Handmade Persian Rugs – What Makes Them Extraordinary?

Handmade Persian rugs originated out of necessity, as a protection against cold by nomads to cover themselves up or to cover the hard, cold and dirty grounds. These handmade coverings were very light and portable as they were of flat weave and served as cloths, drapery and blankets.

Are you wondering what’s so great about these handmade Persian rugs woven by nomads? You just have to experience firsthand the look and feel of a genuine handmade rug to appreciate its beauty and opulence. Though they have a humble origin, over time they have become one of the most prized possessions of collectors and homeowners. While machine woven rugs can barely last for a few years, handmade Persian rugs with proper care can last for centuries, making them a cherished heirloom.

Handmade Persian rugs are exquisite and their beauty only increases with age as they are made of all natural materials like wool, cotton or silk and the dyes used are also from natural sources like plants. Handmade rugs are like fine wine, they get better with age.

Handmade rugs are not perfect but unique. They are mostly asymmetrical and each is marked with some kind of imperfection, either in the weave, pattern or in the shades of colors employed in the rugs. It is these minor imperfections that give the charm and uniqueness to handmade Persian rugs. 

Handmade Persian rugs are characterized by vibrant hues and intrinsic patterns. The vivid colors are possible due to the use of a myriad range of vegetable dyes on natural materials like wool and silk.

Handmade rugs are easy to repair. If due to any reason a part of the rug is damaged, the entire damaged section, big or small, can be knotted again or rewoven to restore its original beauty.

While every step of handmade Persian rugs were handmade from collecting and preparing the wool, to hand-dipping in dying vats to weaving and hand-knotting, modern technological advances have greatly simplified the whole process. However, the important things like craftsmanship, use of natural materials and dyes and the tradition of creating a unique handmade product still continues to date as it was done centuries ago by the nomadic tribes.

Very few documented records of the design techniques and dying process that were followed thousands of years ago exist today as these techniques are often orally passed from one generation to the other. Handmade Persian rugs are a perfect mix of splendor, function, beauty and value, making it a pride of its owners.