Types of Persian Rugs: A Guide to the Main Styles and Regions

Persian rugs are usually named after the city, town or region where they are woven. Each area has its own designs, colours and quality range. Here are the main types you will see.

City rugs: fine and detailed

• Tabriz. One of the oldest weaving centres. It is known for a wide range of designs, from central medallions to pictorial scenes, and quality from everyday to very fine.
• Kashan. Classic central medallion designs, often in deep red and navy, with dense, even pile.
• Isfahan (Esfahan). Very fine rugs with detailed floral designs, often with silk highlights.
• Nain. Fine rugs in light colours such as ivory and blue, with silk outlines in the pattern.
• Qom. Famous for very fine silk and wool-and-silk rugs.
• Kerman. Soft colours and flowing floral designs.

Village and tribal rugs: bold and hard-wearing

• Heriz. Bold geometric medallions in red, rust and blue. Heriz rugs are thick and very durable, and they give our gallery its name.
• Hamadan and Bidjar. Sturdy village rugs with geometric designs. Bidjar rugs are known for their tightly packed, heavy weave.
• Bakhtiari. Garden designs divided into panels.
• Shiraz and Qashqai. Tribal rugs with geometric motifs and animal figures.
• Mashad and Khorasan. Large rugs from north-east Iran, often with rich red fields and floral medallions.

Other Oriental rugs

• Afghan. Includes Ziegler-style and Serapi-style rugs, tribal designs and Gabbeh rugs with simple, bold patterns.
• Pakistani Bukhara. Repeating octagon (gul) patterns, often in red.
• Turkish (Anatolian). Geometric designs and soft, faded palettes, such as Oushak.
• Kilims. Flat-woven rugs with no pile, from Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan and India. See our kilim rugs.

How to choose between them

For a formal room, look at fine city rugs such as Kashan, Tabriz or Nain. For a busy family room, a durable Heriz or a tribal rug is a practical choice. For a relaxed or modern space, try a Gabbeh, a kilim or a soft, faded Turkish design.

Browse the Persian and Oriental collection, our handmade rugs and our refurbished Persian rugs. Not sure about size? Read how to choose a rug and the right size.

Want to see the difference in person? Visit our showroom at Unit 1, The Straight Shopping Centre, 78 The Straight Avenue, Fourways. Call 011 467 3747 or WhatsApp 066 114 8411.