Kerman Persian Rug 310 × 498 cm, Wool, hand-knotted, antique

Overview

A Kerman Persian rug from Iran, measuring 310 × 498 cm. It covers approximately 15.44 m², or 10.2′ × 16.3′. Kerman in south-eastern Iran is known for curvilinear drawing and a wide, soft palette.

Materials and construction

Stated material: cotton warp, wool. The rug was knotted entirely by hand on the loom, which is why the surface is not mechanically even but carries the small irregularities that mark hand work. New wool gives a resilient pile that recovers from footfall and takes dye deeply. The cotton warp holds the rug flat and keeps it dimensionally stable.

Format and use

The rug is rectangular. At this size the rug sets the room rather than accenting it, and wants furniture standing on it. In our size filter it is listed under Larger than 400×300cm.

Fineness of the knotting

The stated knot density is 200,000–299,999 knots/m². A coarser count, typical of village and nomad work, where the pile is thicker and the rug hard-wearing.

Age and condition

Stated age: 50 years or more. An old rug shows an evened, slightly lowered pile and the patina that only use produces; that is a mark of age, not of damage. The piece is a one-off: in this combination of size, material, knot count and drawing it exists exactly once, and it cannot be reordered once sold.