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.
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