Rug Weaving Symbols and Designs

Each weaving area has their own traditional symbols and designs which have persisted over the years. Some symbols are universal and may have been used by multiple areas. Recognizing these patterns along with the weave pattern can be instrumental in identifying a rug’s origins.

There are several major weaving areas in the world:
Persian: Rugs made in Iran – Although you will find some with geometric designs, Persian rugs mainly have floral patterns, some are very elaborate. It has the oldest rug weaving traditions that go back centuries. Some of the finest rugs ever woven were/are woven by the skillful hands of Iranian weavers.
Asia Minor: Anatolian: Rugs made in Turkey – Turkish rugs have a combination of floral and geometric designs. Some geometric designs may have derived from or influenced by neighboring floral designs.
Caucasian: Rugs made in the Northern Iran and south of Russia (Up until early 1800s, these areas were part of Iran.) – Caucasian rugs mainly have geometric designs. Some rugs from the Karabaugh region show floral influences from neighboring Iran.
Central Asia: Includes Turkmenistan and Baluch (from Afghanistan or Iran) rugs, located from the Eastern part of the Caspian sea to the Western part of China down to Afghanistan – A very distinctive repeated design called a “gul” is prominently employed in these type rugs.
Chinese: Rugs made in China – Chinese are some of the easiest rugs to identify as their symbols are different from all other areas. In recent years, Chinese rugs have copied the Persian designs in mass quantities.
Other: Rugs made in India, Pakistan, Romania, Bulgaria, etc. – India and Pakistan have weaving traditions which date back many years ago. However, in recent history, a majority of rugs woven there are copies of the Persian designs.

Below is a sample page from the section….