or any rug with documented collecting history commands prices above comparable unattributed examples.
Age is a significant value factor for pieces with natural dye colors that have aged gracefully. An antique Kashan from the late 19th century in good condition with beautiful natural dye color will appreciate in value because the combination of age, quality, and natural dye character is irreplaceable. Contemporary pieces, however fine, cannot replicate the aged color quality of genuinely old natural dye production.
Rarity matters. Unusual formats, rare color combinations, specific regional sub-traditions with limited surviving production, and pieces with historic or cultural significance all command premiums over more common production.
The most collectible Persian rug types:
Antique Kashan production from the Mohtashem period (1880-1920) is consistently among the most sought-after. Fine antique Isfahan, Tabriz, and Qom pieces attract serious collector and institutional interest. Tribal pieces - quality Qashqai, Bakhtiari, and rare Kurdish tribal weavings - have strong collector followings. Pre-1900 Heriz and Serapi pieces with natural dye color are highly sought.
Realistic expectations:
Quality hand-knotted Persian rugs hold their value and can appreciate substantially over time. The most expensive Persian rug ever sold was the Clark Sickle-Leaf Carpet, which achieved $33.8 million at Sotheby's in 2013. Fine antique Kashan pieces that sold for thousands in the 1980s have appreciated to tens of thousands today. But the investment case requires patience - Persian rugs are not liquid assets and meaningful appreciation typically occurs over decades rather than years.
For buyers at accessible price points, quality contemporary Persian-influenced production from Afghanistan and Pakistan purchased at fair prices represents durable long-term value. For the investment case for handmade rugs generally see our post on are handmade rugs worth it.
How to Buy a Persian Rug
Define what you actually want
The Persian rug world is vast enough that undefined intentions lead to confused purchases. Before looking at any rug, establish: Is this for everyday use in a living or dining room, or for a formal space with lower traffic? What is your color palette and interior style? Do you want a city rug with formal medallion designs, a village rug with bold geometric character, or a tribal piece with raw authenticity? What is your budget - and are you thinking of this primarily as a decorative purchase or as a value store?
Answering these questions narrows your search from hundreds of categories to a manageable range.
Understand the price structure
Persian rug prices vary enormously and for good reasons. A basic commercial wool Persian rug at 80 KPSI in synthetic dyes might start at a few hundred dollars. A quality contemporary city rug at 200 KPSI in quality materials starts at $1,000 to $3,000 for an 8x10. A fine antique Kashan or Isfahan from the Mohtashem period starts in the tens of thousands. A rare Safavid court piece or important antique in exceptional condition is a museum-quality object.
Know which tier you are buying in and evaluate accordingly. A price that seems too low for the claimed quality is always worth interrogating.
Buy from reputable sources
The most important buying decision is choosing your source. Specialist rug dealers with deep category knowledge, established auction houses for antique and important pieces, and direct importers with documented sourcing relationships are all more reliable than general antique markets, online marketplaces without authentication, or estate sales where provenance is uncertain.
ALRUG sources directly from weaving communities in Afghanistan and Pakistan with seven decades of established relationships. Every piece in our collection is verified genuine hand-knotted construction with accurate description of origin, materials, and construction. Browse our Persian rugs collection and Oriental rugs collection for Persian-style hand-knotted production available with free worldwide shipping. For specific city traditions see our collections and guides for Kashan rugs, Tabriz rugs, Kirman rugs, and Serapi rugs.
Use the authentication tests
Before committing to any significant purchase, perform the back test, the fringe test, and the fiber test described above. A reputable seller will not object to a buyer examining a rug thoroughly - reluctance to allow examination is itself a warning sign.
Size correctly
The most common Persian rug buying mistake is sizing too small. In a living room, an 8x10 or 9x12 that sits fully under the main furniture arrangement is almost always more effective than a smaller rug that floats in the center of the space. Persian rugs with strong medallion designs benefit particularly from generous scale - the design reads as it was intended to be read at room size. For sizing guidance see our living room rug size guide. Browse by size: 8x10 rugs, 9x12 rugs, 10x14 rugs.
Caring for a Persian Rug
A genuine hand-knotted Persian rug will last a century or more with proper care. The guidelines are simple and consistent regardless of the specific type.
Vacuum weekly using suction only with no beater bar. The beater bar is designed for synthetic wall-to-wall carpet and damages the pile of natural wool rugs over time. Low suction and a brush or suction-only head is the correct approach.
