A luxurious hand-knotted Persian rug will quickly become a focal point of any interior. Well-appointed Persian rugs are hard to come by. If you’re in search of a tailored hand-knotter rug that will hold up to the test of time, you’ve come to the right place. Finding a rug that’s chic and worth the price requires some research.
I often get questions from the readers who wonder, “How to choose an authentic Perian rug?”, “What makes Persian rugs so expensive,” and “Which process do you use to clean your Persian rugs?”
So I’ve tried to round up all the most popular questions and answer them in this post. Learn everything you want to know about the hand-knotted Persian rugs in this easy guide.
How to Identify an Authentic Hand-Knotted Persian Rug
Don’t you just hate it when things don’t go to plan? Imagine setting your eyes on a beautiful and (seemingly) hand-made Persian rug only to discover that it’s actually a good imitation? Seriously, how do you tell an authentic hand-knotted Persian rug from a cheap machine-made lookalike?
Above all, make sure that your rug structure consists of knots. Check out our previous post on what’s the difference between a hand-knotted and hand-tufted rug.
1. Inspect the rug backing
Let’s take a closer look at how the rug backing. A real hand-knotted rug will have knots that are slightly uneven. After all, they were made by a real person, and nobody’s perfect. Basically, every single knot is hand-tied. The pattern on the backing should be the exact copy of what you see on the front side. The more knots your rug has – the better is the quality.
A machine-made rug will have perfect and symmetrical knots, which are actually not knots at all.
2. Fringe
The fringe of the real hand-knotted rug is the continuation of the warp threads, which are left exposed. Warp is a structural element that holds the whole rug together, as these threads rug through the whole length of the rug.
A fake (machine-made) Persian rug would normally have a fringe sewn into the rug. Here’s why: they want to make it look hand-knotted. Alternatively, you will notice that the fringe is glued on.
3. Edges
Another main difference between a real and fake hand-knotted Persian rug is how the edges look. Let’s look at it in detail: the edges of an authentic hand-made rug are overcast. While on the machine-made rug the edges are stitched using a machine.
In a nutshell, telling an authentic hand-knotted rug from a cheaper alternative isn’t that hard if you know your theory. Flip the rug, or carefully check the photos if you order it online, and make your research. Trust me. You’ll be glad you did it. I hope the tips above will help you make a good choice!
Hand-Knotted Persian Rugs – Our Top Picks
When it comes to Persian rugs, beauty is ultimately in the eye of the beholder. Yet when it comes to choosing an authentic hand-knotted rug, you have to be careful and make sure you get what’s advertised. I’ve seen so many cases when buyers were tricked into thinking the rug was hand-knotted, when in fact it was machine-made. Order hand-knotted Persian rugs only from trusted sellers, with a good reputation. I’ve rounded up the top list of my favorite hand-knotted rugs that you might like as well.
Originating in Iran, Persian rugs are nowadays quite difficult to find on the market. There are many cheap counterfeits that claim to be Persian rugs, while in fact are made in China. If you’re looking for a valuable piece that will last for generations and retain its price, order rugs from trusted importers.
Because of their scarcity, collectors tend to keep Persian rugs to themselves, and that makes them even more valuable.
Harooni Antique Persian Lavar Kerman Rug
- Material: 100% wool
- Size: 10′ x 19′
- Technique: hand-knotted
- Age: pre-1900
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This beautiful Kerman rug accents a traditional border. It has a distinct floral motif with red, glue, and beige accents. It is hand-knotted using a shiny and soft wool pile. Kerman rugs are often called “garden rugs” because it’s like having a lush garden right in your living room.
Harooni Authentic Tabriz Persian Rug
- Material: 100% silk
- Size: 8′ x 10′
- Technique: hand-knotted
- Age: 2000-Now
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Tabriz rug was delicately made by expert weavers in Tabriz, Iran, and is of excellent quality. It’s made of superior silk. The design is based on a classic center medallion arabesque motif. The rug has a lovely black field filled with herati in terracotta and ivory tones.
Tabriz is a city in Iran’s northwest region, on the borders of Azerbaijan and Turkey. It is the country’s third-largest city. Traditionally, tabriz rugs are crafted on vertical looms in weavers’ private homes, and the proud weaver may frequently weave their own name into the rug. Technology: Turkish knot. Tabriz rugs are some of the most highly prized rugs among Persians for usage in their homes and furnishings. Patterns are flowery in nature, with a center medallion being the most common. Some Tabriz rugs have more silk content than the others and are woven onto silk foundations to provide the most luxurious look.
About Harooni
Harooni is the largest US wholesaler of authentic rugs. All their rugs are handmade, not machine manufactured, not hand-tufted, and imported directly from the country of origin. Fact: they have one of the world’s most extensive collections of fine hand-knotted rugs, featuring both new and vintage pieces as well as contemporary and traditional pieces in every imaginable size.
