Types Of Persian Rugs

By Author: Thomas Lindblom
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Persian area rugs are typically classified either as Persian Tribal Rugs or Persian City Rugs. Within these two categories the different Persian rugs get their names from the tribe or city in which they are designed and manufactured.

Here are some of the more popular Persian City Rugs:

Afshar Rugs
These rugs are generally smaller in size and typically feature a geometric pattern.

Some of the more common patterns include multiple medallions placed in a diamond shape and connected at several points or all-over botehs, gul farangi (roses), and Afshar-e-Morghi (chicken) motifs. The colors of these area rugs range from burnt orange, dark reddish-blue, dark red, ocher, dark blue, brown, reddish brown, camel. Afshar rugs are usually constructed using wool as a foundation, though sometimes cotton is also used.

Tabriz Rugs
Tabriz Rugs have curvilinear designs, though you could find a few that have geometric designs. The common feature in Tabriz rugs is the symmetrical Turkish knot and the diverse palette of colors used in each rug. Tabriz area rugs have an overall pastel in a wide range ...
... of colors including peach, ivory, beige, camel and pink. Wool pile featuring silk highlights or just plain silk is usually used as a foundation for these rugs.

Kashan Rugs
The traditional design on most Kashan area rugs includes a medallion that is elongated, lobed and diamond-shaped with floral pendants around. Hunting, pictorial and vase designs are also commonly seen in Kashan rugs. Ivory, beige, rich red and navy are the commonly used background colors in these rugs and the designs are made using ocher, turquoise, blue, red, brown and white.

Kerman Rugs
Kerman Rugs are typically curvilinear in pattern and feature Kerman pictorials including all-over stripes, boteh, floral, prayer, hunting, paneled garden, animal or vase. These pictorials could be based on either European or Persian themes.

The more modern versions of the Kerman Rugs feature Aubussons, which are Koran medallion-with-corners on an open field. The colors commonly see in these rugs are orange, turquoise, ivory, ink, red-blue, rich red, pink, beige, champagne and lime green.

These are the more famous Persian Tribal rugs:

Baluch Rugs
Baluch area rugs are woven by hand by the Baluch tribe, a nomadic tribe from southern Iran. Weaving of these rugs is done following a Persian tradition that dates back to 2500 years. The unique design features an overall pattern with the main colors being rich burgundy, ivory and navy.

Shiraz Rugs
Shiraz rugs are hand-woven by the tribes of Shiraz in Central Iran. These rugs are simply and crudely done. The pile is cut long in these area rugs and they have plain color schemes.

Some of the more commonly used designs are geometric motifs, plants or animals and the selvages have a barber-pole effect that is achieved by using two different colors. The predominantly used color in Shiraz Rugs is red.

Wiss Rugs
These area rugs get their name from the village Wiss where they are made. Commonly used patterns include palmettes, foliage, garden elements, foliage and vases in dark shades of burgundy or red. Wiss rugs are remarkably similar in appearance to Tabriz and Arak designs.