Did you know that Iran is the country that produces the beautiful Persian rugs that you enjoy so much?

Iran is also known as Persia.  The people of Iran make beautiful quality rugs.  Iranians began weaving rugs when it was first introduced to them in 529 BC. Since then they have perfected the art of weaving through much practice. Now people all over the world want Persian rugs made in Iran.

      According to the history, the art of weaving was passed down from the Achaemenians to the Persians when Cyrus the Great invaded the region. In 1949, an excavation in Siberia brought about the discovery of Pazyryk carpet. The age of the said artifact has been established with radiocarbon testing. It dates back to the 5th century BC. This discovery revealed that sophisticated techniques were used to produce beautiful woven rugs as early as that time. Well-known men in our history used Persian rugs to decorate their private chambers. Ghazan Khan, a Mongol leader who also once ruled Iran, ordered the use of the finest Persian rugs for the mosque he built in Tabriz. Even Adolf Hitler is believed to have used a replicated Ardavil rug in his Berlin, Germany office. The Ardavil is a carpet known to be the oldest Persian rug that survived during the Islamic Period.

The techniques for constructing Persian rugs continued to change throughout the years. In the beginning, a Persian rug was made by hand using single loop knots called the Persian knots. Now, most hand-woven rugs from Iran use double loop knots that are comprisable to the Anatolian technique. These knots make the rug more durable. The cotton fibers or wool that were used to make Persian rugs used to be colored using organic dyes. This provides the vibrant colors that make up the art we see from within the antique Persian rugs.

But since the invention of commercial, artificial dyes, organic dyes are not used as often. Artificial dyes are easier to use and are also more accessible for Iranian weavers. The use of machines in rug production has also increased, making Persian area rugs cheaper and more widely used.  Mass production has made selling Persian rugs a lot easier, but has taken away from the value of the rug itself.

Today, most people use Persian rugs as area rugs to accent many of their rooms. Persian rugs give color and life to a dull plain room. I have to say that they are not as appreciated as they once were and that really is a shame.  The techniques of creating these wonderful rugs have evolved throughout the years but the beauty of the Persian rug is still the same. Be sure to go out and purchase your own Persian rug so that you can celebrate and appreciate the history of it as well as its beauty. Now that you have read this you can purchase your own rug with the knowledge to better appreciate the rug’s history.