Persian carpet
A handwoven carpet made in Iran, distinguished by regional weaving traditions, materials, knotting techniques, and designs.
Persian knot: An asymmetrical carpet knot wrapped around one warp thread and passed beneath the adjacent one. This knotting method is a defining construction technique in many Persian carpets.
Pile weave: A textile structure in which extra threads form a raised surface of loops or cut ends. Persian carpets commonly build their patterned surface by knotting pile around warp threads.
Tabriz carpet: A Persian carpet associated with Tabriz, a major weaving and trading center in northwestern Iran. Tabriz carpets exemplify fine urban production and a wide range of designs.
Safavid dynasty: An Iranian dynasty that ruled from 1501 to 1736 and established Twelver Shiism as the state religion. Safavid patronage helped establish court workshops and a celebrated carpet tradition.
Turkish carpet: A handwoven carpet made in Turkey, shaped by Turkish regional traditions and techniques. Turkish and Persian carpets share a history of exchange but often differ in knotting and design conventions.
Wool: A natural fiber obtained from the fleece of sheep and other animals. Wool is a common pile material, valued for resilience and ease of dyeing.
Carpet knot density: The number of knots in a given area of a knotted carpet. Knot density affects detail, texture, labor, and the way a design reads.
Kashan carpet: A Persian carpet woven in or associated with Kashan, a historic textile center in central Iran. Kashan carpets are known for finely woven medallion and floral designs.
Ardabil Carpet: A famous sixteenth-century Persian carpet made for the shrine of Shaykh Safi al-Din at Ardabil. Its date, inscription, and exceptional preservation document Safavid carpet-making.
Caucasian rug: A rug woven in the Caucasus, a region between the Black and Caspian seas. Caucasian rugs offer a nearby regional tradition with often bolder geometric patterns.