This article is part of Jozan Magazine’s ongoing series of personal portraits from the oriental rug world, highlighting the experiences and perspectives of dealers, researchers, and experts.
Mirco Cattai is a Milan-based fine arts and antique rug dealer with a deep personal connection to village rugs from the Caucasus, Northwest Persia, and Anatolia. With a background in engineering, his journey into the world of hand-knotted carpets is a story of intuition, color, and evolving taste. Mirco Cattai is a frequent organizer of antique carpet exhibitions in his gallery and recently organizer of the “Noble Carpets” exhibition at the Castle of Agliè in the spring 2025.
I’ve always been drawn to the world of carpets. It started when I was studying engineering in Padua, but the fascination became so strong that I moved from the black-and-white world of precision and calculation to the extraordinary universe of color, pattern, and symbolism woven through knots.
At first, I began acquiring a few Persian nomadic rugs—Lori, Qashqai, Gabbeh. Then I encountered Caucasian rugs, and I was immediately fascinated. I still am, especially by village pieces with large, sparse motifs and unusual colors. I’ve never liked repetitive designs. I prefer abstract compositions. Instead of red, I’m more drawn to greens and blues—older and rarer tones.
I still deal in many Kazak rugs. I often have several versions of the same type, and I enjoy giving clients the opportunity to compare them side by side and appreciate their differences.
Carpets are witnesses to a vast, ancient culture—simple, archaic, and nomadic. You didn’t need formal education to make one, but you did need a refined aesthetic sense to balance colors and develop patterns.
From the Caucasus, my interest shifted to Northwest Persian village rugs—especially those from around Heriz, including Serapi and Bakshaiesh carpets. I’ve held several exhibitions focused on these rugs. One of them, in 2010, featured over 50 pieces and was a great success.
These rugs remain highly relevant today. They work well even in modern homes and appeal to younger generations looking for something authentic and timeless.
For over 30 years, I’ve also been a collector and enthusiast of Anatolian rugs. I always try to reach further back in time and seek out the oldest possible examples. Unfortunately, that sometimes means having to sell a masterpiece to make room for another—something I never enjoy.
Anatolian rugs from the 16th and 17th centuries are particularly close to my heart. I know them well. The market is small, but these pieces lend themselves to thoughtful collecting. Curious clients often dream of building a selection made up exclusively of works from this period. They’re easy to read, extremely classical, and—importantly—there were no copies at the time. They’re also expensive and increasingly hard to find, even for me.
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Interview conducted by Ivan Soenderholm for Jozan Magazine. Translated and edited with permission from Mirco Cattai.
Mirco Cattai – Fine Arts & Antique Rugs, Via Manzoni, 12, 20121 Milan (MI), Italy
Website: www.mircocattai.com