What Makes Farahan Rugs Beautiful & Unique

Have you ever heard of Farahan rugs? We’re not surprised if the answer is no. They’re a unique rug category with a few distinct features. Today, we will look deeper at the history of Farahan rugs. But first, let’s talk about the name Farahan.

Where is Farahan?

Rugs often are named after their place of origin. In this case, Farahan rugs hail from the region known as Farahan County in the Markazi province within West Central Iran. The area is located slightly further north of the larger town of Arak. 

We wanted to quickly note how the term “Farahan” is spelled. Spelling variations include both Farahan and Ferahan. Today, we will use Farahan, though we wanted to point out that both are accepted.

A Persian Rug Subset

In the vehicle industry, each manufacturer has many unique models. Within those model families, there are subsets as well. Let’s use the classic F150 as an example. Popular trims include 4×4, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum. Each of these is a Ford truck, just slightly different.

Likewise, Farahan rugs are a subset of the much larger Persian rug family, with well over a dozen subclasses. Persian rugs themselves sometimes get grouped into the even larger category of Oriental, though there are differences between each style. 

Like their Persian siblings, Farahan Rugs contain high-grade fabrics such as cotton, wool, and silk. They’re known for their magnificent color and floral patterns. Plus, they give off a sense of royalty and look fabulous in a formal dining or living room.

The History of Farahan Rugs

This brings us back to the topic: the history of Farahan rugs. This style of rug has generally been traced back to the 19th century. Already, Persian rugs were world-renowned for their sturdy construction.

Subsequently, Persian rugs became a well-known Iranian export. There is evidence that Western trade offices began opening throughout this region, which led to the proliferation of (and desire for) well-made carpets. 

The Farahan rug family would have been included in this, though, like other rug categories, it began to see a decline in popularity. Generally speaking, there is a dividing line between a pre-1910 and post-1910 Farahan Rug.

Finding Farahan Rugs Today

Why is there a recognized split between pre and post-1910 Farahan rugs? It simply has to do with a cultural shift. Farahan rug production began to dip around the turn of the century. Other categories started to fill in the gap. However, there is still a desire for the Farahan style of carpeting, which has since led to a resurgence in production.

Are you looking for Farahan rugs? Rug Source is here to help!

As we mentioned, antique Farahan rugs are less plentiful on the market than vintage and newer options. However, regardless of the age you’re looking for, our selection of Farahan rugs contains many options to choose from. Please browse our online inventory here or message us and let us know what you’re looking for. We’ll be in touch ASAP!