Persian Carpet

Persian carpets and rugs are a masterpiece among beautiful samples of oriental rugs, which come in a variety of forms and designs. Even if other oriental rugs are really attractive, Persian rugs are the most resilient because of their exquisite patterns, high knot density, and superior fibers. Even one particular design of an oriental rug comes in hundreds of variations. As a result, Persian rugs are regarded as a special kind of oriental rug with a variety of designs. While they comprise carpets from eastern nations and areas including India, Iran, Turkey, China, and Tibet, contrary to popular belief, oriental rugs do not always have a particular style. Where do Persian carpets belong, as they are the greatest type of oriental rugs?

Do you know which country produces and provides original Persian carpets? Iran is the land of many tribes and people with different cultures and art, but all created the magnificent identity of Persian art together. The Persian carpets, also known as Iranian carpets or Irani rugs, are dedicated to Iran, which was called "Persia" till the 19th century. This Middle Eastern country, usually famous for oil trading, also has many diverse cultures, and different tribes have lived there for many years. It isn't surprising that Iran has such a vast culture and lifestyle as this land is situated in a good geographic location, so throughout history, many different nations migrated to Persia (or Iran as the Pahlavi dynasty terms it). Most regions in Iran have cold winters, so people in Iran have woven piled or flat rugs for centuries as the main elements of their tents and homes to make a warm and cozy place. Every Iranian city, village, and even every nomad has specific kinds of rugs and carpets that inherited their designs and patterns from people's cultures, beliefs, and myths. The patterns of Persian rugs are matchless because they originated from local weavers' minds and imaginations and their derivation from the fantastic nature of Iran around them. With a profound art and cultural history, this country still has some unknown regions inside its heart where rare and unique rugs are produced! So the diversity of designs and textures of carpets is incredible and only dedicated to the cities and villages of Iran. The Persian carpets that are woven in Iran are the only original types of Persian rugs in the world that have high value and are unrivalled!

The Persian carpet industry's history is lengthy and requires a lot of time to learn every detail. But as this beautiful art makes everyone curious about its genesis and history, a quick exploration of its main facts can fulfill our curiosity. We have three types of evidence to discover the age of this industry:
1-Carpets and fragments remained from the past
2-Persian traditional paintings and illustrations
3-History books and travelogues Carpets and textiles are easily decomposed, so there is little evidence of rugs and textiles from the past. According to the studies, interweaving fibers in Persian civilization dated back to the 5th millennium BC, and archeologists found some textile pieces in Iran that belonged to that time. The world's oldest rugs, dating back to the 4th–3rd centuries BC, are found in a grave belonging to a Scythian patrician in the valley of the Altai mountains of Kazakhstan. This fabulous rug was founded in 1949 and is currently kept in the Hermitage museum in Saint Petersburg. The originality of this rug is still unknown. Though the patterns and designs of this rug are magnificently similar to the arts and designs of Persian civilizations of that time, Achaemenid arts and cultures, we can't consider this rug a Persian carpet. The only document that has been told about "Persian carpets" in ancient times is a description in the "Anabasis" book by a Greek author, Xenophon. Xenophon describes Persian carpets as valuable and suitable for use as diplomatic gifts. It is unclear whether these carpets were made by pile weaving or other methods, such as flat weaving or embroidery. Still, it is noteworthy that the first mention of Persian carpets in literature worldwide places them in a background of richness and beauty. Another documentary of the presence of carpets in ancient Persian civilizations is the "Spring garden rug" or "Baharestan rug" and "Bahar-e Kasra," a rug dedicated to Khosrow, the king of the Sassanid empire of Persian civilizations that is mentioned in the history book of "Al-Tabari." He described this carpet as a considerable floor covering, decorated with rare stones and covering the great hall of "Taq Kasra," or the arch of Ctesiphon, but as the Arabs took possession of it after Ctesiphon fell to the Arabs, there is no trace of it! Unfortunately, there isn't any other evidence for Persian carpets before the advent of Islam in Persia. Also, at the beginning of the empires of the Arabian Caliphs in Persia, there were just some references as descriptions in historical and travelogue books, such as "Ibn Battuta" (the Arabian traveller) travel report book. These documentaries tell us that in the early rise of Islam (about the 6th to 11th century) in Persia, carpet weaving was common among tribes and rustic people. After the overthrow of the Arab government, some fragments of carpet weaving were found from the Turko-Persian or Seljuk empires. These pieces help us understand the shapes of carpets and rugs at that time. Many traditional paintings (or miniature paintings) from the 13th to 15th centuries from the Mongol and Timurid empires in Persia show their interior spaces decorated with floor coverings with attractive designs. In 1473, Giosafat Barbaro, a Venetian merchant and diplomat, went to the Tabriz court in Persia and repeatedly brought up the magnificent carpets and even silk-woven rugs he saw in the palace. Until the Safavid Empire (16th–18th century) in Persia, evidence and references for Persian rugs and carpets were limited. The Safavid dynasty is known as the golden age of Persian culture and art and had an extraordinary effect on the art of this land. Many handwoven rugs and carpets from the Safavid era are kept in famous museums worldwide as magnificent treasures. The patterns and structures of these carpets indicate that they were designed by masters of Persian paintings and arts and woven in large court workshops. Though there aren't any fragments that show the prevalence of nomadic and tribal rugs, it's evident that many cities had equipped workshops with massive looms and many weavers, such as Isfahan city as the capital of the Safavid empire. One of the treasures of Persian carpets in the Safavid dynasty, called " The Emperor's Carpet," is kept in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. The gate to the Persian carpet trade's boom opened during the Safavid era, and after that, people around the world started to collect Persian carpets as their valuable artistic investment. Many famous collections of antique Persian carpets are excellent evidence of carpet weaving in Iran after the Safavid empire, like Salting carpets and Sanguszko carpets. During the Qajar empire in Persia (18th–20th century), Persian rugs and carpets became highly prized worldwide. Many European and American merchants invested in this industry by placing many workshops in rural regions of Iran. Persian carpets and rugs became Iran's most incredible trading products during the Pahlavi era (1925–79). Today, despite growing machine looms, Persian carpets are still beloved by many worldwide. This unique industry still has a great place in the economy of Persian tribes and people, which continues its long and mysterious life in the corners of Iran!