Harooni works directly with rug weavers and merchants who create the Persian rugs.
Most tribal and nomad rugs they sell are handcrafted in small communities and villages without the use of a pattern or pre-sketch, relying instead on the talent and inventiveness of the weavers. As a result, every rug is unique! Asymmetry and imperfection in these rugs are sign of individuality.
What Makes Persian Rugs So Expensive
Get this: the most expensive Persian rug ever sold is “17th Century Antique Persian Carpet”, and it had a price of $33 Million. It’s unknown who the buyer is, but one thing is clear – they have excellent taste!
A high-quality handmade rug can cost thousands of dollars. Have you wondered why the prices of Persian rugs are so high? First of all, they are made of expensive materials. Unlike the cheap machine-made alternatives, authentic hand-knotted rugs use only natural materials in production. There can be a few types of materials and weave combinations, but they all include one or a few of these natural materials: wool, silk, and cotton.
The creation of a hand-knotted rug is very time-consuming. No wonder that the time and materials required to produce them lead to the higher product price. Keep in mind, such rugs take a long time to knot, and their price is reflected in this. Everything, from weaving to knitting the Persian rugs is done entirely by hand, without machines. Even a small Persian rug can take months or even years to make, depending on the materials, design details, and artisan’s skills.
Are Persian Rugs a Good Investment?
The good news is that Persian rugs keep their value. Investing in a fine rug that will retain its value is a smart decision.
In fact, they are known to maintain their value well, and on some occasions, even increase in value over time. It comes as no surprise since the process of making them is so delicate and time-consuming. The resulting product is an excellent art piece that brings pride to the owner. If you are in doubt, rest assured that a hand-knotted Persian rug is a substantial investment and one of the timeless rug trends.
For instance, rugs that are more than 30 years old can be considered collectible. When they are more than 80 years old they are considered antique. This leads us to the conclusion that hand-knotted Persian rugs are extremely durable.
Yes, it’s true!
With good care and regular cleaning, a hand-knotted Persian rug will last more than 100 years. If you keep it out of the high-traffic area, such a rug can last for many generations.
How Are Hand-Knotted Persian Rugs Made
Have you wondered what the rug-making process looks like? I know the feeling – discovering the in-house rug-making secrets is a sacred experience! For many centuries crafted artisans passed their skills through generations. Luckily for us, rug creation is no longer a secret.
The underlying structure of a rug serves as the rug’s basis. The weft and warp serve as the foundation upon which the pile will be knotted. The fringe of the rug is the loose end of the warp. To secure them, rug weavers tie the ends.
To create a rug, the weaver makes knots around the warps. Following the completion of each row of knots, which are individually tied using a variety of colored wool or silk to create designs, a weft strand is securely packed between the freshly finished row and the future one, ensuring that each knot remains firmly attached.
Persian carpets are most commonly woven from sheep’s wool that has been manually boiled, spun, and colored. Natural pigments derived from plants are used to create these vibrant and intricate yarns. It is common in several locations, such as Yazd, for dozens of rug weavers to work simultaneously in the same factory and be involved in various processes. But here’s the interesting thing – there are still villages where tribal women work on the rugs on their own and weave them at home.
Rug weaver spends around 8 hours per day weaving approximately 10,000 knots, which is a significant amount of time. That implies that depending on the complexity of the pattern and the size of the rug, it may take a weaver anywhere from 30 days to 8 years to complete a hand-knotted Persian rug. The majority of rug manufacturers take around 10 months to complete a rug.
Hand-Knotted Persian Rug Materials
As mentioned above, Persian rugs can get very costly. Rug material is one of the price-forming factors. The material determines how the rug looks, and how long it will last.
Wool
Traditional tribal Persian hand-knotted rugs are made of wool. The reason behind this is simple – for centuries, wool was the only material available in those remote villages. What it means is that people had to use available resources to keep their homes warm and decorated. Remarkably, 100% woolen rugs are also the most affordable Persian rug option.
Silk
Silk-on-silk woven rugs are the real treasure. They are extremely strong, durable, and highly-priced. Silk rugs have a high-definition pattern. As you may have guessed, it’s because silk threads are extremely thin. It takes a weaver much more time to create such rugs, and there will be millions of knots. Sounds impressive, right?
In addition to that, it takes professional skills to weave a silk rug. Only the most skilled workers can cope with this task and create a beautiful piece of art.
To test if a rug is made of silk, rub your palm against the rug surface for a few seconds. If you feel the warmth – the rug is made of real silk.
