How to Tell the Age of a Persian Carpet

Look for signs of age. Many early carpet designs are used in modern carpets as well, so look for faded colors, warp and weft threads made of wool (not cotton), and weft threads of differing thicknesses. Size matters too - the earliest Persian pieces are most often rugs, not carpets, because Persians were nomads and couldn't carry the larger carpet looms about with them.

Look for a medallion. If there is a large central motif, such as a lotus flower surrounded by bands of clouds or animals in combat, your carpet may be as old as the 15th century. The background color in these earliest rugs was most often some shade of red.

Look for vase or metallic brocade motifs. In the 16th and 17th centuries carpets often featured large Chinese-style vases, sometimes against a background of woven palm fronds and leaves. Polonaise carpets used sumptuous brocade designs incorporating gilt or silver threads. Green, blue, ivory and red are particularly helpful color indicators for this period.

Look for an all-over design. In the mid-19th century, Persian rugs became quite popular in Europe, which led to workshops being set up in cities. These city-woven rugs could be carpet-sized since the looms didn't have to be portable, and all-over repetitive patterns became popular. These patterns used curved lines and featured flowers, people, animals and leaves; "Prayer Rugs" featuring a Tree of Life were also common at this time. Occasionally you might find the mark of the carpet's designer (the "ustad") woven into the carpet.

Look at the materials. Post World War II, cotton was often used for the warp and the weft fibers, and if there were two weft fibers they were usually the same width. Even hand-knotted newer rugs frequently incorporate manmade fibers which were not available centuries or even decades ago. If the fringe is a separate piece attached to the carpet, it is not handmade.