Persian rugs are known worldwide as masterpiece handicrafts of the oriental world. They are unique and matchless, woven in many different ways and in many diverse designs that originated from many years of ego and grew along its path generation by generation. What is so special and unique about Persian rugs is that they are like pearls, still hidden in many regions and providing a warm and colorful life for local Persian tribes before they were used for trading purposes. Persian rugs are tied to people's lives; they get their fabulous designs and motifs from their imaginations and dreams. That's why they have the most beautiful rug designs in the world! This artistic handicraft's long life and history caused an intense structure from years of experience. Persian carpets are durable and have a firm texture despite their fantastic designs. They are woven with high accuracy with fine materials and colors from the pure nature of Iran. The main reason why they cost so much is that it takes a lot of time to create a fabulous Persian rug, sometimes more than a year! Over time, they still have an excellent reputation and are considered a good and artistic investment.

1-Materials: Though all Persian handmade carpets are woven with 100% natural fibers that are highly eco-friendly, some of these fibers are more valuable depending on their durability and resistance. Mostly, Persian rugs with original silk fibers have more value as they are shiny and delicate, woven in high density. Silk rugs create a soft texture and a delicate design, but you should take extra care of them. Carpets with cotton warps and wefts have a firm structure, which you can tell from their fringes. Persian rugs that are woven with wool are also valuable if the wool yarns are spun well and soft.
2-Structure and textures: Persian rugs can be woven differently and on different looms; it depends on the region. You may think the rug is more valuable as the density increases, but it just raises the elegance, which doesn't mean a carpet is superb! It would help if you considered the total shape of the rugs, the equality of knots, and whether the rugs have any damage.
3-Colors: Most handmade Persian carpets are dyed with natural and herbal dyes used for centuries in the traditional textile industry in Iran. Recently, with the growth of polymer science, many chemical dyes are now available at more affordable prices and with diverse shades. So be careful to find a Persian rug that is dyed with natural dyes, which are more durable and resistant and will become even better and more lively as time passes.
4-Designs and patterns: Persian rugs have hundreds of types and styles! Their patterns and motifs are endless, and if you spend your life learning about them, there must be new patterns in some unknown and unique rugs. This aspect is one of the most important in giving specific value to a Persian carpet. The designs of a Persian rug provide it with soul and identity. Although the taste of the world for rugs may change so often (that impacts your investment too), try to choose those with artistic and aesthetic value! These rugs will never die!