Mix
Wool is often combined with a cotton rug structure. There are lots of wool-on-cotton rugs available on the market, and they are also very long-lasting. You are likely to find other types of material mixes, like silk on wool and cotton. Such rugs have silk woven in some parts of the rug, on particular design elements.
Do Persian Rugs Depreciate?
Imagine what it would be like if your rug became only more expensive over the years? While many Persian rugs are a good investment, unfortunately, many of them still depreciate. We have all heard stories about the antique Persian rugs being sold for thousands of dollars. Fact: this happens very often, but it’s necessarily the case. Rugs depreciate more often than they appreciate, and it depends on a few factors.
The quality of the rug is the main reason. Not all Persian hand-knotted rugs have the same quality, and while they may last for many years, they won’t have a good enough condition to become a collectible. Secondly, the price of an old rug depends very much on demand. If the rug is old enough to be antique, but the design is still trendy – chances are that the value will appreciate. You should also take into account the prices of rug repair. Any rug can be rewoven but not every old rug is worth it.
Rugs that appreciate usually earn in value during decades, not just a few years. So it may be difficult to predict what the future price will be. It is worthwhile to repair many antique rugs that have aesthetic significance since they are both gorgeous and practical.
The greater the degree of originality in the design and colors, the greater the likelihood of admiration. The town or tribe in which the rug was created could also have an impact on its price.
Fair enough, but in this case, is a hand-knotted Persian rug a good investment? Absolutely! A good rug will always add value to your interior. Needless to say that they are just beautiful.
What Are the Features of Hand-Knotted Persian Rugs?
Want to know more about what makes the hand-knotted Persian rugs stand out among other rugs? There are many features that make them different. The most obvious and my favorite is the thickness of the pile. Persian rugs have an unusually thick and soft pile, which can reach up to 1000 knots per square inch. The rugs that have a KPSI of 300 and above are considered very good quality. They take maximum time to create, but if beauty is what you’re after – check out this characteristic. The larger the KPSI – the more detailed the pattern.
Hand-knotted Persian rugs are also famous for their traditional design, vivid colors, and strong weave. Surprisingly, the paints used for creating rug fibers are all handmade and plant and vegetable-based.
Another difference that makes Persian rugs stand out is the knotting style. These rugs traditionally use 100% wool for the structure and the threads, although silk is also popular in the most exquisite rugs.
Persian rug designs are traditionally named after the village, area, or tribe that manufactures them. There are lots of regional versions of the Persian rugs, but we’ll concentrate on a few of the more famous and well-known ones.
Gabbeh
Gabbeh rugs have gained great popularity around the world thanks to their simple designs and rich, soft feel. The Farsi term “gabbeh,” actually means “uncut,” “raw”. Caramel, brown, chocolate, and beige are the traditional colors of this rug, however brighter hues have been increasingly popular in recent years. With a knot count of between 50 and 100 per square inch, they’re very soft.
The lower KPSI of Gabbeh rugs (which is around 100 knots per square inch) gives to the rustic beauty of these rugs, which are often created using the Turkish knots, just like other traditional rugs from western Iran.
Heriz
These are some of the most sought-after rugs in the world. They’re mostly created in red and blue colors, with the addition of beige, white and yellow. They usually have a knot density of about 100 knots per square inch. They are frequently of enormous sizes and often have square patterns. Sadly, older Heriz rugs had better quality compared to the modern ones. Antique Heriz rugs can sell for a lot of money and are always in style. Heriz weavers love creating diamond-shaped medallion patterns on the rugs. The Tree of Life is another popular design that helps to distinguish them from other types of rugs. The close proximity of Heriz to the Caucus Mountains, where Kazak rugs are created, explains why these rugs have a lot in common with the Kazak rugs.
Ispahan
They’ve kept an unwaveringly high standard of excellence over the years with their designs. Ispahan rugs are regarded as some of the best Persian rugs because of their exceptionally fine knotting, which seldom falls below 300 knots per square inch. They are very detailed. The texture is made of a dense, smooth pile. Common designs include medallions with vines and palmettes. Traditional colors are ivory and light blue, rose, indigo, and red.
Kashan
These rugs have rich patterns and also have medallion design themes. The palette has dominating blues and deep red, with a few lighter hues. Unlike other types of Persian rugs, this one’s texture isn’t as plush. They have approximately 200 to 300 knots per square inch. The size of Kashan rugs is very often extra-large.
Kerman
To ensure a consistent coloration throughout the rug, Kerman wool is traditionally dyed before being spun. Kerman rugs, in contrast to other Persian rug patterns, can use a wide range of hues, with some having 15-30 distinct shades. Kerman rugs are often in bold reds, greens, and blues. The KPSI is approximately 100 knots per square inch.
