Persian Carpet Types

Tabriz and Afshar Rugs

• Afshar rugs are typically smaller and woven with geometric patterns--diamond-shaped medallions with multiple connections among them. Afshar rugs are covered with roses, or gul farangi, and motifs that are chicken-like in shape, also known as Afshar-e-Morghi. The colors range from browns and blues to dark reds and oranges. Afshar rugs are typically woven out of wool or cotton.

  Tabriz style rug designs are more curvilinear--curved lines. The Turkish knot is very common and the rugs show a variety of colors--they may be pastels and/or more vivid darker colors depending on the market. The use of pastels increased between the early 1900s and the 1930s. The motifs on the rugs come in green, yellow, blue, lavender and orange. The foundation of the rug is wool with silk highlights woven in.

Baluch and Shiraz Rugs

• Baluch rugs are woven by hand, by nomadic tribes in southern Iran. The Baluch tribe uses carpet weaving techniques from a 2,500-year-old Persian tradition. They create designs that are rich in burgundy, navy and ivory. Every Baluch rug is one-of-a-kind.

  Shiraz rugs are woven in the city of Shiraz in central Iran. Shiraz rug designs use plain color schemes with geometric motifs, plants and small animals. The border is reminiscent of a barber pole effect, using two colors with red being the main color used.

Kerman and Wiss Rugs

• Kerman rugs include designs used in European and Persian cultures. They are covered in floral patterns, animals, hunting scenes, gardens, stripes, etc. The modern versions of the Kerman rug are designed with Quran style corners and medallions. The main colors used are reds, pinks, ivory and even lime green. Some other commonly used colors are orange, beige, turquoise and champagne.

  Wiss rugs are hand-crafted near Hamedan in Iran. These tribal rugs are crafted with thick floral patterns in vases, and a variety of garden elements. Burgundy and dark reds are the main colors.