About Kashan Rugs

Kashan is an important city in central Iran, with a magnificent history of carpet weaving dating from the 16th century. Classic pieces show a diamond-shaped medallion with small matching spandrels on a floral field, but all-over fields of Shah Abbas flowers, pictorial and hunting scenes are also found. They are mostly in wool, but some have been woven in pure silk. Traditional theme colors are reds and blues, but more recently Kashans have been woven in paler beiges, with grayish-blue and olive-green tones, for the international market.

History & Construction

Kashan is an ancient Persian city renowned for its magnificent carpets. Its natives proudly share in the respect given to these. In the past, kings and rulers from afar would come in person to purchase rugs from Kashan. On display in major museums around the world, some older pieces date from the 16th or 17th century when Kashan was given one of the first Royal workshops, and became one of main canters responsible for the legend of the Persian carpet. Some scholars, to be the city where the famous ‘Ardebil’ carpets might have been woven, think it. By the end of the Second World War, it was estimated that the city of Kashan could operate some 12,000 professional looms simultaneously. The famous asymmetrical Persian knot is the only one used in the weaving of these fine carpets, with patterns ranging from the classic medallion, through fields of Shah Abbas flowers, to magnificent pictorial and hunting scenes. The materials can be all wool, all silk (the famous "Silk Kashans'), or a combination of the two. The foundations are generally of cotton, except in the finest pieces where it is of Silk