Persian rugs and carpets

Abadeh rugs are Persian rugs knotted in the town Abadeh located in the southwestern Iran. The design is influenced by the Qashgai tribe… read more

The Afshars are a Turkic speaking tribe located in Iran near Kerman. Both nomadic people and settled in villages. Afshar rugs are squariesh with geometrical design… read more

Ahar is a town in Iran in the Heriz region. The Heriz design is often used in rugs from Ahar… read more

Angelas rugs, also often spelled Injelas rugs, are knotted in the Iranian Hamadan region… read more

Ardebil (Ardabil) is a town in Iranian Azerbaijan. Some contemporary rug designs used in this area are influenced by Caucasian designs… read more

Ardekan (Ardakan) is a town north of Yadz and south of Nain. The weavers from the town use Kashan designs for their more coarsely woven rugs… read more

The Center of the Bakhtiari rugs weaving area is south-east of Isfahan in Shahr-e-Kord in Iran. The formerly nomadic tribe has become settled. Find excellent examples of Bakhtiari rugs in this photo-gallery.

Bakshaish rugs and carpets are considered among the finest examples of larger rugs from the Heriz region in the North-Western Iran. This photo-gallery includes excellent examples of Bakshaish rugs.

Bibikabad rugs are knotted around the village Bibi Kabad in the Hamadan region of Iran. This photo-gallery includes examples af Bibikabad rugs.

Bidjar is a small Kurdish town in the Western Iran. Bidjar rugs are often called ‘Iron rugs’ because they are made very compact and durable and with excellent craftmanship. Find examples of Bidjar rugs in this photo-gallery. Lot 1406. Antique Bidjar. 140 × 225 cm. Estimate € 1,750-2,630  

Birjand rugs are also knowned internationally as Moud rugs (Mood rugs). Most of the rugs in the region are woven in the villages around Birjand.  

Persian Borchalu rugs are from the village of Borchalu in the Iranian Hamadan region. Find examples in our photo-gallery.

Doroksh (Dorokhsh) is a town in northeast Iran north of Birjand.

Ferdows is located in the Province of South Khorasan. The rugs from the areas around Ferdows is often made by Baluchis. Find examples in this photo-gallery.

Fereghan rugs from the 19th century are finely woven and from the area north of Arak City. They are also often called Fereghan Sarouks. This photo-gallery includes excellent examples of fine antique Fereghan (Farahan, Ferahan) rugs and carpets.

Persian Gabbeh rugs are coarsely woven tribal rugs, often with simple geometric patterns and figures. Gabbehs are woven by Luri, Qashqai and Bakhtiari tribes… read more

Kurdish rugs woven by the Garagozloo (Garahgozloo) tribe in the north western part of the Hamadan region.

Golpayegan is a town between Isfahan and Arak. Contemporary rugs from the town are often with a single medallion… read more

Goltug rugs are made in Zanjan in the North Western part of Iran. They have a solid grib like a real Bidjar and contemporary rugs are often sold as Goltug Bidjar. Find examples in this educational gallery.    

Gorevan is a town near Heriz. A so called ‘Gorevan’ rug is often a lower grade Heriz rug and more coarsely woven. Find examples in this educational photo-gallery.  

The city of Hamadan is located in the northwest Iran and is a collecting point for a very large rug weaving area. Many of the rugs from the villages and towns in the Hamadan region are sold as Hamadan rugs.

Heriz is a town in Iranian Azerbaijan. The traditional design of a Heriz rug is a geometric medallion with pendants. Find excellent examples of Heriz (Herez, Heris) rugs and carpets in this educational photo-gallery.

Hosseinabad is an village in the Hamadan region located south of Hamadan City. Find examples of Hosseinabad rugs in the educational rug-photo gallery.  

Isfahan (Esfahan) is a ancient city in the western central part of Persia (Iran). Isfahan was the Persian capital under Shah Abbas and the Safavid successors. This educational Isfahan Persian rugs and carpets gallery includes both carpets from the 17th century and signed Seirafian Isfahan carpets from the mid 20th … read more

Joshegan is a town in the northern central Iran southwest of Kashan. The design is an all-over ‘diamond’ pattern and the rugs are easy to identify. Find examples of Joshegan rugs (Joshagan rugs) in the educational photo-gallery.

