Are your investments tied up in knots?

A magnificent carpet from Isfahan, central Persia, knotted around 1600, went under the hammer at Christie's Auction House, New York City, on the 3rd June. It sold for an astonishing $4,450,500, the highest price ever paid for a carpet at auction.

Estimated to sell at around $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 the 7'7" x 5'7" (2.35x 1.75) carpet with silk foundations exceeded all expectations at auction. Knotted with perfect technique by master weavers some time at the zenith of the Safavid art period during the reign of Shah Abbas (1587-1629), the rug embodies the wonderful charm and imagination for which Persian rugs are world renowned.

Sadly, with the changing lifestyle in Iran (Persia), rug weaving is becoming a dying trade; these rare and beautiful masterpieces will become evermore sought after by collectors and museums alike. Rugs woven in Iran today are becoming more expensive to source year by year to the extent that rugs from Afghanistan, India and China have become more popular with rug traders due to their relative value and affordability. Persian rugs from Iran are still by far the finest and most prestigious handmade rugs in the world.

With the recent uncertainty in the international banking infrastructure and a recession looming over the heads of many, investing in just about anything at present is an uncertain task. However, there are still few ways to keep your money secure in today’s market: gold bullion, safety deposit boxes, and last but certainly not least hand-knotted Persian rugs. With a bit of knowledge and relatively a modest investment one could be making a sound investment whilst enjoying the ever lasting splendor on daily bases.

A fine hand-knotted Persian rug usually takes several years to produce; a large Persian rug of excellent quality today could run into the tens of thousands of pounds. However, if you are willing to take time, you may just find a piece of Eastern treasure at excellent value buried away at your local Persian Rug gallery. Many specialists will have sourced some of their best rugs several years ago when prices was more favorably matched with demand and may be able to offer you some of Iran’s finest exports at a price which won’t have you competing with the world’s top museums.

Little-Persia is a specialist in Persian and Oriental rugs situated in Glasgow just south of the city centre. Operating for the past 5 years from his Commerce Street gallery Dr. Reza Cheshmehdoost has vast experience in sourcing the best selection of rugs the Persian gulf has to offer; prior to going it alone Reza worked to source rugs for many of the other rug specialists based within the UK.

Rugs Rock

Here's an article that was recently published by the Herald and No. 1 magazine in Scotland.

Other news items can be found on Little-Persia's News page.


Rugs Rock



What do Elton John, Robert Plant and The Fratellis all have in common? According to Little-Persia they all share a love for exquisite Persian & Oriental rugs.

Elton John, infamous for his pre-concert demands, refuses to take to the stage unless he has large non-leather sofas to relax on with fine Persian carpets underfoot. The star’s cultural appreciation and taste for luxurious and artistic comforts is not lost on other musical greats.

Ex-frontman of heavy metal legends Led Zeppelin and now solo artist, Robert Plant, took to the stage at Wembley Arena to promote his latest album ‘Raising Sand’ to a surreal backdrop of nine. Persian rugs of a quality normally found hanging on the walls of the Victoria & Albert museum.

An appreciation of these Persian carpets is not confined to the 70s rockers. Reza Cheshmehdoost of Little-Persia believes the age-gap has been bridged by these Eastern treasures: “We had Gordon McRory [or ‘Mince’ from The Fratellis] walk in, had a quick look around and pick two beautiful rugs from our wall display – one for himself and one for lead vocalist John Lawler - it wasn’t until I asked my son that I realised who The Fratellis were.

It’s not the first time we’ve had a celebrity in our gallery. John Michie, or Detective Inspector Robbie Ross [from Scottish police drama Taggart], came in a while back to make use of our rug cleaning service with a rug his wife had bought for £1500. He was delighted to hear that if his wife were to buy the same rug today it would cost well over £5000.” Not a bad return on your money in just five years.

Persian rugs are unique works of art and the most practical form of flooring lasting for generations while maintaining and often increasing in value.

Throughout the UK thousands are enjoying their homes furnished with rugs sourced from Little-Persia. If you are looking to add a touch of luxury and style to your home then you’ll adore the magical experience, the beauty and elegance, of the handmade Persian carpet at Little-Persia.

With over 1200 rugs in stock Reza is certain he has something to suit most tastes: “We’ve strived in recent years to build Scotland’s largest collection of Persian rugs, now that we’ve achieved this aim I hope more can enjoy these beautiful artefacts in their own homes.”

Rug Weaving Countries

There a number of countries which export high-quality hand-knotted rugs, these are classified as Persian (those made in Iran) and Oriental (those knotted in the other countries of Asia) this guide gives a brief overview of some of these countries:

Persian Rugs

Iran

The Persian rug had a humble beginning, one of necessity, a protection against the harsh elements for the nomad or tribesman. The simple woven rug evolved into one of literary expression, depicting that which was important to the weaver or even to record a particular event.

