Antique Kashan Carpet
An antique kashan carpet brings enduring Persian artistry and dense floral motifs into a room, offering both history and tactile depth.
Antique Kashan Carpet
An antique kashan carpet represents a tradition of fine Persian weaving originating from the historic city of Kashan. These floor coverings range from intimate prayer rugs to expansive room-size and oversize carpets suited for grand interiors.
The pieces available include traditional Persian rugs, runners, and room-size examples dating from the early twentieth century and the Edwardian era. Buyers frequently encounter classic floral designs, all-over boteh patterns, and distinctive ivory or green grounds.
Formats span from compact area rugs measuring around two metres to large formats exceeding five metres in length. Both standard wool and silk-adorned or part-silk variations appear within the selection.
How they were made
These carpets are constructed using durable cotton foundations for the warp and weft, providing a stable grid for the dense pile. Artisans knot soft wool, premium kork or kurk wool, and occasionally silk directly onto this cotton base.
The use of fine wool varieties, particularly kork wool harvested from the neck fleece of lambs, allows for intricate knot density and a notably soft handle. Natural dyeing traditions produce the rich colour palettes seen across the grounded fields and bird borders.
Antique Kashan Carpet Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for kashan carpet among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Several examples incorporate dedicated bird borders, letting avian silhouettes quietly survey the floral field beneath your feet.
What varies in quality
The distinction between standard examples and the finest pieces rests upon knot density and material selection. Superior specimens utilise exceptionally soft kork wool or fine silk highlights, yielding a tighter, more pliable handle that drapes fluidly.
Design execution and colour saturation separate ordinary production from masterwork output. The most accomplished weaves display crisp botanical rendering, harmonious palettes, and refined signatures from known workshop traditions such as Moteshem.
Antique Moteshem Kashan
The Antique Kashan Carpet Glossary
- Kork wool
- High-grade wool taken from the neck of sheep, prized for its softness and lanolin content. This material allows weavers to achieve intricate detail.
- Boteh
- A traditional almond-shaped or paisley motif representing a floral cluster or cypress tree. It frequently fills the field in continuous rows.
- Prayer rug
- A smaller format rug featuring a mihrab or niche design at one end. Historically used for individual prayer, it directs the visual focus.
- Moteshem
- A master weaver designation associated with nineteenth and early twentieth-century Kashan production. Pieces bearing this attribution represent the height of fineness.
Antique Kashan Carpet: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an antique kashan carpet?
An antique kashan carpet is a hand-knotted Persian floor covering produced in or around the city of Kashan during periods such as the Edwardian era and the early twentieth century.
These pieces are known for dense floral designs, cotton foundations, and wool or silk piles that create durable yet refined textiles.
How do I identify a kashan rug?
Identification relies on examining the foundation, knot structure, and characteristic motifs like central medallions and elaborate floral sprays. Materials typically involve cotton warps paired with soft wool or kurk wool.
Regional colour choices, including ivory and green grounds, further help distinguish these woven works from other Persian styles.
What is the difference between kork wool and standard wool?
Kork wool is sourced from the softer neck fleece of sheep, offering a finer texture and higher natural oil content. This creates a denser, softer pile than standard carpet wool.
Weavers utilise kork wool to achieve sharper detail and a more luxurious feel underfoot.