Jozan rugs are from the town of Jozan (Djozan, Djosan, Josan, Guzan) in the Malayer area. Jozan rugs are quality rugs of the Sarouk type often with designs as early 20th century Sarouks. Find examples of Jozan rugs in the educational Jozan rug gallery.

Karaja (Karadja) is an Iranian town located in the northwestern part of Iran.. read more

Kashan is a city in the north central Iran. During the Safavid period Kashan was famous for great court carpets. Find examples of 16th century court carpets and more recent antique Kashan rugs and carpets in this educational photo-gallery.

Kashmar is a city the Khorasan Province, Iran. It is located southwest of Mashad and southeast of Sabzevar… read more

Kasvin is a city in northern Iran. Semi-antique Persian Kasvin rugs (Kazvin rugs) are often medallion rugs. Find examples in the educational gallery. Her

Kelardasht is a town and a valley in the Mazandaran Province in the mountains north of Tehran. Find examples of Kelardasht rugs (Kalardasht rugs) in the educational gallery.

Kerman is a city in southeast Iran. Persian Kerman carpets (Kirman) from the 17th century include the famous Kerman ‘Vase’ carpets and this educational photo-gallery includes several fragments of these carpets. More recent antique weavings include medaillon designs, pictorial carpets and other designs.

Kermanshah is a city and region in the western part of Iran. Find examples of Persian Kermanshah rugs (Kirmanshah rugs) in this educational rug photo-gallery.

Khamseh rugs are woven by several tribes in the Khamseh Confederacy inhabiting the Fars province in the souhtwestern part of Iran. Find tribal Khamseh rugs and bags in this educational photo-gallery.

Khorassan is a province of northeast Persia. Khorassan has been famous for fine rugs and carpets going back in time. Find examples of 17th century carpets in this educational photo-gallery.

Khoy is a city and a county in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran… read more

Kolyai rugs are Kurdish nomadic or village rugs from the Kermanshah province in Western Iran… read more

Lavar Kerman rugs or Raver Kerman rugs are produced in a town north of Kerman. The name Lavar is often used for finer Kerman carpets. .. read more

Lilihan is a town in Iran south of Arak (Sultanabad). Lillihan rugs from the town are similar in design to Sarouks.

Luri is a Southwestern Iranian language spoken by the Lur people. Luri rugs are woven in the Zagros Mountains in southwestern Persia… read more

Mahal rugs are produced in the area around the city of Arak (Sultanabad). Most Mahal rugs have bold and floral designs… read more

Malayer is a town south of Hamadan. Many of the rugs from Malayer and the villages around are single wefted like Hamadans. Images in the Malayer rug gallery are published with permission from auction houses, dealers, collectors or museums.

Mazlaghan is a village located in the Hamadan Province of western Iran. Mazlaghan rugs  have a design with a large medallion with quartered medallion corners… read more

Mashad (Meshed) is located in the east of Iran, in the province of Khorasan. Mashad is both a center for rug production and also a collection point for rugs from the surrounding areas… read more

Meshkin is a town in the Zanjan Province of northwestern Iran. The designs of Meshkin rugs are often much similar to Causcasian rugs… read more

Meymeh is a town 15 km south of Joshegan. The design of Meymeh rugs is quite similar to Joshegan rugs.

Mianeh is a city and county in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. See examples of Mianeh rugs in this photo-gallery… read more

Moshkabad is probably a trade label for certain Iranian rugs, perhaps a lower grade of rugs from the Arak region… read more

Mosul rugs is a trade name for certain Iranian Kurdish rugs… read more

Moud (Mud) is a town near Birjand and a major weaving center in the province of Khorrassan… read more

Nahavand rugs are woven in the Hamadan region of northwestern Iran. Nahavand is a town south of Hamadan and west of Malayer… read more

Nain carpets are very densely knotted carpets. Nain is a city in Central Iran located east of Isfahan. Rug production is relative new here and began in the 20th. century… read more

