Persian carpets and rugs were initially woven as articles of necessity to cover the floors of nomadic tribesmen, giving them protection from the cold and damp.
What’s so special about Persian rugs?
Renowned for their rich colors and interesting designs, Persian rugs are made with all-natural wools, silk and vegetable dyes, rather than synthetic materials. … Because of their painstaking craftsmanship, Persian rugs are also highly regarded for their quality and durability.
How do you know if a Persian rug is authentic?
In short, a genuine Oriental or Persian carpet has no sewn-on fringes. The fringes form the end of the warp yarns and are therefore an integral part of the carpet. If you should see on the back of the rug that the fringes have been sewn on, then in all probability it is not a genuine oriental rug.
Types of persian rugs generally come in three categories: city, village and tribal. They are all named after the city or village they were made in, or by the tribes that made them.
The city rugs are known to be the highest in quality. The city rug weavers in Iran are known as ‘master weavers’ and some of them even sign their work, like a piece of art. Simply put, the city weavers are mostly men and this is their full time career and income.
Those that are made in villages, or by tribes, on the other hand, are made by families. They weave the rugs, often from memory or inspiration on their travels, and sell them as an extra source of income.
QUM
Qum in Iran is 140km south of Tehran. Here you will find the tomb of Shah Abbas (1586 to 1682) and the home of great carpet weaving. These carpets are amongst the best quality due to the high level of expertise and the wide variety of beautiful patterns and colours using vegetable dyes. It is found mostly as silk on silk and this will prove to be a sound long-term investment.