Vintage Kashan Carpet
A vintage kashan carpet brings enduring Persian artistry and dense wool pile into a room, offering rich floral motifs and deep red or rose grounds.
Vintage Kashan Carpet
When searching for a vintage kashan carpet, collectors encounter hand-knotted room-size carpets, area rugs, and prayer rugs originating primarily from north-west central Persia. The examples on this page span the early decades of the twentieth century, alongside nineteenth-century pieces and Indo-Persian variations.
The most common form is the traditional Persian rug featuring classic floral vase designs, pictorial elements, or all-over patterns. Buyers frequently select these rugs for their intricate medallion layouts and historical connection to Persian workshops.
Sizes range from compact area rugs to large palace-size carpets suitable for substantial interior spaces. The inventory reflects diverse weaving traditions, including specialised kork wool and part-silk productions.
How they were made
These carpets are hand-knotted using foundational warps and wefts of cotton that provide structural stability and precise geometry. Artisans tie dense wool pile by hand, incorporating soft kork wool or highlights of silk to achieve tactile depth and refined detail.
Dyers utilise traditional vegetable and mineral agents to establish durable ground colours such as rose pink, deep red, and ivory. The knotting technique allows complex floral, vase, and pictorial compositions to maintain their integrity over generations of use.
Vintage Kashan Carpet Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for vintage 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.
Periods represented span from the nineteenth century through the decades of the early twentieth century.
What varies in quality
Knot density and wool quality determine the foundational tier of each piece, with finer kork wool and part-silk examples demonstrating superior tactile refinement. The precision of the hand-knotted floral vase design and pictorial detail separates standard production from exceptional masterworks.
The harmony and saturation of the original ground colour, whether rose pink or deep red, heavily influence the aesthetic standing of a carpet. Uniformity in the weaving execution across palace-size carpets or smaller prayer rugs indicates the skill of the original workshop.
Mohtasham Kashan·Mokhtashem Keshan·Haroon Kashan
The Vintage Kashan Carpet Glossary
- Kashan
- A historic city in north-west central Persia renowned for producing high-grade hand-knotted carpets with intricate floral designs. These rugs often feature central medallions and refined wool foundations.
- Kork wool
- High-grade mountain sheep wool gathered from the neck and shoulders, prized for its exceptional softness and density. It allows for finer knotting in antique Persian carpets.
- Prayer rug
- A smaller format rug featuring a mihrab or niche design used historically for private devotion. They frequently display floral vase motifs within the central field.
- Pictorial rug
- A woven textile depicting figures, historical personalities, or narrative scenes rather than purely geometric or botanical patterns. These pieces require advanced technical skill from the weaver.
- Part silk
- A description of rugs that incorporate silk threads alongside wool pile to highlight specific floral details or outlines. This addition creates a subtle reflective contrast under ambient light.
Vintage Kashan Carpet: Frequently Asked Questions
Where were these carpets originally made?
These carpets originate from Kashan in north-west central Persia, an established centre for fine textile production. Certain pieces also reflect Indo-Persian traditions.
Weavers in these regions utilised traditional hand-knotting techniques passed down through generations.
How do I care for a wool rug?
Regular gentle vacuuming without a rotating brush roll helps remove embedded dust from the wool pile. Professional cleaning is recommended to maintain the integrity of natural dyes.
Keeping the carpet out of direct, harsh sunlight prevents the red and rose grounds from fading over time.
What is a prayer rug?
A prayer rug is a smaller format textile traditionally woven with a distinct architectural niche or mihrab design at one end. They were utilised for personal devotional practices.
These rugs often incorporate delicate floral vase and garden motifs within the central field.
Are these carpets suitable for heavy foot traffic?
Many larger formats and robust wool constructions were built to withstand regular use in active living spaces. Dense hand-knotting provides natural resilience against wear.
Placing an appropriate underlay beneath the carpet adds cushioning and prevents slipping on hard floors.