Najafabad rugs are from Najafabad, located in central Iran near the city of Isfahan… read more

Niriz (Neyriz) is a city and county of the Fars Province in southwest Iran. The rugs from Niriz are woven in Qashqai designs… read more

The label Northwest Persian rugs refers to rugs from countless weaving villages in the Northwest Iran… read more

The photo-gallery with Persian bags and saddlerugs includes Afshar, Luri, Qashqai, Khamseh and Veramin pile and soumak weavings… read more

The educational rug photo-gallery with Persian kilims includes Senneh kilims, Bidjar kilims, Qashqai kilims and Bakhtiari kilims to mention the most well known Persian kilims… read more

Despite the name Polonaise carpets were made in Isfahan or Kashan in the late 16th and 17th centuries on the order of Polish nobilities and aristocrats.

The Qashqai’s are tribes people from the Fars Province in southwest Persia in a confederation of different tribes… read more

Qum is a city in Iran. The carpet production in Qum has not a long tradition and began in the 20th century. Qum is especially known for their silk rugs… read more

Sabzevar is located ca. 150 km west of Mashad in the northeastern Iran. The rug production in Sabzevar boomed around 1980 but decreased after a short period.

The climax of Persian carpet design and manufacture was achieved under the Safavid dynasty as a result of the inluence of court designers at all levels of artistic carpet production. The Safavid dynasties of Persia ruled from 1501 to 1722.  

Sarab rugs are from the town Sarab in the province of Azerbaijain in northwestern Persia. The rugs from Sarab are special because of the long rug and runner format… read more

Sarabend rugs are from the Sarabend district and area southwest of Arak.  Sarabend is best known for their runners… read more

Sarouk is a village north of Arak in Persia. Sarouk is also a trade name for rugs in the Arak area and sourrounding villages and towns. .. read more

Sauj Bulag rugs are Kurdish rugs made in North West Persia in the town Mahabad or surrounding areas. .. read more

Semnan is the capital city of Semnan Province, located in north central Iran. Rugs from Semnan have often all-over-patters… read more

Senneh or Sanandej is located in Kurdistan Province in Iran. The Kurds in Senneh are famous for their very fine knotted rugs… read more

Serapi carpets or Serapi rugs are trade names for finer rugs from the Heriz area of northwestern Iran… read more

Shiraz is the capital of Fars Province. Shiraz is a collecting point and major market for rugs. The label Shiraz rug is used for rugs from all over Fars… read more

The city and the province Sultanabad (now Arak) in Iran were a major center for rug production in Iran in the late 19th and early 20th centuries… read more

Tabriz is the capital city of East Azerbaijan Province, in northwestern Iran. Mid 19th century Tabriz rugs were often woven in court designs… read more

Tafresh is a city between Hamadan and Qum in northwestern Iran. Rugs from Tafresh are single wefted like Hamadan rugs… read more

Taleghan is a town east of Qazvin and north of Tehran… read more

Tehran is the capital of Iran, in the north of the country and a major market for Persian rugs… read more

Tuisarkhan is a town near Hamadan in the western Iran. The typical design includes a geometric medaillion with pendants… read more

Veramin is a town near Tehran. The rugs from Veramin (Varamin) have Mina Khani designs.

Viss is a village located in the Markazi Province of central Iran east of Hamadan… read more

Yadz is a central Iranian city weaving rugs of medallion designs similar to Kermans or Sarouks. Main colors are blue, red and ivory… read more

The term Yalameh is used to describe village rugs in western Iran which have motifs of the Khamseh, Qashqai and Lori tribes. Images in the Yalameh rug gallery are published with permission from auction houses, dealers, collectors or museums.  

Zandjan (Zanjan) is the capital of Zanjan Province in Iran. It is located between Tehran and Tabriz… read more

Zarand is a city and county of Kerman Province. See examples of Zarand carpets… read more

Ziegler and Co. was a German firm based in Manchester (England) who was actively involved in carpet trade. Ziegler set up looms in Sultanabad and exported a large number of rugs from Iran to Europe from the mid 19th century until the early 20th century… read more

Carpets labelled Zili Sultan are Persian carpets with a design of repeated vases and flowers… read more