Kashan Rugs: A Tribute to the Safavid Dynasty of the Persian Empire
Kashan rugs are an export from one of Iran’s oldest cities, Kashan, dating back to the 17th century or late 16th century. Kashan was a hub of silk production beginning with the Safavid dynasty, a golden age of Persian weaving under the reign of Shah Abbas.
Contemporary Kashan rug sales began toward the end of the 19th century, when Kashan merchants hoped to replicate the success of weaving shops in Tabriz to the north. During this era, many antique Kashan rugs were commissioned for individual homes. The best Kashan carpets of the 19th-century and turn of the 20th century are formal, traditional and luxurious.
The warp and weft of Kashan rugs are usually made of cotton with the traditional asymmetrical Persian know. The thin double weft is often woven between 120 knots per square inch and 840 knots per square inch. The finished texture of Kashan rugs is soft to the touch. The best Kashan carpets use a superior quality of wool that sometimes has silk mixed in.
An antique Kashan rug was colored with vegetable dyes, which contribute to their unique texture, but
modern Kashan rugs (from the 1930s) use contemporary chrome dyes.
The highly sought after curvilinear designs of Kashan weaving was popularized by Kashan weavers in the early 1900s. The Kashan rug typically centers around a teardrop medallion, though intricately detailed motifs like palmettos, blossoms, leaves and arabesques are common, as well. The “Royal Garden” of Kashan is the source of a notable garden motif that is the archetype of Persian carpet designs. Another inspiration for many Kashan carpets is the “Garden of Paradise.”
Pakistani Kashan Rugs
When the Mogul empire spread through Iran to the Indian subcontinent, the work of Persian weavers was carried to modern day Pakistan. The city of Lahore today produces the vast majority of modern Pakistani Kashan rugs.
Like their Iranian forebears, Pakistani Kashans use a wool pile on a cotton base. Mogul Kashan rugs use the Senneh knot, an asymmetrical double knot that produces a dense, heavy weave, making them extremely durable. One of the main distinctions between Iranian and Pakistani Kashan rugs is the use of color. Pakistani Kashans feature predominantly pastel shades, whereas a traditional Persian Kashan carpet may include richer reds, greens and blues.
Motasham Kashan Carpets: Exceptional…and Exceptionally Rare
Motasham Kashan carpets are the rarest group of Kashan carpets. They feature non-traditional designs and color palettes and were woven with lamb’s wool renowned for its luminous, reflective sheen. True Motasham Kashan rugs are finely knotted and extremely difficult to find.
Dating from the middle of the 19th century, antique Motasham Kashan carpets are among the finest Persian carpets. Early Motasham Kashan rugs (pre-1850) use a technique known as abrash, marked by an emotive use of color shading and color shifts. They commonly feature an antique ivory or gold background and subtle pastel tones throughout the weave. Over time, the dyes in an antique Motasham rug will soften and acquire an earthy patina. The rich lanolin will rise to the surface of the wool fibers over time, given the rug an extraordinary luster.
Antique Persian Bakhtiari Rugs
Nothing compares to the opulent designs of Bakhtiari rugs. These distinctive pieces are gorgeous, artistic, durable and in great demand. That’s why, whether you’re filling an estate or looking for a special rug to define your living space, you can’t go wrong by adding one to your home. What’s especially admirable about a Bakhtiari Persian rug is the character: these handiworks feature stunning, interesting, hand-woven designs that took years to complete.
When you’re in the market to purchase one for your home, come to Rug Source. As the rug importer with an online store and a location in Charlotte, North Carolina, we have a large variety of Bakhtiari rugs for sale — from small designs to grand pieces. Browse our selection to find the kind of runners and rugs that you can love for a lifetime.
A Guide to Buying Bakhtiari Rugs
At Rug Source, we want to help you purchase a Persian Bakhtiari that you and generations after you will be proud to display. For this reason, we’ve put together a quick guide below, to steer you through the buying process. By understanding a little more about the background and style of a Persian Bakhtiari rug, you may find shopping through our selection a little simpler.
If you have any other questions not answered below, please contact us.
Background:
Bakhtiari rugs get their name from the Bakhtiari tribespeople of the Zagros Mountains. A strong, courageous group known for annually trekking over snow-capped mountains, the Bakhtiari traditionally produced geometric designs in their rugs but, over time, were influenced by floral carpets of Persia. This led to the innovative styles found today. Bakhtiari rugs are made of durable wool and feature inspiring, complex designs.
Shape and Design:
Many Bakhtiari rugs feature central medallions and bold colors. They are best known for their intricate imagery, which incorporates latticework, bell-shaped components, flowers and highly romantic themes. Each one typically takes up to six years to complete, representing a labor of time as well as artistry. Find them in various colors, from reds to blues to beiges.
Shopping Bakhtiari Rugs for Sale at Rug Source
As the largest online resource for Oriental, Persian and other area rugs, Rug Source is the best place to find stunning, long-lasting Bakhtiari rugs for your home. For more than a decade, our business offers the best prices, complete with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Our prices tend to be 60 to 70 percent below retail, as well as 30 to 40 percent below competitors’ rates. When you buy a piece from us, if you’re not happy for any reason, you can return for a refund within 30 days.
To learn more about the rugs we carry, visit our location in Charlotte or shop our selection online!