Persian Rug Hamadan 314×114 cm Wool Hand-knotted

Hamadan Persian Rug

Material and Craftsmanship

This antique Hamadan Persian rug is hand-knotted and made with wool and cotton. Its construction reflects the individual work involved in traditional rug making, where knots are placed by hand across the foundation and the pile is shaped as the work progresses. The rug is specified as having a wool pile together with a cotton component. These materials form part of the textile structure of the piece.

The stated knot density is 150,000 knots per square metre. Knot density is a technical description of how many knots are placed within a given area. It helps to describe the construction of a hand-knotted rug, while the appearance also depends on the yarn, the pile, the design and the way the surface has been finished. Knot density by itself does not identify a particular workshop or determine the condition of an individual rug.

The pile has a height of 8 mm, giving the surface a relatively low profile. A lower pile allows the geometric drawing to remain easy to read and gives the rug a defined textile surface. Wool is commonly used in the pile of oriental rugs, while cotton can be incorporated into the structural elements of a rug. For this piece, wool and cotton are named as the materials.

Hand knotting is a gradual process. Knots are tied row by row, with the pile then trimmed and the edges secured as the work advances. The result is not a mechanically repeated floor covering but a one-off textile made through a sequence of manual operations. This rug dates from the early twentieth century and is used but well preserved.

Origin and Tradition

The rug is identified as a Hamadan Persian rug and therefore belongs to the Persian rug tradition of Iran. Hamadan is a historic centre in western Iran, surrounded by many towns and villages with their own weaving practices. The name Hamadan is used for a broad regional group rather than for one single design. Rugs associated with the area can therefore vary in structure, colour, format and ornament.

The region has long supported both urban workshops and village-based production. This mixture of settings created a wide range of visual approaches. Some rugs use a carefully organised central field, while others rely on repeating rows, medallions, bands or angular motifs. Local interpretation is an important part of the tradition, so a Hamadan rug is best understood through its regional context rather than through one fixed pattern formula.

Traditional Persian rugs are built on a loom. Warp threads provide the longitudinal foundation, while weft and knots create the body of the rug. The pile is clipped after knotting to establish the surface, and the sides and ends are secured to keep the construction together. Every stage calls for control of tension, spacing and alignment. Hand craftsmanship is therefore present not only in the visible design but also in the making of the rug itself.

Persian rug history includes formal city carpets as well as village and tribal interpretations. City production may emphasise detailed planning and highly articulated ornament, whereas village production often uses a more direct geometry and a strong sense of repeated structure. These categories are not absolute, but they help explain the diversity found across Iran. Hamadan is part of this diverse landscape, with regional rugs that combine practical use and decorative organisation.

The term Persian rug describes an Iranian cultural and production tradition; it does not establish a particular motif, colour scheme or workshop. Geometric compositions have an established place within that tradition. Their forms may be inherited from local designs, simplified from older ornamental systems or arranged according to the weaver’s own working pattern. The origin stated for this rug is Hamadan. No more specific workshop or village provenance is given.

Design and Pattern

The design is geometric and uses black as its named colour. Geometric rug design is based on lines, angles, repeated units, borders and fields rather than on a fully naturalistic image. Its visual effect comes from the relationship between shapes and the rhythm created by their repetition. Black gives the drawing a firm presence and can define the boundaries between adjacent areas of the composition.

In Persian rug design, geometric elements are often arranged through balance and repetition. A border may frame a central field, bands may establish direction, and individual angular forms may serve as visual anchors. Some compositions are strongly symmetrical, while others use a looser sequence of motifs. Village and regional rugs in particular can display simplified forms that retain a clear structure without following a single formal template.

Black may function as an outline, as a dominant field or as a contrasting element within the pattern. It can sharpen corners and make the relationship between neighbouring shapes more apparent. The source description identifies a geometric pattern in black but does not specify additional colours or individual ornament names. The design should therefore be described through its stated characteristics rather than assigned to another named pattern family.

Geometric symbols in oriental rugs do not have one universal meaning. A diamond, hook, stepped line or abstract plant form can be understood differently according to its regional setting and its position within the composition. Some signs come from inherited decorative language, while others primarily organise the field. In this Hamadan rug, the securely identifiable features are the geometric approach and the black treatment.

The relatively low pile supports the clarity of the drawing because the surface does not obscure the contours. Geometric patterns can work in both traditional and contemporary interiors precisely because their effect depends on order, contrast and proportion rather than on a single historical scene. Here, a Persian regional tradition is expressed through a structured design with a clearly stated black geometric character.

Special Features

This rug is specifically described as suitable for use with underfloor heating. It can therefore be considered for rooms equipped with that type of heating system. Compatibility should still be checked against the individual floor construction and the operating conditions of the heating installation. As a hand-knotted textile, the rug should be placed on a dry, level surface and treated according to the requirements of its materials.

The 8 mm pile is another practical feature. It gives the rug a lower surface profile and keeps the geometric pattern visually distinct. The combination of hand-knotted production, wool and cotton, a low pile and the stated suitability for underfloor heating brings together traditional manufacture and present-day residential use.

The rug is antique, dates from the early twentieth century and is used but well preserved. Routine care can consist of gentle vacuuming, with additional careful removal of loose dust when needed. Stronger soiling should be handled by a professional cleaner experienced in hand-knotted rugs. The rug should not be put into a washing machine, since machine washing is not an appropriate cleaning method for this construction.

FAQ

How much does the antique Hamadan Persian rug weigh?

The exact weight of this rug is not specified. In a hand-knotted rug, weight is influenced by the materials, the knot density, the format and the construction of the pile and foundation. Wool and cotton, together with the density of the handmade structure, all contribute to the final weight. A reliable figure would therefore require the individual rug to be weighed directly.

Can the rug be washed?

The rug should not be cleaned in a washing machine. Hand-knotted Persian rugs require a method suited to their materials and construction when deeper cleaning is necessary. For heavier soiling, a professional service experienced in cleaning hand-knotted rugs is recommended. For ordinary maintenance, the surface can be vacuumed gently to remove loose dust without treating the rug as a machine-washable textile.

Is the rug suitable for allergy sufferers?

Wool rugs can bind dust and are therefore often considered suitable for people with allergies. This depends on consistent care: gentle, regular vacuuming helps reduce dust and other potential allergens. Individuals with allergies should take their own sensitivity into account and keep the rug well maintained. No specific medical suitability is guaranteed for this individual rug.