How do I date an old Kashan carpet?

Dating relies on stylistic clues, structural materials, and historical markers recorded in the weave, such as specific portraits or period attributions from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Examining the specific wool type, such as fine kork wool or silk, alongside the colour palette helps place the piece within eras like the Edwardian period or the 1920s.

Where were these carpets made?

These textiles originated in Kashan, a historic city located in north-west central Persia within the Isfahan province. The region established a lasting reputation for sophisticated weaving techniques and workshop traditions. Production extended from regional town workshops to larger palace-size commissions created for domestic and international markets.

Are silk Kashan rugs different from wool ones?

Silk Kashan rugs utilise pure silk or part-silk piles on cotton foundations, offering an exceptionally fine handle and luminous surface sheen. Wool versions provide a heavier, more resilient pile suited to everyday floor placement. Both material types display the same intricate central Persian floral and medallion layouts.