Persian Carpet & Rugs
The history of Persian Carpet dates back to 2,500 years ago. The Iranians were among the pioneer carpet weavers of the ancient civilizations.
Iran is the world’s largest producer and exporter of handmade carpets, producing three-quarters of the world’s total output. At present, many beautiful specimens of Persian carpets are kept in well-known museums around the globe, serving as Iran's artistic and cultural ambassadors.
The “traditional skills of carpet weaving” in the Fars province and Kashan were inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010.
One of the characteristics of Persian handmade carpet is its mind-blowing diversity. All provinces weave carpet based on their own style and taste. Some of the provinces are more well known in this regard, such as East Azarbaijan, Isfahan, Fars, Markazi, Yazd, Khorasan Razavi and South Khorasan.
Persian rugs are made up of a layout and a design which in general included one or a number of patterns. They are typically designed using one of three patterns: all-over, central medallion and one-sided. These designs have different meanings although it is not unusual to find more than one pattern in a single rug. Some abstract unsymmetrical design can be found but most of these can be described as one-sided or unidirectional.
The traditional hand-knotting, natural colours and fine woolen yarns are characteristics of the valuable Persian rugs, which have been produced in Iran for centuries.
Wool is the most common material for carpets and there are a wide variety in types of wool used for weaving. Silk carpets are less common than wool carpets since silk is more expensive and less durable. Silk carpets are often displayed on the wall like tapestries rather than being used as floor coverings.
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