The exquisitely detailed and exotic vintage Persian rugs at Chairish are the perfect addition to any room in need of warmth and dimension. These high-end hand knotted rugs are woven with mellow color tones, gorgeous patina and quality construction. Whether you’re adding an antique Persian rug to an expansive living room or an intimate bedroom, the right vintage carpet is sure to elevate your interior design.
Antique Persian rugs are prized for their flawless proportions and effortless fluidity of style. They follow ancient geometric principles of form, proportion and the angles of spiraling curves and have a timeless appeal that transcends fashion trends. These classic heirlooms also display a gracefully refined balance of materials, color and pattern with a sculptural elegance.
The art of Persian weaving is a highly skilled craft and the most important determinant in determining a rug’s value. The more intricate a design, the finer and more valuable a rug will be. It takes more time to make a finer rug because the weaver needs to tie many more knots per square inch. It is also more expensive because the warps need to be woven thicker and with higher quality wool.
Fine Persian rugs are made by master weavers who were self-taught and learned by trial and error over generations. They designed with a personal identity that superseded group identity and their work evolved from vernacular craft to conscious visual art. One such master weaver was Ustad Zufilkhar Ed Din Mohtashem, whose carpets are associated with the revival in interest of Persian rugs in the late 1800’s.
Most of the motifs in Persian rugs have symbolic meanings. These symbols can be passed down from generation to generation and have a profound effect on the emotions. The boteh, for example, is an important motif that represents eternity or a flame, among other things.
Another factor that determines a rug’s value is its color palette. The more rare a color, the more desirable it will be. A blue rug in particular is coveted because of its rarity.
When shopping for a fine antique Persian rug, it is important to know how to identify a real one from an imitation. Using the color-fastness test is a good way to test for authenticity. Place a damp rag on the backside of the rug and see if the color transfers to it. If the rag is stained, it is likely that the dyes used in the rug are not vegetable. A real Persian rug will have natural, vegetable-based dyes and will be able to be cleaned with a damp cloth. Another way to test for the quality of a rug is to use a toothpick to poke around the front of the rug, near the fringes, for loose threads. If you notice many loose threads, this is a sign that the rug was not properly constructed and therefore may be of poor quality. A quality, authentic Persian rug will be free of loose threads.