Rotate 180 degrees every six to twelve months to distribute foot traffic and sunlight exposure evenly across the surface. This prevents localized fading and wear in the areas exposed to windows or high traffic.
Address spills immediately. Blot - never rub - from the outside of the spill toward the center, using a clean white cloth. Rubbing spreads the stain and pushes it deeper into the pile. For the complete care guide see our post on how to care for a handmade rug.
Use a quality breathable rug pad underneath to cushion the foundation from hard floor abrasion and prevent slipping. Have the rug professionally washed by a specialist in natural wool and hand-knotted construction every three to five years.
For damaged Persian rugs that need structural repair or restoration see our rug restoration service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Persian rug? A Persian rug is a hand-knotted textile produced in Iran (historically Persia) or in the broader Persian cultural tradition. Persian rugs are characterized by their hand-knotted pile construction - each knot tied individually around the warp threads of a loom - their use of natural materials including wool, silk, and cotton, and their design vocabulary drawing on over 2,500 years of continuous weaving tradition. The term covers hundreds of distinct regional and city traditions each with its own design character.
What is the difference between Persian rugs and Oriental rugs? All Persian rugs are Oriental rugs but not all Oriental rugs are Persian. Oriental rug is the broader category covering hand-knotted rugs from the entire rug-producing region stretching from Turkey through Central Asia to China. Persian rugs specifically refers to production from Iran and the Persian cultural tradition. Afghan, Pakistani, Turkish, and Central Asian rugs are Oriental rugs but not Persian rugs. For more on this distinction see our Oriental rugs collection.
How do I know if a Persian rug is genuine? Turn it over and examine the back. A genuine hand-knotted Persian rug shows individual knots in a pattern mirroring the front design. A hand-tufted rug shows glued fabric backing with no knots. A machine-made rug shows a uniform mechanical backing. Also check the fringe - on a genuine hand-knotted rug it is the structural warp threads of the foundation, not sewn or glued on. For the complete authentication guide see our post on how to tell if a rug is handmade.
Which Persian rug city produces the best rugs? This depends on what you mean by best. Kashan is generally considered the pinnacle of formal medallion carpet production with the highest consistency of quality. Isfahan produces the finest kurk wool pile with the most elegant classical designs. Qom produces the finest silk rugs with the highest knot densities. Tabriz produces the widest range of designs and quality levels. Kerman produces the most accessible and universally appealing soft floral designs. Each tradition is best for different buyers and different interiors.
How much does a genuine Persian rug cost? Prices range from a few hundred dollars for basic commercial production to tens of millions for important antique pieces at auction. Quality contemporary city rugs in wool start at $1,000 to $3,000 for an 8x10. Fine silk Qom pieces start at $5,000 and rise steeply with quality and size. Antique Kashan, Isfahan, and Tabriz pieces in good condition with natural dye color start at $5,000 to $15,000 for room-size examples and significantly more for exceptional pieces.
Do Persian rugs increase in value? Quality hand-knotted Persian rugs from established traditions hold their value and can appreciate significantly over time - particularly antique and vintage pieces with natural dye color, documented provenance, and high construction quality. The most expensive Persian rug ever sold achieved $33.8 million at auction. However Persian rugs are not liquid assets and meaningful appreciation typically occurs over decades. For more on this see our post on are handmade rugs worth it.
What is the best size Persian rug for a living room? An 8x10 suits most standard living rooms and is the most popular size for Persian medallion rugs. A 9x12 better suits larger rooms or sectional sofa arrangements. Persian rugs with strong medallion designs benefit from generous scale - the composition reads as it was intended to at room size. For detailed sizing guidance see our living room rug size guide.
How do I care for a Persian rug? Vacuum weekly with suction only and no beater bar. Rotate every six months. Blot spills immediately without rubbing. Use a quality rug pad underneath. Have it professionally washed every three to five years by a specialist in natural wool and hand-knotted construction. For the complete care guide see our post on how to care for a handmade rug.
What is the difference between a Persian rug and an Iranian rug? They are the same thing. Iran is the modern name for the country historically known as Persia. Iranian rug and Persian rug refer to hand-knotted rugs produced in the same territory. The term Persian rug is more commonly used in the trade and among collectors for historical and cultural reasons, while Iranian rug is more technically accurate as a geographic description of contemporary production.