Where do Kashan rugs come from?

The city of Kashan (or Kachan), with its harsh climate, is located 190 km from Tehran in Iran, in the center of the Iranian plateau between Qom and Isfahan, on the edge of the Dacht-i-Kevir desert. Mulberry trees were grown there and renowned silk was produced. The antique silk rugs produced by Shah Abbas's royal manufactory in connection with that of Tabriz were of great compositional richness.

How are they made?

In the very fine weaving with a red and blue dominance, the soft and silky wool was mixed with gold and silver threads. The exceptional quality of this production has declined since it started using synthetic dyes, but the artistic reputation of the rugs produced in this city remains very much alive. Very fine pure silk rugs are made there with motifs in soft and delicate colors inlaid on the garnet red background.

How to recognize a genuine Kashan rug?

Some rugs, knotted in silk, create a relief effect that stands out on the kilim-made background of the rug: these rugs are called Suf. The most precious pieces, in silk or pure sheep's wool, have a high price but it is justified, while a poor-quality Aroun-Kachan produced in a small village near Kachan is barely worth half.

What are their motifs?

Some workshops copy rugs with hunting scenes or other figurative subjects inspired by Persian mythology or birds in a plant decor, trees of life, inspired by ancient Persian miniatures.

All our Kashan rugs are unique pieces, sold with their certificate of origin.