How do I care for an antique rug?

Vacuum gently without using a rotating brush roll to protect the wool pile from excessive friction. Keep the textile out of direct sunlight to prevent natural dyes from fading prematurely. Rotate the carpet periodically to ensure even wear patterns across high-traffic areas. Professional cleaning by specialists in antique oriental textiles is recommended every few years.

Where were these rugs made?

These textiles originate from towns, villages, and tribal regions across the northwest sector of Persia. Prominent production areas include Heriz, Karaja, Tabriz, and the broader Kurdish and Feraghan districts. Each location developed distinct design vocabularies and knotting techniques influenced by local tribal traditions and urban workshop practices.

How do I distinguish Heriz from Karaja?

Heriz carpets generally appear in larger room sizes with massive, dominant central medallions and bold rectilinear corners. Their scale suits spacious reception rooms and dining spaces. Karaja rugs typically present smaller dimensions, often utilising repeating geometric medallions or village patterns arranged in vertical rows. The overall visual rhythm feels more compact.

A bag face is the decorative woven front panel harvested from a larger nomadic storage sack used in tribal households. These portable containers stored household goods, salt, or bedding during seasonal migrations. When the utility sack wore out, the durable piled face was preserved as a small mat or decorative hanging. They offer condensed examples of tribal weaving skill.