Rugs woven in Iran (Persian*) have many styles and colors. Click here to view a gallery of 400+ pictures of rugs made in Iran

Country of origins vs. Design

Persian* is known as the design of these rugs which originated in the country of Iran. Many rugs made in India, Pakistan, China, etc. are labeled as “Persian” because they’ve copied the Persian rug design. This does not indicate that they were made in Iran.
This isn’t to say that rugs made with Persian designs from other countries should be avoided. There are many nicely woven rugs from other regions of the world that you can buy and enjoy. My focus here, however, is about the splendor and beauty of rugs made in Iran  which are original (rather than copies) of Persian designs.

The majority of rugs have a 100% wool pile. Typically, the foundation is either wool or cotton. There are two ways of obtaining wool, one is from sheep that are raised for the sole purpose of sheering the wool for fabrics. This is called “live” wool and render the best type of wool for rug weaving.

The other is to obtain wool from sheep which were raised for their meat. Once the animal has been slaughtered, a  chemical processes is used to separate the wool from the hide. This is considered “dead” wool and is cheaper, but it’s less desirable in feel, wear, and aesthetics.

Some rugs are made from 100% silk. Beware of some  rugs sold as silk when they’re actually made of mercerized cotton. It has the same look and feel but not real silk. If you look at individual strands and they have a twisted yarn look to them, they are probably mercerized cotton.

If it’s made of synthetic materials such as nylon, it’s not hand-made!

It’s true that vegetarian dyes are preferred over synthetic/chemical dyes. This is especially true if you’re dealing with older rugs. The chemical dyes have come a long way and, if applied correctly, will last a long time. A majority of rugs being woven today globally use chemical dyes.

It’s true the denser a rug is, the more work was put into it. However, that only applies to rugs from the same region. To demonstrate, say you’re looking at two rugs made from the city of Kashan in Iran. Despite the two rugs being equal, the one which is denser and has more knot per square inch is typically the finer rug.

Typically, you shouldn’t use knot density as a measure of quality if you’re comparing rugs made in different regions.

Please remember that knot count is only one factor in judging a rug’s value. It should only be considered along with other factors such as color, quality of materials, design, condition, and more. The tightness of the weave has a bearing on the cost of a rug but not necessarily its artistic value.

Both hand-knotted and hand-woven rugs are made on looms. The major difference is found in a hand-knotted rug – each knot is hand-tied by the weaver on the loom. In a hand-woven or kilim rug, the rows of weft run across each row back-and-forth on the loom. By their nature, hand-knotted rugs take longer to weave and are capable of more detailed designs. They also have a pile and are non-reversible.
The hand-woven (kilims) rugs are flat, look identical on both sides, and reversible. Hand-knotted rugs will always be more expensive since they require more time and materials to complete. See the differences between how a hand-knotted rug is woven vs. hand-woven (kilim).

Click here to learn about how hand-tied knots are important in identifying authentic hand-made rugs:

Here’s the catch: the “age” of a rug does not make it more superior than others. If a rug was of good quality originally, the age can/may add to its value. Of course, there are other factors such as wear-and-tear that also have to be considered. On the other hand, a low-quality rug will not age well over time, it is an older low-quality rug.

You should buy a rug because you love the way it looks, as you see it today. It is difficult for a novice to decipher how old a rug really is. Therefore, it is important that you deal with a reputable dealer who can guide you through your decision-making process. Another factor to consider is your lifestyle, if you are raising toddlers, having a 100-year-old antique may not be practical in a living room. Rugs are very resilient and can pass the test of time.

Depending on the age of a rug, some repairs are expected. In general, if it is done well, it should not discourage you from buying a rug. You must however use your discretion, as many factors and circumstances may/will affect your buying decision. A reputable dealer should provide you the information you need to make an informed decision.