"Why Persian Carpets Still Fascinate" - Explains the reasons for their enduring popularity.

People who start researching Persian rugs often tell us, "I don't know what criteria to use to choose one." Place of origin, material, pattern, knotting technique, size. A stream of technical terms can be overwhelming, and I completely understand the feeling of not knowing where to begin. When I first started working in the field, I spent every day asking the same questions.

On this page, to give you an overview of the world of Persian rugs, we have concisely summarized the main aspects: origin, history, materials, knotting techniques, patterns, sizes, and care. We have provided links to detailed articles for each aspect, so please feel free to read them in any order that interests you.

What is a Persian Rug?

A Persian rug is a general term for hand-woven rugs that have been woven for thousands of years in present-day Iran and its surrounding regions. They are made from natural materials such as wool, silk, and wool & silk, with colored pile threads individually hand-knotted onto warps.

They are fundamentally different from machine-made or "Persian-style" rugs. The accumulation of hand-knotting creates a unique luster, texture, durability, and a rich character that develops over time.

Three Thousand Years of History — From Origins to Modern Qom

The history of Persian rugs is told on a scale of two or three thousand years. The oldest existing rug is the "Pazyryk Carpet," excavated from permafrost in Siberia, dating back to the 5th century BC. Works from the Safavid court workshops still remain in places like the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

Records show that they were introduced to Japan in the 17th century and used as decorative hangings on the floats of the Gion Festival in Kyoto. The modern major production center of Qom is a relatively new area, developing from the late 19th to early 20th century, but it has established its unique position as a renowned silk production area.

For more details on its history, please refer to The History of Persian Rugs — From Pazyryk to Modern Qom.

Major Production Centers and Styles

Even within the term "Persian rug," the style and materials vary greatly depending on the production center.

• Qom: Renowned for high-density, 100% silk pieces. Known workshops include the Jamshidi family lines, Mirmehdi, Albar, Eshaghi, Sedighian, Samadi, and Farahi.
• Tabriz: Ancient city tradition. Many large pieces are made of wool or wool & silk, known for their robustness and longevity, a classic choice.
• Isfahan: Ancient capital of Persian culture. Highly regarded for intricate patterns.
• Nain: Muted, pale wool & silk. High quality and blends well with Japanese-style spaces.
• Ashayeri/Nomadic: Strong colors and rustic charm born from nomadic life. Including Bakhtiari, Qashqai, and Shahsevan.

For details on Qom silk, see Qom Silk Rug Guide — Origin, History, and the Secret of its Sheen, and for the four lines of the Jamshidi family, see The Esteemed Jamshidi Family of Persian Rugs — Natural Dyes and Four Lineages.

Materials — Wool, Silk, Wool & Silk

Persian rug materials generally fall into three categories:

• 100% Wool: Warmth and durability that fit into daily life. Common in Tabriz and Ashayeri rugs.
• 100% Silk: High-density, high-luster pieces, emblematic of Qom. Positioned as works of art.
• Wool & Silk: A combination where the base is wool and highlights in the pattern are silk. Found in Nain, Isfahan, and Qom's Samadi and Farahi.

How silk yarn is made is detailed in How Silk Yarn is Made — From Silkworm Eggs to Cocoons, Dried Cocoons, and Spinning, and how to choose materials is explained in Wool and Silk — Which to Choose for Your First Rug.

Knotting Technique and Knot Count

The central process of hand-weaving is "knotting." There are two main types of knots:

• Persian Knot (Single Knot): Wrapped around only one warp thread. Widely used for silk rugs from Qom, Isfahan, and Nain, suitable for flowing curves and high density.
• Turkish Knot (Double Knot): Tied across two adjacent warp threads. Common in wool rugs from Tabriz and Heriz, excellent for durability.

Density is expressed as "knot count" or by the local unit "Raj." A good standard for high-quality Qom silk is 70-80 Raj (1 million to 1.2 million knots per square meter). Pieces exceeding 100 Raj are produced only by a limited number of workshops, such as the Jamshidi family lines.

Differences in knotting are explained in Persian Rug Knotting Techniques — The Two Differences Between Persian and Turkish Knots, and the discussion on density is in Knot Count and Raj — Describing Weaving Density by Feel Rather Than Numbers.

