Antique Persian Rugs: How to Identify Authentic Styles and Choose the Right Rug for Your Home

While antique Persian rugs are decorative items, they have a special allure. The limitless scope of possible design, the handmade production, organic materials, and the proof of age can lend history and character to a room that is impossible to duplicate by machine-made rugs.

Shopping antique Persian rugs can sometimes become confusing, but they can all be used synonymously with regard to traditional Persian rugs when referring to antique, vintage, traditional, handmade, or Persian-inspired rugs. Just because a rug is beautiful doesn't make it an antique, and some of the qualities need to all align to make the rug an actual antique.

As you make your initial purchase of a Persian rug or you decide to purchase another rug to join the collection, it is possible that a basic understanding of how rugs are constructed, designed, aged, and condition and where rugs are made, may help you make the right choice.

What Makes a Persian Rug “Antique”?

An antique is normally something that is quite old, at least 100 years old. With the exception of the rug market, though, there are regional and seller nuances in terms, and so it should not be taken as "antique" or a guarantee that it has gone with it just because it is stated in the product description.

Persian rugs are typically associated with rugs produced in Persia. Persian rugs are famous for the diversity of the region, where combinations of motifs, colors, structures, and designs can be discerned.

Age is just one factor.

Other factors that can affect the authenticity and worth of a rug are:

• Where it was made
  
  
• How it was constructed
  
  
• The materials used
  
  
• The description of its design and regional characteristics
  
  
• Condition and restoration
  
  
• Rarity
  
  
• Size

Look at the Construction Before the Pattern

One of the most useful tricks to look at a rug that may be quite old is to flip it over.

The back can reveal information not possible to discern from the front.

Look for:

• Individual knots, not a smooth machine-made product
  
  
• The size and spacing of the knots vary
  
  
• Hand-finished edges
  
  
• Natural irregularities
  
  
• Any deterioration in the rug that is typical of its age

Since handmade rugs are made by a single individual instead of machinery creating the rugs, there are slight differences from rug to rug. They are irregularities but do not automatically mean that a rug is antique; they do offer some helpful hints about construction.

Don't buy a rug that is so old that its construction doesn't seem authentic.

Learn the Major Persian Design Families

Persian rugs are not all the same type of art. Each weaving area had a unique tradition.

Heriz-Inspired Designs

The styles associated with Heriz rugs tend to exhibit strong outlines, large medallions, and show bold geometrical designs. They can also feature very nicely in rooms where a central focus is desired.

Tabriz Designs

A high degree of detailing and complex patterning are characteristic features of Tabriz rugs. Many examples contain floral patterns, medallions in the center, and elaborate borders.

Isfahan Designs

Kashan Designs

Often characterized by floral designs, a central medallion, and a wide array of traditional palettes, the Kashan rugs are found all around the world. Their formal presence can do well to blend with classic and transitional interiors.

Tribal and Village Styles

Others are Persian rugs with highly expressive and geometric designs that are less formally symmetrical. These contribute to a calm and relaxed atmosphere in modern interior designs.

The categories provided are suggestions, not rules. There is also significant variety among Persian rugs, and an expert who knows the art well can detect some regional characteristics that may not be apparent to a layperson.

Examine the Color Palette

Another indication of a rug's character may be its color.

Older Persian rugs often have intricate color schemes more suited to blocks of color, or a tonal variation of the same color. Examples of shades can be:

• Deep red
  
  
• Indigo
  
  
• Navy
  
  
• Ivory
  
  
• Rust
  
  
•  Brown
  
  
• Soft gold
  
  
• Green

Natural dyes may fade slightly over time. Some people term this phenomenon as "abrash," which may result in variations in tone in sections of a rug.

However, abrash can be sought after for the textured/old-look of a rug. But not all of the look-alike colors indicate that a rug is antique.

Notice if there are natural or faked changes in color to the rug.

Be Careful with Artificially Aged Rugs

Some rugs in recent years are made on purpose to give the appearance of being aged. It is important to note the difference between buying what you think and what you actually are buying.

Ask the seller:

• Does the rug actually look and feel old, or is it fake?
  
  
• Approximately when was it made?
  
  
• Is it handmade?
  
  
• Where was it produced?
  
  
• Is it chemically cleaned or known to be artificially distressed?
  