Nain
These rugs can be compared to the Ispahan rugs in terms of their exquisite quality and the region where they are produced. Blues and off-white are the most common colors. The KPSI rarely goes below 300 and does not exceed 500. The high silk content of Nain rugs makes them stand out because of their distinctive glimmer.
Qum
This is a relatively new rug type. Qum rugs have only been manufactured since the 1920s. It is widely accepted that they are of excellent quality. Looking at such a rug, you will probably find trees, flowers, and animal motifs. Qum rugs are traditionally made of silk, although there are a few mixes with wool. They usually have between 300 and 500 knots per square inch. However, if they are made entirely of silk, the KPSI is even higher.
Tabriz
Tabriz rugs are known for their traditional medallion designs and floral palmettes. Weavers usually practice coarse knotting, and the KPSI is usually between 100 and 200. The fabric of these rugs has a medium-thickness, soft-to-the-touch pile. Common colors: blue, indigo, rose, off-whites, and yellows.
Why Are Persian Rugs So Popular in Interior Design
A hand-knotted Persian rug is a piece of art that will never go out of style and may be used in a variety of interiors. Whether you’re decorating a traditional bedroom or a contemporary living room, there’s always a place for the Oriental rug. Persian rugs have the power to define a place, anchor a room, or bring together a color scheme.
Here are some pointers for using Oriental rugs in your interior design:
- If possible – start room decoration with a rug. It will be easier to match the colors and patterns to the rug palette.
- Keep the rest of the room’s design neutral or monochromatic; match the furniture to the dominating rug’s colors.
- Don’t be afraid to play around with patterns.
“The soul of the apartment is the carpet.” – Edgar Allan Poe.
The Best Way to Clean and Protect a Persian Rug
As a proud owner of a hand-knotted Persian rug sooner or later you will face the dilemma – “how can I clan the Persian rug” and “can I do it myself?”
Luckily, you don’t have to resort to professional help every time your rugs need a little dust-out. If you are careful and follow the recommendations, you will keep the rug immaculate for many years to come.
Cleaning or Persian rugs can be separated into 2 types: regular cleaning and stain removal.
1. Regular cleaning
- First of all, vacuum your Persian rug to remove any loose particles or dust. When you’re done vacuuming both sides, simply set it down on the floor. Don’t forget to remove the vacuum’s beater bar, or use an attachment for low-pile carpets.
- Carry on until you’ve eliminated all traces of dust. Avoid having your fringe caught in the cleaning since it is may get damaged.
- Using a spray bottle, wet both sides of the rug. Gently rub the rug with a soft brush or microfiber, going slowly in the direction of the fibers. Rinse it with cold water and carpet shampoo or a mild pH-neutral cleanser.
- Wash off the dirt and grime and remains of the detergent with extra water, using a sponge to remove as much of it as possible. Let your Persian rug air dry in the shade. Make sure the space is sufficiently ventilated.
2. Stain removal
As a general rule of thumb, if you have a hand-woven oriental rug that has been stained, it’s advisable to seek the help of an expert. They will know how to preserve the colors of the rug without distorting them. Don’t attempt to remove stains from a silk rug yourself. Check out the approximate prices of cleaning here.
In addition to the regular cleaning, it is recommended to get a professional cleaning done every few months.
How to Know What Your Persian Rug Is Worth
There are many factors that determine the value of the rug. There is a popular belief that the more knots the hand-knotted rug has – the higher is its value. That is true for the new rugs. Fair enough, the more knots per square inch the rug has, the more time was spent weaving it. The number of knots in hand-knotted Persian rugs can vary from 50 knots per square inch to 1000.
There are other factors that come into play: the design, the size, age, and the material of the rug. Silk rugs are the most expensive because they require extraordinary weaving skills and a lot of time investment.
Generally speaking, the value of traditional antique Persian rugs is determined by their condition, uniqueness, and aesthetic artistry. In general, the value of contemporary rugs is determined by the number of knots and the quality of the materials used. However, the value of the used rugs is no longer determined by the number of knots they have, but rather by their condition and aesthetic quality.
Final Thoughts: What Is the Big Deal with Persian Rugs?
Machine-made rugs may be durable and good-looking, but they will never match the appeal of a hand-knotted Persian rug. Hand-knotted rugs are more expensive, but they are luxuriously detailed and will last for decades.
People love Persian rugs because they are really amazing. Kind of like a piece of art. They use natural paint and are either made of silk or wool. The designs are unique and show mythological and historic figures, flowers, trees, animals, and so on. Many of these rugs appreciate and become only more valuable over time.
Let’s be honest, they are worth every penny.
Have More Questions about the Hand-Knotted Persian Rugs?
Do you still have some questions about the Persian rugs that were not answered in this post? We’ll be happy to help! Contact us and let us know.