Patterns — Meaning and Identification

Persian rug patterns carry symbols passed down through a long history. These include medallions with a central emblem, Trees of Life depicting a single large tree, lattice-like garden patterns, radial dome patterns, and teardrop-shaped paisley (boteh), each with its own meaning and background.

When choosing, it's easiest to decide based on your home's ambiance and theme. For a prominent piece in a reception room, choose a medallion or Tree of Life; for more flexibility with furniture, opt for an all-over pattern or arabesque; for a pictorial enjoyment, consider hunting scenes or peacock motifs.

Please use How to Read Persian Rug Patterns — From Medallions to the Tree of Life, which covers 11 major patterns with images and videos, as a guide to learning patterns.

Sizes and How to Incorporate Them into Your Life

Persian rugs have traditional size names based on the "Zar" (approx. 104cm). Popular sizes include "Poshti" (60x90) for entrance mats, "Zaronim" (100x150) for bedside rugs, "Galicheh" (130x200) for center rugs in front of sofas, and "Ghali" (200x300) for large living room rugs. The purpose and selection criteria vary by size.

A point to note about size selection is that the stated dimensions do not include the fringes at both ends. If you choose an exact fit, the fringes might hit walls or furniture and feel cramped, so allow at least 5cm of extra space.

For a list of size names and how to choose for each room, see Persian Rugs Vary by Size — Traditional Names and How to Choose for Each Room, and for the six points to consider when choosing, see Six Points to Check Before Choosing a Qom Silk Rug.

Production Process and Looms

The creation of a single Persian rug involves nine steps: design, dyeing, warping, hand-weaving, removal from loom, shearing, washing, re-shearing, and fringe/edge finishing. Each step is handled by specialized artisans, and their combined decisions ultimately bring the rug to market.

The flow of the entire process is detailed in How Persian Rugs Are Made — From Design to Finishing. For deeper dives into specific processes, there are detailed articles on looms in Horizontal and Vertical Looms — Tools of City Dwellers and Nomads, and on factory cleaning in The 'Washing' Process in the Qom Production Area — Finishing After Weaving.

Care and How to Maintain Them for a Long Time

Persian rugs are handicrafts that can be used for 100 or 200 years if properly cared for. In European museums and old homes, antique silk rugs passed down through generations still retain their luster.

It's important to distinguish between daily care you can do at home and maintenance that should be entrusted to professionals. For stains, "blot" and "dry." Use a vacuum cleaner on low power without a beater bar. Rotate the rug every six months. For long-term storage, roll it up or hang it on a wall. Consider professional cleaning every 10-15 years.

Detailed steps and tips are compiled in Caring for Silk Rugs — Daily Care and What to Do in Case of Trouble.

The Background of Lasting Value

Persian rugs are often said to be "passed down through generations" due to several factors. They are hand-woven, one-of-a-kind pieces; rare, high-density works are produced only by limited workshops even in their native regions; their artistic value has been appreciated across eras; and they are highly durable, capable of being used for centuries with proper care.

While they are sometimes described as "assets," it cannot be definitively stated that their value will always increase in the future. However, it is a fact that well-preserved antique pieces have been highly valued as art at international auctions, and as a result, they have the potential to become something that endures over time. Rather than "buying to invest," my message is to "choose a piece that adds value to your daily life, with the intention of passing it down for a long time."

Golestan's Selection and Your First Rug

Golestan primarily deals with 100% silk and wool & silk pieces from Qom. We rarely carry 100% wool pieces. This is a clear inventory policy due to my long-standing relationships with renowned silk workshops in the region. There are many other specialty stores that excel in wool, so if you are looking for a purely 100% wool practical rug, please consider those stores in parallel.

When choosing your first rug at Golestan, there are two main directions. One is a small 100% silk piece (around 60x90cm). These are affordable as entrance mats or framed wall hangings, allowing you to experience the luster of silk every day. The other is a wool & silk living room size rug. The base offers the warmth of wool, while the pattern highlights showcase the sheen of silk. This is suitable for those who want both everyday practicality and the elegance of silk.

If you want to display a piece as art in a special space, consider a high-density 100% silk class (e.g., from the Jamshidi family lines, or large pieces from Mirmehdi). While the price range is higher, we will discuss the background, including weaving time and density, to help you find a piece you can choose with confidence.

The best way to avoid regret is to take your time, compare several options, and feel them. If you provide photos of your room and its traffic flow when inquiring, we can narrow down suitable pieces and workshops for you.