Carpet weaving is not just a way to make floor coverings — it’s a cultural art form that has been passed down from generation to generation. This is especially true with Persian rugs. According to historical evidence and scholarly opinion, the art of carpet weaving has existed in Iran since ancient times.

The earliest Persian carpet in existence is the Paziric rug, which dates back to 500 B.C. This form of art underwent many changes in various eras of the Iranian history, continuing to grow after the Mongol invasion of Iran and spreading during the reign of the Mongol dynasties of Timurid and IIkhanid. Modern-day rugs made by artisans in Iran are among the most highly sought-after by Persian rug and carpet dealers. Today there are more than 1.2 million weavers working in Iran, making rugs for both domestic and international sale. Iran’s export of $420 million in hand-woven carpets was 30 percent of the world market back in 2008.

There are multiple different types of rugs currently available in Iran. They are the larger Farsh rugs, the smaller Qālicheh rugs and the Kilim rugs made by the nomadic people of Iran. The differences between Persian area rugs lie in their quality, knots, designs, colors, warp and wool. An expert antique Persian rugs dealer can perform an accurate estimation on the value of a rug after examining all of these features.