  
• Has it been repaired or restored?
  
  
• Does it have any records of its age or origins?

When a rug is offered for sale, particularly based on its age, it's crucial to have a clear answer.

Condition Matters as Much as Age

There's no such thing as a perfect antique rug. Signs of use can even become a part of its character.

However, care needs to be taken in the assessment of condition.

Check for:

•  Areas of significant wear
  
  
• Missing or damaged piles
  
  
• Repaired sections
  
  
• Rewoven areas
  
  
• Fringe replacement
  
  
• Edge repairs
  
  
• Holes or tears
  
  
• Moth damage
  
  
• Previous alterations
  
  
• Uneven fading

A well-restored rug may still be a good piece, but it must be acknowledged as such, and its purchase must incorporate that.

Inquire if there was previous conservation or restoration of the rug, as well as whether there are signs of it, rather than assuming every property that the rug has visible is due to aging.

Choose a Size That Works With Your Furniture

After making sure the rug is authentic and in good condition, divert your focus to what the rug's going to be used for in your house.

An antique Persian rug shouldn't be treated as a piece of art that merely rests on the ground. Its dimensions must complement the furnishings.

Before shopping, measure:

• The room
  
  
• Main furniture dimensions
  
  
• Desired rug placement
  
  
• Door clearances
  
  
• Walkways
  
  
•  What you want to display around your floor (water effects, rugs, etc.)

In a living area, the rug may be used to tie the living room furniture together. There should be sufficient space to pull the chairs out of the way from the rug in a dining area. The rug may run over the bed in a bedroom to form a pleasant frame for the bed.

Sometimes, if an antique rug is a little smaller, you can have a little bit of flexibility with a layering approach.

Let the Rug Become the Starting Point

Antique Persian rugs may be more complex and include a number of colors, which can then be a basis for the remainder of the room.

Instead of taking a direct copy of the rug, look for a couple of colors or tones and use these in the rest of the room, but in a not-so-stark, vineyard copy fashion.

For example:

• When decorating for your home, choose ivory upholstery or curtains.
  
  
• Use a muted blue color for cushions or on artwork.
  
  
• Use smaller accessories of the same color or shades of rust/burgundy for an echo effect.
  
  
• Limit the use of large furniture objects.

This way, the rug can still be the focal point of the room, while at the same time not creating too much of an impression of an overly controlled style.

Traditional Does Not Mean Old-Fashioned

Old Persian rugs are able to fit into modern residences very well.

Contrasting an old-fashioned, textured rug with contemporary furnishings can produce a layering effect laced with old and new.

Combine an old rug with:

• Clean-lined sofas
  
  
• Contemporary accent chairs
  
  
• Simple wooden furniture
  
  
• Modern lighting
  
  
•  Minimal accessories
  
  
• Neutral upholstery

The pattern and history offered by the rug are balanced by the modern pieces of furniture in the room.

Questions to Ask Before Buying

If you're thinking of buying an actual antique Persian rug, do not simply take the seller's word for it or photographs for granted.

Ask for:

• Approximate age
  
  
• Origin of area or city
  
• Construction method
  
  
• Fiber composition
  
  
• Knot structure
  
  
• Dimensions
  
  
• Condition report
  
  
• Restoration history
  
  
• Provenance, if available
  
• Care recommendations
  
  
• Return policy

In the event the rug is of great significance, take the time to find out its value by asking an experienced expert or the person who specializes in rugs to assess the rug before making a purchase.

Final Summary

To purchase antique Persian rugs, not only must the pattern be attractive but there are factors to consider. It's important to check the authenticity using more than one visual indicator—that is, checking the construction, materials, design features, age, condition, and documented information.

Be able to distinguish between true antiques and vintage-inspired or faux distressed rugs; ask how a rug was made, restored and the story behind a rug's making. Once you make up your mind on what you are looking for, you need to focus on the next detail that is size, color and space, so that your rug fits in perfectly with your furniture and interior.

A vintage Persian rug will bring in warmth, craftsmanship, pattern and history to a modern house. Selecting a medallion that fits the “home and expectations” concept of authenticity will be an investment repaid with much more satisfaction, whether it be an elaborate medallion, a medallion in the village theme, or a traditional medallion with a soft fade.