Persian Kerman Carpet
A persian kerman carpet brings centuries of southern Persian weaving tradition into a room through elaborate floral designs and rich natural dyes.
Persian Kerman Carpet
A persian kerman carpet represents the sophisticated weaving heritage of south Persia, encompassing grand room-size floors and smaller tribal formats alike.
The most frequent examples encountered on this page date from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, spanning periods from the 1870s up to the 1930s.
These floor coverings range from expansive formal city carpets down to compact mats, alongside related nomadic textiles such as salt-bags and vanity-bags originating from the Kerman province.
Materials and Construction
Weavers utilised soft wool pile worked upon sturdy cotton foundations, creating structures durable enough for generations of daily domestic use.
Colour palettes relied entirely upon natural dyes derived from plants and minerals, yielding stable tones that soften gracefully over long periods of time.
Persian Kerman Carpet Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for persian kerman 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.
Nomadic weavers packed spare belongings into intricately knotted salt-bags and vanity-bags before they ever wove a floor carpet.
Distinctions in Quality
Fineness of knotting and precision of detail separate standard room-size rugs from exceptional pieces like finely executed Kirman Lavar or millefleurs prayer designs.
The integrity of the wool pile and the preservation of the original borders and selvages determine the overall structural merit of older carpets.
The Persian Kerman Carpet Glossary
- Kirman
- A major weaving centre in south Persia known for sophisticated city carpets and intricate floral patterns.
- Lavar
- A specific village or workshop style associated with finer, denser Kerman weaving traditions.
- Afshar
- A nomadic or semi-nomadic tribe of the Kerman province producing distinctive geometric and tribal rugs.
- Millefleurs
- A decorative style filled with a thousand small flowers covering the field of the rug.
- Boteh
- An ancient almond-shaped motif resembling a curved floral spray or paisley element.
Persian Kerman Carpet: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I care for an old Kerman carpet?
Protect the piece by placing it in low-traffic areas away from direct sunlight to preserve the natural dyes.
Vacuum gently using suction only without a rotating brush bar to keep the wool pile intact.
What size do these carpets come in?
Dimensions vary widely from small handheld mats and bags up to grand oversized room-size carpets.
Runners and specific prayer rug formats also appear among the traditional Persian weaving output.
How are different periods identified?
Dating relies upon stylistic evolution, structural density, and the specific characteristics of the natural dyes used.
Pieces span from the nineteenth century into the twentieth century, reflecting shifting local workshop practices.