The beauty of the Persian rug was not lost on noblemen and kings and soon the art-form progressed to a symbol of wealth and artistic values. Dating back more than 2500 years the Persians were amongst the first of the ancient civilizations to craft fine decorative rugs.

The dedication and artistry put into these rugs have them the reputation of being the best the modern world has to offer.

Designs vary from region to region however many of the rugs feature elements of nature or symbols of something special or sacred to the tribe that wove them. This could be of religious artifacts, many of the central medallions lending their designs from the domes of temples and mosques. Others may be of importance to the livelihood of the tribe, hunting scences or motifs symbolizing fish, plants, grain and flowers.

The Safavid Dynasty (1502-1736), when the art and trade of rug making was heavily encouraged, was important to the development of the Persian rug. Most rugs found in museums today come from this period.

Persian rugs are described by the region in which they were woven, most cities and towns have their own distinctive design however many (such as a major carpet weaving centre like Tabriz) create a wide variety of designs.

For more information and images of rugs from within different regions visit our rug origins guide.

Oriental Rugs

Afghanistan

Located to the northeast of Iran, Afghanistan shares a rugged terrain similar to that of northern Iran. Because of this Afghan rugs tend to be hard wearing and robust. Afghan rugs are similar to Caucasian and Turkish designs, using only a few vivid colours and often with geometric patterns.

The rug weaving industry has been effected by the political instability and trade restrictions on the country in recent years, export has become difficult and as a result many Afghan rugs are exported from the bordering countries of Iran and Pakistan.

India

Rug weaving was introduced in India in the 16th century by the Persian empire. During the Safavid Dynasty the Persian government set up professional workshops with Persian master weavers overseeing the looms and training the Indian weavers. Because of this background in rug weaving almost all Indian rugs are imitations of famous Persian designs such as Kashan and Tabriz. This is not to say that because they are imitations they are 'fake' in some way, the only thing that sets them apart from their Persian counterparts is the quality of the wool and the weave.

Indian rugs tend to use coarser wool than Persians which leads to the designs being less detailed. It is often more difficult to fold Indian rugs because of the density of the wool making the rug stiff however they do sit very nicely on the floor and as a result of the wool they tend to last a very long time.

Pakistan

Much like the history of rug making in India, Pakistan began making rugs under the influence of the Persian government during the 16th century.

Most rugs made in Pakistan utilize very few colours, preferring the designs of Persian Turkmen and Caucasus Bokhara the Pakistani Bokhara and Jaldar is of high quality using very soft and lustrous wool to obtain a simple yet stylish tribal design. The colours used in these rugs are generally a solid red, blue, green and biege or gold with darker details and octagonal or diamond shaped gul motifs.

Pakistan is the 4th largest producer of Oriental rugs.

Nepal

Nepal has origins in tribal rug weaving however today they specialize in modern hand-knotted rugs. Many of the hand-knotted contemporary rugs found in retailers across the country are sourced from Nepal. These rugs are often made to a custom design from a western designer or even a customer. Nepal rugs use thick knots and are not of the same quality as Persian or many of the other Oriental rugs but are excellent for those looking for a quality modern rug, one which will last more than a few of years.

China

China has become the biggest exporter of Oriental rugs. The crafting of pile rugs using wool is a relatively new practice in China, their culture and availability of silk meant that they looked down on wool as a crafting material and were more attuned to flat-weaving decorative silk rugs. While silk rugs have been made in China for 4000 years it wasn't until the 13th century that pile rugs started to be knotted.

However, as a growing industrial country China has focused on retail demand and now craft mass market designs in large quantities.

Persian Rug Club Introduction

I'm creating this blog in the hope that it will become a hub for rug enthusiasts to meet and discuss their interests and their rugs as well as share their knowledge on the art that is Persian & Oriental rugs.

Over time I will look to add rug origin guides for rugs for around Iran and the Persian region. It is my aim to create an exhaustive list detailing the area and design of rugs woven in Iran and discuss the history behind them.

I invite anyone who has an interest in Persian rugs to share their knowledge and help to build this blog and hopefully a community with a shared passion.

As a marketer by trade I began working with Little-Persia in 2005 with no familiarity with rugs, since then I have built up a knowledge but I am very much still learning. Hopefully this page will allow me not only to share what I do know but will also allow me to discover new stories, new designs and old history!

Over the coming weeks and months I shall add stories of what Little-Persia is doing as well as other interesting events in the rug world.

There is no online community of note with a shared passion for Persian rugs so with your help let us build a hamlet where people can come to discuss the interests. I invite people to contribute, to ask questions, to link to photos of their rugs and to come together to discuss the art of the Persian rug as well as their other hobbies or interests.


Ryan Malone