The rich Persian carpet-making history dates back to the 6th Century BC
Persian carpet weaving is believed to have begun over 2500 years ago in the Persian Empire during the reign of Cyrus the Great. Tellers of folk stories and historians believe that when his tomb was discovered it was strewn with many priceless rugs.
As nomadic tribes started to spread across western Asia, they spread their weaving techniques to the people they met. Over a period of time, the art of weaving improved and many useful items started to be made.
When trade routes from Europe to the Middle East opened up in the 1500s, and Persia (now Iran) began trading with the British, French, Dutch and Portuguese traders, Persian Rugs became popular floor and wall coverings with the European elite classes.
And so began the west’s obsession with Persian and oriental rugs from the east and seen as works of art and status symbols by connoisseur art collectors. The most beautiful Persian carpets became highly sought after as an investment—much like fine wines, artefacts and art by the masters—and not just a floor covering.
Persian carpets are a key source of income for what is now Iran
Generations of Iranians have meticulously handed down the rug-weaving art and skill from the heyday of the Persian Empire to their descendants. Today, several key cities in Iran, including Gorgan, Heris, Isfahan, Kashan, Kerman, Mashhad, Tabriz and Qom, are minor hubs of carpet manufacturing with styles and designs exclusive to each region.
Despite surviving the 1979 revolution and the1980s Iran-Iraq War, Iranian hand-woven carpet industry revenues are declining. Competition from neighbouring countries, US sanctions (Iranian product imports are currently banned in the US, including Persian rugs) and a post-Covid-19 recession, not to mention the political unrest currently gripping Iran, is the likely cause.
Competition from machine-made carpets and rugs that copy the style and patterns of the original Persian rugs also only serves to put the price of antique rugs up, and even vintage rugs up to 50 years old, as they are an increasingly rare and finite resource.
By the 20th century, the Persian rug industry faced new changes with the advent of synthetic dyes and commercial production methods. These changes brought about a shift in the color palette and designs of the rugs. However, there was also a revival of traditional methods, as connoisseurs began to value the authenticity of natural dyes and hand-spun wool.
Throughout these changes, from the earliest nomadic looms to the sophisticated city workshops, Persian rugs have remained a symbol of cultural identity and artistic heritage. Whether a simple tribal design or an elaborate city-made carpet, each rug tells a story of its own, a woven narrative of the people and their evolving way of life.
The legacy of city workshop rug-making continues to this day, with many of the techniques and styles developed during this period still being used. Safavid rugs serve as a testament to Persia’s rich artistic history and its enduring influence on the world of art and design.
Due to the exquisiteness of the materials used and the hard labour and time it takes to complete every hand-knotted Persian rug or carpet, genuine hand-made antique Persian rugs from the last century and earlier are expensive—ranging from $500 to $50,000.
Several factors determine the price of a Persian rug, including the knot count per square inch, which can be anywhere from 60 to 1,000 knots per inch for the finest examples, use of hand-spun versus machine-spun yarns, and the application of natural dyes, size and design.